Through the Eyes of N.T. Wright: A Reader's Guide to Paul and the Faithfulness of God

by Derek Vreeland

The church has received a great gift, a fresh vision of Paul’s theology given to us by N. T. Wright, the preeminent New Testament scholar of our generation. This gift is in the form of a massive two-volume book, the result of forty years of research, writing, and wrestling with central themes of the Christian faith. While Wright’s book is a gift, it may be a bit daunting for the majority of Christians to read. In this helpful reader’s guide, Derek Vreeland sums up the primary arguments and conclusions from N. T. Wright by creating a readable roadmap to help you navigate through Wright’s big book on Paul’s theology. Using this reader’s guide prayerfully will open your eyes to see new things in the ancient writings of Paul, things which will cause your faith to grow and the church to be strengthened.Wright has interpreted Paul for us; let this book sum up Wright for you.What people are saying about Through the Eyes of N.T. “N. T. Wright is a rare theologian, whose work must be grappled with seriously. But few pastors have the time or the tools necessary to do so. Yet, relying on video clips or online summaries and critiques simply won’t do. Derek Vreeland has given us a gift. As a pastor and a scholar, Vreeland has carefully worked his way through Wright’s magnum opus and synopsized it in a clear and readable way. Employing precise yet jargon-free language, Vreeland has given us a gateway into Wright’s world, a world where the stunning faithfulness of God is revealed in Jesus Christ.”— GLENN PACKIAM, Lead Pastor, New Life Downtown, Colorado Springs, Colorado “The best result of Derek Vreeland's summaries of the magisterial work of N. T. Wright, Paul and the Faithfulness of God, will be when readers read Derek with a view to dipping here and there for long spells in Wright's own book. Wright's book on Paul is very, very long — and probably too long for many who most need it — but the prose is accessible and the insights remarkable so this summary of Paul and the Faithfulness of God will open up the fullness of this new vision of the apostle Paul. I commend Derek's work because I commend Wright's work.”— SCOT MCKNIGHT, Professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary, Lombard, Illinois“Derek Vreeland has rendered us a great service. N. T. Wright is the most respected New Testament scholar of our era and his work on the theology of Paul could not be more important. But the fact remains that many are not up to the task of wading through 1,700 pages of dense scholarship. Derek Vreeland's reader's guide is an excellent distillation of Paul and the Faithfulness of God and thus a true gift.”— BRIAN ZAHND, Lead Pastor, Word of Life Church, St. Joseph, Missouri “N. T. Wright's two-volume work on Paul is nothing less than mountainous—hugely formidable and intimidating. So, even those already familiar with Wrightian terrain can be glad for a guide, especially one as capable as Derek Vreeland. In this introduction, Vreeland thankfully does not restate Wright in simpler, briefer terms; instead, he identifies decisive concepts and themes and explains in his own words their significance for Wright's larger project. The result is a work that not only provides access to the height, depth, and width of Wright's work on Paul, but also draws us into fresh engagements with the sacred Scriptures themselves.”— CHRIS GREEN, Assistant Professor of Theology, Pentecostal Seminary, Cleveland, Tennessee “I often ask my friends what theologians will be remembered, 500 years from now, as the dominant voices of our era. I am convinced that N. T. Wright will stand at the top of that list.

Genres: Theology, New Testament, Christianity

119 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 25, 2015

Reviews

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this as an ebook almost a decade ago. I sat in my kindle, which I lost, and just found. After using it again, this book was near the front of my recommended list. All I can say is, wow. I wish I had read this back when I got it. It is highly readable. It gives an overview of Wright’s Pauline perspective. I would say this is a great introduction for someone not familiar with Wright or the new perspective. Yet it is also just a great book to understand Paul in his first century context. It is a quick read too!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Derek Vreeland has done pastors all over the world a favor with this reader's guide to NT Wright's massive book on Paul. I worked my way through that book over the course of six months and while it is not necessarily a difficult read, its sheer length probably makes it an unlikely read for many church leaders. Vreeland does a fantastic job of summarizing Wright's main points in each section of the book. I highly recommend it. That said, I more highly recommend people suck it up and read Wright's book. Sure it might not take a while, but it is worth it.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book yesterday having bought it a while back as I'm working my way through "the big book on Paul". I can say that for the first half of Wright's book it is an excellent summary and I will revert to as I work through the rest. Wright's book is not difficult but long at 1700+ pages and quite dense. I know that Wright is controversial for some but anyone who takes reading Paul in his context of the biblical narrative and the worlds in which he was thinking and writing will only benefit from Wright's immense insights. From me Wright, and this summary, bring the following clarity and challenges...
1. Covenant theology. Wright is more covenantal in his understanding than much reformed theology, the Christian Reconstruction movement etc.
2. We are not saved by faith in Christ but the faithfulness of the Messiah as a covenant keeper.
3. We are elected not to a future salvation but vocation as we live out the kingdom now.
4. All of the creation will be redeemed.
The biggest dispute with Wright is his apparent denial of imputed righteousness. Justification for Wright is the juridical declaring of righteousness. If I understand correctly the converted person then filled with the Holy Spirit actually does the good works prepared in advance for him. If I have misunderstood Wright I am open to correction.

