Creation, Power and Truth: The Gospel in a World of Cultural Confusion

by Tom Wright, N.T. Wright

In Creation, Power and Truth, Tom Wright invites readers to consider the crucial ways in which the Christian gospel challenges and subverts the intellectual, moral and political values that pervade contemporary culture. In doing so, he asks searching questions about three defining characteristics of our neo-gnosticism, neo-imperialism and postmodernity. Employing a robust Trinitarian framework, Wright looks afresh at key elements of the biblical story while drawing out new and unexpected connections between ancient and modern world-views. The result is a vigorous critique of common cultural assumptions and controlling narratives, past and present, and a compelling read for all who want to hear, speak and live the gospel of Christ in a world of cultural confusion.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Cultural, Christian, Nonfiction, Faith

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

He also publishes under N.T. Wright.

Reviews

[Michael Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

N.T. Wright has such an easy to read writing style. I greatly appreciated Wright's argument for a stronger doctrine of Incarnation in relation to the doctrine of Creation. Wright describes in easy to understand terms the concessions that both conservatives and liberals have made toward versions of Gnosticism. If you have read C.S. Lewis's book Perelandra, this book by Wright is a good nonfiction supplement.

[Kiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

After giving a series of lectures at Harvard University chapel, Wright compiled his thoughts into this more popular level book published in 2013. I’m usually vexed by particular theological issues in his writing, both academic and popular, but I found this book thoroughly refreshing and enlightening. He takes three chapters, with themes around each person of the Godhead, and moves from biblical and historical theology to cultural analysis and application. He does it very well. He deals with Gnosticism in his first chapter, briefly surveying the historic sect before showing its relevance today. He identifies 4 themes that tie the illusive belief system together, 1) cosmological dualism, 2) this world is made by a secondary god, 3) the solution is to escape, 4) the escape route is secret knowledge or gnosis. He connects this modern emergence to the confusion and chaos around sexual identity. Perhaps his best summary of this in regards to its presence in popular culture and many churches today is when he says, “the canonical Jesus instructed his followers to deny themselves and take up their cross. The gnostic Jesus tells you to discover yourself and follow your own star.” The second chapter takes up the theme of imperialism. While rather brilliantly showing how Neo-gnosticism and empires feed off one another, he also demonstrates the New Testament confrontation with imperial cult claims, ancient and modern. A good line from this chapter, “we must refuse to be conned by the rhetoric of either the new right or left, and insist on bringing signs of that future to birth in our own lives and in the world around, based in the resurrection of Jesus and the power of the Spirit.” Chapter 3 deals with truth, and how the total mode of deconstructing in post-modernity leaves total power with the empire, because objective truth is denied so power reigns. Near the end he says, “the triple contemporary challenges of gnosis, empire, and postmodernity, which sustain and support one another in so many ways in today’s world, can and must be met by the good news of God the creator, of Jesus the Lord, of the spirit of truth.” 110 pages of trinitarian gospel in a confusing age.

[Michael Hillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing in that it could, and should, be so much better. Wright has some important things to say about our Chrisian response to issues about knowledge (neo-Gnosticism), power (new imperialism) and truth (post-modernism). He refers especially to Genesis and John's Gospel to give a solid Biblical foundation. I found him particuarly useful in the chapter on power, especially in the current impasse of Government against Parliament over Brexit. But the book would be so better if it was easier to read.

[David Lasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really appreciated Wright helping unpack the connections between Gnosticism, empire and our current context. I found it to be especially helpful for having another lens through which to view current thought in culture- especially regarding power, sex, and the general movement away from faith. Admittedly, the book is slightly dated for current cultural critique since it’s a compilation of lectures from ‘06(in his introduction he says as such). Still, the dominant threads of discussion in this felt very very current.

[Debs Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Analyses the root of current (it’s from a few years ago so is rooted in cultural icons of the time, but still relevant) cultural and political conflicts. Examines Gnosticism in the worldview of the culture and the church. Exhorts the church to address this and take its place in critiquing those who abuse power through the framework of creation, redemption, new creation. I found it helpful in removing the issues as the lens and focusing on the truth. Even though it’s a Tom Wright book, as opposed to an N.T Wright, some people might still find it a little academic.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This brief book is a written version of three lectures delivered at Memorial Chapel at Harvard University in 2006. This is vintage Wright in terms of a missiological approach to neo-Gnosticism, the new imperialism and postmodernity. Interesting, on point and clearly written.

[Christian Wermeskerch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cool look at the ways in which modern Gnosticism, imperialism, and postmodern philosophy are alive today and how they fuel one another. How does the Gospel approach these philosophies? By reminding us how the Creator God is now the King who reveals himself in truth through the Spirit.

[Jordan Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I uh, understood some of these words. Definitely not the most approachable NT Wright book. Probably doesn’t help that it’s basically just a series of lectures that he gave to the über geniuses at Harvard. Some good bits here and there, but very dense. At least it was short!

[Silviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book! Deep and inspiring!

[Sophie Del8 · Rating 2 out of 5]

j'ai eu du mal à rentrer dans le sujet. mais c'est dommage parce que c'est mon premier NT Wright et j'aurai aimé surkiffer l'expérience 😥

[Kyle Brantley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Frank Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is outstanding and very much worth reading. The book is short, and based on three overlapping seminars which have been converted to essays. The books title: “Creation, Power and Truth” highlight the topics of the three chapters. The first chapter “Creation” is concerned with the various modern forms of Gnosticism that either infect the church or challenge it. Wright’s warnings on how there is a form of Gnosticism in the “Left Behind” culture of the 21st century evangelical church was most worthwhile. The second chapter “Power” was all about empire and its challenge to true Christianity. This danger should be evident to anyone who has lived in the USA. The topic in this chapter reminded me of the excellent book by Rob Bell: “Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile”. The final chapter was the most difficult to read and comprehend what Wright was saying (I had to go through this chapter twice), but was concerned with the challenge of post-modernism to Christianity. Wright’s dealing of the topic was excellent (although difficult), and his warning against falling back into modernism (and in so doing taking on some of the characteristics of Gnosticism) was very worthwhile. All of the chapters consistently referred to each other as there is a large amount of overlap. Wright shows how the church ends up colluding with empire only by taking on board Gnostic elements, and in so doing damaging the Christian truth. He also shows how the post-modern view is ultimately self-defeating and therefore poses no threat to the power structure in the empire. Ultimately on the truth of Jesus is a solution to our world, which was the final challenge of the book.

[Elizabeth King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking and erudite discussion. Excellent.