N. T. Wright 101
Those of us who are a part of the Wesleyan theological tradition are not unfamiliar with the work of prolific Anglican ministers. Of course I'm thinking of John Wesley himself, but also of a scholar whose work has garnered much interest in recent years: Nicholas Thomas Wright. I wouldn't be surprised if his name has come up in your conversations with peers in the ministry, or if you've happened to pick up one of his many published works. Some have described him as this generation's C. S. Lewis; others have dismissed him as just one more out-of-touch, liberal biblical scholar. But who is N. T. Wright? What do those of us who minister within the context of the Wesleyan tradition need to know about him? As I have spent some significant time in my graduate studies here at Olivet mulling over the work of N. T. Wright, I have been asked to offer some answers. I'll try and shed some light on Wright by examining some of his recent work. So here we go: a little N. T. Wright 101 . . . .
First, a little background information. One of the foremost things that I appreciate about Wright is that he is both a well-educated scholar and a dedicated churchman. Wright is a British New Testament scholar who has spent most of his 40-year academic career as a student and professor at both Oxford and Cambridge. He has also served as the Church of England's Bishop of Durham from 2003-2010, after which he returned to the university. He currently teaches at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Wright's career demonstrates a clear commitment to both the university and the church.