[Matthew Richey · Rating 3 out of 5]

In reading such a huge, monumental work, I had some desire for a "conversation partner" as I read and so picked this up. I wouldn't advocate for reading this instead of Wright; he does do a decent job bringing out the highlights, but not the argument and development of Wright's thought. If you want to read a book to see the sorts of things Wright says in his book without actually reading him, this would be a decent place to start but not really a substitute for understanding how and why he got there.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

surprised by Vreeland

This was a short but deeply insightful little book into N.T. Wright’s “big book” and Paul’s world view that has left me with a great desire to explore more and more guided by the Holy Spirit.

[Brent Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of NT. I'm not a fan of Vreeland's habit of zooming in on strange areas of Wrights work over others, but its helpful, even if it is a bit reductionist.

[Matthew Rawlings · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent summary of Wright's magnum opus on the Apostle Paul. Recommended.

[Tommy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book! It's refreshing and exciting to have new clarity of Paul's message, God's intent for mankind and the world. It seems crazy that someone reading this review will be reading my understanding of Derek Vreeland's understanding of N.T. Wright's understanding of Paul's understanding of God's plan. This book helps unravel "the predominant modern Protestant interpretation of Paul" that is "based on 16th century issues. Wright revisits Paul in the context of the first century. As Wright has repeated so often, “We must stop giving nineteenth-century answers to sixteenth-century questions and try to give twenty-first-century answers to first-century questions.”"

How to understand words like "election" and "justification" is much clearer after reading his book. "Election for Paul is about vocation not salvation." "God justifies, puts people right, in order to carry out his purposes." "God rescues us individually, not only for our individual benefit, but for the sake of our created vocation"' to "reflect the image of God into the world."

"The story of Israel reached its conclusion in the story of Jesus." "Jesus and the Spirit did not replace Israel, but fulfilled Israel’s vocation." "Salvation for Israel is the same as salvation for the Gentile nations; it is found in a covenant status pursued by faith in Jesus the Messiah."

One of the biggest WOW moments for me in this book would be summarized by, although "faith in Jesus, while essential, does not demonstrate God’s righteousness, which is his covenant faithfulness and justice. Rather, the FAITHFULNESS OF Jesus, namely his faithful death, displays the brightness and integrity of God’s covenant faithfulness."

The other would have to be putting in perspective, "The gospel was not how to get saved from sin or how to be justified or how to have a personal relationship with God. The gospel was, and is, the royal announcement of what God has done in and through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection."

[Thabu Pienaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good summary

As many has said, to read Wright can sometimes be a duanting task. This book surely helps in summarising Wrights big book on Paul's theology. Of course, if you need more clarification, going to the source - Wright's big book - is the obvious solution.

Being a Reformed 'theologian', taught to always take into account the context of Scripture, this book, as well as Wright's own books, as affirmed and corrected my theology. Working toward this world becoming reconciled with God and each other.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you can't read the full treatment and even if you can, this book will prove helpful

I've read Wright's big book(s) and profited greatly. Then I read this one and found additional help. This is the second reader's guide to large theogical/ biblical studies I've read. In both cases I have found them very useful. Of course there's another writer thrown into the mix and choices have to be made but I thought this was true to the original.

[David Hardin]

Better options

The book is fine, but if you want a snapshot of where wright is going without wading through Paul and the faithfulness of God then u can read simply Jesus and how God became king and get the same thing from Wright himself.

[james spellman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous

Great instruction on how to read Wright's work on a daunting subject. A must read to fully understand Paul in his world.