History and Eschatology
Jesus and the Promise of Natural Theology
Building on his critically acclaimed Gifford Lectures, N. T. Wright presents a richly nuanced case for a theology that is based on a renewed understanding of historical knowledge, and in particular of the historical Jesus.
In stock
ISBN-13
9780281081646-grouped
From £24.99
NT Wright (Author)
N. T. Wright is Research Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews and Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He is the author of more than 80 influential books, including The New Testament for Everyone, Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, The Day the Revolution Began, Paul: A biography, On Earth as in Heaven and Into the Heart of Romans (all published by SPCK).
Philip Law (In-House Editor)
Philip Law is Publishing Director for SPCK and Lion Books. His previous books include The One Hour Bible (SPCK, 2018), A Time to Pray: 365 classic prayers to help you through the year (Lion, 2002) and The SPCK Book of Christian Prayer (SPCK/Crossroad, 1995/ 2009). He is also a contributor to the 6th edition of The Lion Handbook to the Bible (Lion, 2025).
N. T. Wright is Research Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews and Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He is the author of more than 80 influential books, including The New Testament for Everyone, Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, The Day the Revolution Began, Paul: A biography, On Earth as in Heaven and Into the Heart of Romans (all published by SPCK).
Philip Law (In-House Editor)
Philip Law is Publishing Director for SPCK and Lion Books. His previous books include The One Hour Bible (SPCK, 2018), A Time to Pray: 365 classic prayers to help you through the year (Lion, 2002) and The SPCK Book of Christian Prayer (SPCK/Crossroad, 1995/ 2009). He is also a contributor to the 6th edition of The Lion Handbook to the Bible (Lion, 2025).
'In this extraordinary reappraisal of the traditions of natural theology, N. T. Wright deploys his intellectual energy with surprising punch to address. . . the fundamental problems posed for theology by modernity. Critics may be provoked, but fans will be delighted.’
‘A creative and arresting contribution to natural theology, this book argues for the plausibility of the Christian vision of the relation between God and the world by taking seriously the history of Jesus Christ.’
‘A tour de force, placing history – and Jesus himself! – back at the heart of natural theology.
‘An impressive and timely publication. . . Bold, lively, and accessible, it will generate widespread discussion.’
‘This powerfully argued book deserves to rank as Tom Wright’s crowning achievement.’
About
‘This is Wright at his best – exegete, theologian, churchman, and public intellectual rolled into one.’
Miroslav Volf
‘Wright’s crowning achievement.’
John Cottingham
Building on his critically acclaimed Gifford Lectures, N. T. Wright presents a richly nuanced case for a theology based on a renewed understanding of historical knowledge.
The question of 'natural theology' interlocks with the related questions of how we can conceive of God acting in the world, and of why, if God is God, the world is full of evil. Can specific events in history, like those reported in the Gospels, afford the necessary point from which to answer such questions?
Widely shared cultural and philosophical assumptions have conditioned our understanding of history in ways that make the idea of divine action in history problematic. But could better historical study itself win from ancient Jewish and Christian cosmology and eschatology a renewed way of understanding the relationship between God and the world?
N. T. Wright argues that this can indeed be done, and in this ground-breaking book he develops a distinctive approach to natural theology grounded in what he calls an 'epistemology of love'. This approach arises from his reflection on the significance of the ancient concept of the 'new creation' for our understanding the reality of the world, the reality of God and their relation to one another.
Miroslav Volf
‘Wright’s crowning achievement.’
John Cottingham
Building on his critically acclaimed Gifford Lectures, N. T. Wright presents a richly nuanced case for a theology based on a renewed understanding of historical knowledge.
The question of 'natural theology' interlocks with the related questions of how we can conceive of God acting in the world, and of why, if God is God, the world is full of evil. Can specific events in history, like those reported in the Gospels, afford the necessary point from which to answer such questions?
Widely shared cultural and philosophical assumptions have conditioned our understanding of history in ways that make the idea of divine action in history problematic. But could better historical study itself win from ancient Jewish and Christian cosmology and eschatology a renewed way of understanding the relationship between God and the world?
N. T. Wright argues that this can indeed be done, and in this ground-breaking book he develops a distinctive approach to natural theology grounded in what he calls an 'epistemology of love'. This approach arises from his reflection on the significance of the ancient concept of the 'new creation' for our understanding the reality of the world, the reality of God and their relation to one another.
Author
NT Wright (Author)
N. T. Wright is Research Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews and Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He is the author of more than 80 influential books, including The New Testament for Everyone, Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, The Day the Revolution Began, Paul: A biography, On Earth as in Heaven and Into the Heart of Romans (all published by SPCK).
Philip Law (In-House Editor)
Philip Law is Publishing Director for SPCK and Lion Books. His previous books include The One Hour Bible (SPCK, 2018), A Time to Pray: 365 classic prayers to help you through the year (Lion, 2002) and The SPCK Book of Christian Prayer (SPCK/Crossroad, 1995/ 2009). He is also a contributor to the 6th edition of The Lion Handbook to the Bible (Lion, 2025).
N. T. Wright is Research Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews and Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He is the author of more than 80 influential books, including The New Testament for Everyone, Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, The Day the Revolution Began, Paul: A biography, On Earth as in Heaven and Into the Heart of Romans (all published by SPCK).
Philip Law (In-House Editor)
Philip Law is Publishing Director for SPCK and Lion Books. His previous books include The One Hour Bible (SPCK, 2018), A Time to Pray: 365 classic prayers to help you through the year (Lion, 2002) and The SPCK Book of Christian Prayer (SPCK/Crossroad, 1995/ 2009). He is also a contributor to the 6th edition of The Lion Handbook to the Bible (Lion, 2025).
Reviews
'In this extraordinary reappraisal of the traditions of natural theology, N. T. Wright deploys his intellectual energy with surprising punch to address. . . the fundamental problems posed for theology by modernity. Critics may be provoked, but fans will be delighted.’
‘A creative and arresting contribution to natural theology, this book argues for the plausibility of the Christian vision of the relation between God and the world by taking seriously the history of Jesus Christ.’
‘A tour de force, placing history – and Jesus himself! – back at the heart of natural theology.
‘An impressive and timely publication. . . Bold, lively, and accessible, it will generate widespread discussion.’
‘This powerfully argued book deserves to rank as Tom Wright’s crowning achievement.’
Diaries and Lectionaries
We are proud to offer our own range of lectionaries, diaries and notebooks that come in a variety of colours and patterns!
Learn more
Miroslav Volf
‘Wright’s crowning achievement.’
John Cottingham
Building on his critically acclaimed Gifford Lectures, N. T. Wright presents a richly nuanced case for a theology based on a renewed understanding of historical knowledge.
The question of 'natural theology' interlocks with the related questions of how we can conceive of God acting in the world, and of why, if God is God, the world is full of evil. Can specific events in history, like those reported in the Gospels, afford the necessary point from which to answer such questions?
Widely shared cultural and philosophical assumptions have conditioned our understanding of history in ways that make the idea of divine action in history problematic. But could better historical study itself win from ancient Jewish and Christian cosmology and eschatology a renewed way of understanding the relationship between God and the world?
N. T. Wright argues that this can indeed be done, and in this ground-breaking book he develops a distinctive approach to natural theology grounded in what he calls an 'epistemology of love'. This approach arises from his reflection on the significance of the ancient concept of the 'new creation' for our understanding the reality of the world, the reality of God and their relation to one another.