Simply Jesus : a new vision of who he was, what he did, and why it matters

"We have grown used to the battles over Jesus-whether he was human or divine as well, whether he could do miracles or just inspire them, whether he even existed or not. Much of the church defends tradition and the critics take shots at that tradition. But what if these debates have masked the real story of Jesus from us? What if even Jesus's defenders in the church have been blinded by so focusing on these issues that it has prevented them from fully grappling with what the Gospels really teach? Bible scholar, Anglican bishop, and bestselling author N.T. Wright summarizes a lifetime of study of Jesus and the New Testament in order to present for a general audience who Jesus was and is. In SIMPLY JESUS, we are invited to hear one of our leading scholars introduce the story of carpenter's son from Nazareth as if we were hearing it for the first time. "Jesus-the Jesus we might discover if we really looked," explains Wright, "is larger, more disturbing, more urgent than we had ever imagined. We have successfully managed to hide behind other questions and to avoid the huge, world-shaking challenge of Jesus' central claim and achievement. It is we, the churches, who have been the real reductionists. We have reduced the kingdom of God to private piety; the victory of the cross to comfort for the conscience; Easter itself to a happy, escapist ending after a sad, dark tale. Piety, conscience and ultimate happiness are important, but not nearly as important as Jesus himself." As the church faces the many challenges of the twenty-first century, Wright has presented a vision of Jesus that more than meets them"--;A very odd sort of king -- The three puzzles -- The perfect storm -- The making of a first-century storm -- The hurricane -- God's in charge now -- The campaign starts here -- Stories that explain and a message that transforms -- The kingdom present and future -- Battle and temple -- Space, time, and matter -- At the heart of the storm -- Why did the Messiah have to die? -- Under new management : Easter and beyond -- Jesus : the ruler of the world. We Have Grown Used To The Battles Over Jesus-whether He Was Human Or Divine As Well, Whether He Could Do Miracles Or Just Inspire Them, Whether He Even Existed Or Not. Much Of The Church Defends Tradition And The Critics Take Shots At That Tradition. But What If These Debates Have Masked The Real Story Of Jesus From Us? What If Even Jesus's Defenders In The Church Have Been Blinded By So Focusing On These Issues That It Has Prevented Them From Fully Grappling With What The Gospels Really Teach? Bible Scholar, Anglican Bishop, And Bestselling Author N.t. Wright Summarizes A Lifetime Of Study Of Jesus And The New Testament In Order To Present For A General Audience Who Jesus Was And Is. In Simply Jesus, We Are Invited To Hear One Of Our Leading Scholars Introduce The Story Of Carpenter's Son From Nazareth As If We Were Hearing It For The First Time. Jesus-the Jesus We Might Discover If We Really Looked, Explains Wright, Is Larger, More Disturbing, More Urgent Than We Had Ever Imagined. We Have Successfully Managed To Hide Behind Other Questions And To Avoid The Huge, World-shaking Challenge Of Jesus' Central Claim And Achievement. It Is We, The Churches, Who Have Been The Real Reductionists. We Have Reduced The Kingdom Of God To Private Piety; The Victory Of The Cross To Comfort For The Conscience; Easter Itself To A Happy, Escapist Ending After A Sad, Dark Tale. Piety, Conscience And Ultimate Happiness Are Important, But Not Nearly As Important As Jesus Himself. As The Church Faces The Many Challenges Of The Twenty-first Century, Wright Has Presented A Vision Of Jesus That More Than Meets Them-- A Very Odd Sort Of King -- The Three Puzzles -- The Perfect Storm -- The Making Of A First-century Storm -- The Hurricane -- God's In Charge Now -- The Campaign Starts Here -- Stories That Explain And A Message That Transforms -- The Kingdom Present And Future -- Battle And Temple -- Space, Time And Matter -- At The Heart Of The Storm -- Why Would The Messiah Have To Die? -- Under New Management : Easter And Beyond -- Jesus : The Ruler Of The World. N.t. Wright. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "We have grown used to the battles over Jesus-whether he was human or divine as well, whether he could do miracles or just inspire them, whether he even existed or not. Much of the church defends tradition and the critics take shots at that tradition. But what if these debates have masked the real story of Jesus from us? What if even Jesus's defenders in the church have been blinded by so focusing on these issues that it has prevented them from fully grappling with what the Gospels really teach? Bible scholar, Anglican bishop, and bestselling author N.T. Wright summarizes a lifetime of study of Jesus and the New Testament in order to present for a general audience who Jesus was and is. In SIMPLY JESUS, we are invited to hear one of our leading scholars introduce the story of carpenter's son from Nazareth as if we were hearing it for the first time. "Jesus-the Jesus we might discover if we really looked, " explains Wright, "is larger, more disturbing, more urgent than we had ever imagined. We have successfully managed to hide behind other questions and to avoid the huge, world-shaking challenge of Jesus' central claim and achievement. It is we, the churches, who have been the real reductionists. We have reduced the kingdom of God to private piety; the victory of the cross to comfort for the conscience; Easter itself to a happy, escapist ending after a sad, dark tale. Piety, conscience and ultimate happiness are important, but not nearly as important as Jesus himself." As the church faces the many challenges of the twenty-first century, Wright has presented a vision of Jesus that more than meets them"-- Provided by publisher We have grown used to the battles over Jesus-whether he was human or divine, whether he could do miracles or just inspire them, whether he even existed. Much of the church defends tradition, while critics take shots at the institution and its beliefs. But what if these debates have masked the real story of Jesus? What if even Jesus's defenders have been so blinded by their focus on defending the church's traditions that they have failed to grapple with what the New Testament really teaches? Bible scholar, Anglican bishop, and bestselling author N. T. Wright summarizes a lifetime of study of Jesus and the New Testament in order to present for a general audience who Jesus was and is. In Simply Jesus, we are invited to hear one of our leading scholars introduce the story of the carpenter's son from Nazareth as if we were hearing it for the first time. "Jesus-the Jesus we might discover if we really looked," explains Wright, "is larger, more disturbing, more urgent than we had ever imagined. We have successfully managed to hide behind other questions and to avoid the huge, world-shaking challenge of Jesus's central claim and achievement. It is we, the churches, who have been the real reductionists. We have reduced the kingdom of God to private piety; the victory of the cross to comfort for the conscience; Easter itself to a happy, escapist ending after a sad, dark tale. Piety, conscience, and ultimate happiness are important, but not nearly as important as Jesus himself." As the church faces the many challenges of the twenty-first century, Wright has presented a vision of Jesus that more than meets them In Simply Jesus, bestselling author and leading Bible scholar N.T. Wright summarizes 200 years of modern Biblical scholarship and models how Christians can best retell the story of Jesus today. In a style similar to C.S. Lewis’s popular works, Wright breaks down the barriers that prevent Christians from fully engaging with the story of Jesus. For believers confronting the challenge of connecting with their faith today, and for readers of Timothy Keller’s The Reason for God, Wright’s Simply Jesus offers a provocative new picture of how to understand who Jesus was and how Christians should relate to him today. In Simply Jesus, Tom Wright sets out to answer three simple but vital questions about Jesus: who was he, what did he do and why does it matter? Perfect for those wanting a popular level entry point into Tom Wright’s views on Scripture