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Nicholas Thomas "Tom" Wright (b. 1 December 1948) is the Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and a leading New Testament scholar. Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. See also List of Bishops of Durham The Bishop of Durham is the Anglican Bishop responsible for the Diocese of Durham in The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican His academic work has usually been published under the name N. T. Wright.

Contents

Early life and credentials

Wright was born in Morpeth, England. Morpeth is the County town of Northumberland, England. It is situated on the River Wansbeck which flows east through the town He was raised in the context of middle Anglicanism, and before the age of seven or eight he already felt called to go into Christian ministry.

He is generally perceived as coming from an open evangelical perspective and is associated with the Third Quest for the Historical Jesus and the New Perspective on Paul, a complex movement with many unique positions (originating from the works of James Dunn and E. P. Sanders. Open Evangelical refers to a particular Christian school of thought or Churchmanship, primarily in the United Kingdom (especially in the Church of This article is about the history of academic Jesus research For the book "The Quest of the Historical Jesus A Critical Study of Its Progress from Reimarus to Wrede" The new perspective on Paul is a significant shift in how some New Testament scholars interpret the writings of the Apostle Paul, particularly in regard to James D G ("Jimmy" Dunn was for many years the Lightfoot Professor of Divinity in the Department of Theology at the University of Durham. Ed Parish Sanders (born 18 April 1937) is a New Testament Scholar, and is one of the principal proponents of the New Perspective on Paul ) He argues that the current understanding of Jesus must be connected with what is known to be true about him from the historical perspective of first-century Judaism and Christianity. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings In addition to his doctorate degrees from Merton College, Oxford University, he also has been awarded several honorary doctorate degrees,[1] most recently from Durham University in July 2007. See also Wardens of Merton College Oxford. Merton College is also the name of a college in the London Borough of Merton. The University of Oxford (informally "Oxford University" or simply "Oxford" located in the city of Oxford, Oxfordshire, England is the Durham University is a University in Durham, England. It was founded as the University of Durham (which remains its official and legal name [2]

Career

Educated at Sedbergh School, then in Yorkshire, Wright specialised in Classics. Sedbergh School is a co-educational boarding school in Sedbergh, Cumbria for boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 18 inclusive

From 1968 to 1971, he studied theology and then Literae Humaniores (sometimes called "Greats", i. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective e. classical literature, philosophy and history) at Exeter College, Oxford. Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the 4th oldest college of the University During that time he was president of the undergraduate Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union. The Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union, usually known as OICCU, was the second university Christian Union and is the University of Oxford 's most prominent

From 1971 to 1975 he studied for the Anglican ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform clergy functions such as teaching of beliefs Wycliffe Hall is a Church of England theological college and a Permanent Private Hall of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom

In 1975 he became a junior research fellow at Merton College, Oxford and later also later junior chaplain. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. See also Wardens of Merton College Oxford. Merton College is also the name of a college in the London Borough of Merton. From 1978 to 1981 he was a fellow and Chaplain at Downing College, Cambridge. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Downing College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. The University of Cambridge (often Cambridge University) located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the

After this, he served as assistant professor of New Testament Studies at McGill University, Montreal, then as Chaplain, Fellow and Tutor at Worcester College and lecturer in New Testament in the University of Oxford. Montreal, or Montréal in French ( pronounced in French, in English) is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec The University of Oxford (informally "Oxford University" or simply "Oxford" located in the city of Oxford, Oxfordshire, England is the

He moved from Oxford to be Dean of Lichfield Cathedral and then Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey. Lichfield Cathedral is situated in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a large mainly Gothic church

In 2003, he became the Anglican Bishop of Durham. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican See also List of Bishops of Durham The Bishop of Durham is the Anglican Bishop responsible for the Diocese of Durham in

On 4 August 2006 he was appointed to the Court of Ecclesiastical Causes Reserved for a period of five years. Events 70 - The Destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Court of Ecclesiastical Causes Reserved, an Ecclesiastical court, is an Appellate court of the Church of England. [3]

Influence and controversy

Wright's work has been praised by many scholars of varying views, including Professor James D. G. Dunn, Richard B. Hays and Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury. James D G ("Jimmy" Dunn was for many years the Lightfoot Professor of Divinity in the Department of Theology at the University of Durham. Richard B Hays is the George Washington Ivey Professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School in Durham North Carolina. Rowan Douglas Williams, PC, DD, DCL, FBA, (born 14 June 1950 in Swansea, Wales) is an Anglican The Archbishop of Canterbury is the chief bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the Critics of his work are also found across the broad range of theological camps, from conservatives such as Ligon Duncan to liberals like Robert J. J Ligon Duncan III (born 1960 is a Reformed theologian professor author and minister of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA Miller and John Shelby Spong. John Shelby Spong (born 16 June 1931

