The Last Word: Scripture and the Authority of God--Getting Beyond the Bible Wars [Paperback]

N.T. Wright (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 2006

Can We Still Trust the Bible to Lead the Church?

Editorial Reviews

Review

“N. T. Wright opens for us a path beyond of the paralyzing polarization of “liberal” and “conservative.” (Brian McLaren, author of A New Kind of Christian )

“This wide-ranging whirlwind-tour account of Scripture channeling God’s authority, with its tweaking of distortions back into shape and its first-class approach to Bible study, is masterly throughout.” (J. I Packer, Professor of Theology, Regent College )

“Wright offers sensible insights on the transforming power of God, very necessary in these times of skepticism and confusion.” (Publishers Weekly )

“Wright appeals to the reader to take another look at the Bible, not as an isolated phenomenon—a veritable rule book similarly applicable at all times and in all places—but rather as a book better placed within both the contemporary cultural context and as part of a larger tradition of interpretation.” (Explorefaith.org )

“Wright is a provocative theologian... there is so much here that you will wish that it were longer-- but its brevity makes for easy reading and it certainly deserves to be read.” (Church of England Newspaper )

“In a fashion that is both old fashioned and new fangled at the same time Bishop Wright takes us through a sane and helpful study of what it means to treat the Bible as the authoritative Word of God. Highly Recommended!” (Ben Witherington, author of The Brother of Jesus )

“Written by one of the leading Christian thinkers in the world today, this book is a refreshing and accessible resource concerning the perennial question of biblical authority that moves the discussion beyond the liberal-conservative impasse of our times. Highly Recommended.” (John R. Franke, Professor of Theology, Biblical Theological Seminary )

“[P]robing, provocative, insightful…This is a book of uncommon wisdom for all who read and love the Bible.” (Timothy George, Dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University and Executive Editor of Christianity Today )

“The whole book gives further cause for gratitude for God’s gift of Wright to his Church.” (ANVIL )

“The best book of its kind available.” (The Christian Century )

“Scripture and the Authority of God is a fabulous book. With characteristic verve and occasionally pungent grace… Scripture and the Authority of God could be the beginning of a more faithful listening, as well as sustaining more fruitful conversation about the nature of biblical interpretation.” (Books&Culture )

From the Back Cover

N. T. Wright, Bishop of Durham and widely respected Bible and Jesus scholar, gives new life to the old, tattered doctrine of the authority of Scripture, delivering a fresh, helpful, and concise statement on the current “battles for the Bible,” and restoring Scripture as a place to find God’s voice. Removing the baggage that the last 100 years of controversy and confusion have placed on this doctrine, he renews our confidence in the Bible, and shows that the Bible can still be an authority that guides our lives.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (October 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060872616
• ISBN-13: 978-0060872618
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,762 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

N.T. Wright is Bishop of Durham and was formerly Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey and dean of Lichfield Cathedral. He taught New Testament studies for twenty years at Cambridge, McGill and Oxford Universities. Wright's full-scale works The New Testament and the People of God, Jesus and the Victory of God, and The Resurrection of the Son of God are part of a projected six-volume series entitled Christian Origins and the Question of God. Among his many other published works are The Original Jesus, What Saint Paul Really Said and The Climax of the Covenant. He is also coauthor with Marcus Borg of The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions and the volume on Colossians and Philemon in The Tyndale New Testament Commentary series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A way out - a priest's review, November 1, 2007

By 

David Adams - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Word: Scripture and the Authority of God--Getting Beyond the Bible Wars (Paperback)

Both in scholarship and general life styles, liberals and conservatives are locked in hopeless battle. "You don't care about people!" vs "You ignore God's word!" is common rhetoric throughout the declining churches of North Amercia. Bishop Wright offers a new way of stepping beyond these unity destroying, fruitless debates about the Bible, a way of hope and new life.

Bishop Wright takes a fresh look at the Bible and its purposes. In doing so he offers a new way to work together to fulfill God's purposes that goes beyond both entrenched positions. His way of doing so offers hope for all, liberal and conservative. He challenges us all to fulfill God's purposes in creating the Bible.

While it is a stand alone book, this book is best read in combination with Wright's *Simply Christian*. New hope and new life are there in abundance in both books, a way out of the trap of liberal vs conservative dogmatized thinking.

Yes, as another reviewer commented, this book is meat instead of milk. It is meat tenderized for a toddler, when compared with the meat offered in scholarly theological books. This book is for anyone and everyone who wants hope and new life.

One reader at a time, we can change the world around us for the better. That, in the end, is what we are commanded to do. This book offers us a new way to do so.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wright On Target, January 3, 2007

By 

E. Nielsen (Eau Claire WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Last Word: Scripture and the Authority of God--Getting Beyond the Bible Wars (Paperback)

N. T. Wright always has a lot to say, and much we should hear. While some of his works get quite lengthy and detailed, this little book is a gem, getting right to the point, and challenging all Christians to reclaim a positive understanding of Biblical Authority. If all believers could claim such a perspective, we would have much less dis-unity in the body of Christ. A must read for anyone who takes the Bible seriously, and hopes everyone else will, too.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Right to the point!, September 27, 2009

By 

Frank W. Hancock "scuba rev" (Maryville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Last Word: Scripture and the Authority of God--Getting Beyond the Bible Wars (Paperback)

Once again, N.T. Wright's academic acumen shines forth in his book The Last Word. He doesn't sugar-coat the issues the Christian church faces when it improperly uses translates/uses the Bible to formulate theologies that exclude others. For those who want a no nonsense book on the subject, one with good recommendations for any church to use, this is the one!