Within evangelicalism, Wright has been warmly received particularly by those who identify with the postmodern Emerging Church movement. Evangelicalism is a theological movement tradition and system of beliefs most closely associated with Protestant Christianity, which identifies with the Gospel Postmodernism literally means 'after the modernist movement' While " Modern " itself refers to something "related to the present" the movement of modernism The emerging church (sometimes referred to as the emergent church movement) is a Christian movement whose participants seek to live their faith in modern society by He welcomed the hearing he has gained from the Emerging Church, but noted his own commitment to historical and biblical foundations not always shared by the Emerging Church. Some conservative theologians and others representing the strongly Reformed evangelical tradition, particularly in the United States, have disputed Wright's evangelical credentials. The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Denominations formally characterized by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine historically The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The most contentious issue has been whether he denies the Protestant doctrine of justification by faith alone. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Doctrine (Latin doctrina) is a codification of beliefs or "a body of teachings quot or "instructions" taught principles or positions as the Sola fide ( Latin: by Faith alone also historically known as the doctrine of justification by faith is a doctrine that distinguishes most

He has also received heavy criticism in some decidedly more liberal circles, e. For liberal political views within Christianity see Christian left. g. by Robert J. Miller. In contrast, the Jesus Seminar's Marcus Borg, with whom Wright shares mutual admiration and respect, has co-authored with Wright the book The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions. The Jesus Seminar is a group of about 150 individuals including scholars with advanced degrees in Biblical studies, Religious studies or related fields as well as Marcus J Borg (born 1942 is a fellow of the Jesus Seminar and a religious author In 2005, at the Greer-Heard Point-Counterpoint Forum, Wright also dialogued with Jesus Seminar co-founder John Dominic Crossan on the historicity of Jesus' resurrection. The Jesus Seminar is a group of about 150 individuals including scholars with advanced degrees in Biblical studies, Religious studies or related fields as well as John Dominic Crossan (b Nenagh Co Tipperary, Ireland, 1934 is an Irish-American religious scholar known for co-founding the controversial Jesus Seminar Wright and Crossan, who also hold mutual admiration for one another, hold very different opinions on this foundational Christian doctrine. For Crossan, the resurrection of Jesus is a theological interpretation of events by the writers of the New Testament. For Wright, however, the resurrection is a historic event - coherent with the worldview of Second Temple Judaism - fundamental to the New Testament. [4]

In 2008, Wright attracted controversy by stating that ". . . secular utopianism is based on a belief in an unstoppable human ability to make a better world, while at the same time it believes that we have the right to kill unborn children and surplus old people, and to play games with the humanity of those in between. "[5]. Times columnist David Aaronovitch challenged Wright specifically to substantiate his claim that any secular group does indeed advocate the killing of elderly people, adding that he believed the Bishop's comments to be "as close to a lie as makes no difference"[6]. David Aaronovitch (born July 8, 1954) is a British Journalist, broadcaster, and Author. Wright did not respond directly to the challenge, but promised to do so if Aaronovitch would answer three questions of his own[7]. In response, Aaronovitch claimed to address Wright's questions, and called upon Wright now to corroborate his original statement as promised[8]. In an article published by The Times, Wright wrote in support of palliative care, and addressed Aaronovitch's criticism: "I said “surplus” people. It might well be said that they are not “surplus”, but simply “suffering”. Fair point, but once you legalise killing (or “helping people kill themselves”), the key question will be: how do you know which people can be killed?". Nonetheless, he added that, "I stand by my (admittedly abbreviated) form of words". [9].

As regards the Historical Jesus, Wright stands broadly in the tradition of Albert Schweitzer (thoroughgoing eschatology), against what he sees as the thoroughgoing skepticism of William Wrede (famous for his thesis on the Messianic Secret in the Gospel of Mark as an apologetic and ahistorical device) and the Jesus Seminar, Wrede's modern-day counterparts. The historical Jesus is Jesus of Nazareth as reconstructed by historians using Historical methods These historical methods use critical Albert Schweitzer, MD, OM, (January 14 1875 &ndash September 4 1965 was an Alsatian theologian, Musician, Philosopher Eschatology (from the Greek, Eschatos meaning "last" and -logy meaning "the study of" is a part of Theology In ordinary usage skepticism or scepticism ( Greek 'σκέπτομαι' skeptomai, to look about to consider see also spelling differences Georg Friedrich Eduard William Wrede ( 10 May 1859 – 23 November 1906) was a German Lutheran theologian The Messianic Secret refers to Jesus having commanded his followers not to reveal to others that he is the Messiah, in certain passages of the New Testament Content Authorship The gospel itself is anonymous but as early as Papias in the early 2nd century a text was attributed to Mark, a cousin The Jesus Seminar is a group of about 150 individuals including scholars with advanced degrees in Biblical studies, Religious studies or related fields as well as [10]. He tends to agree with and laud such scholars as E.P. Sanders and the lesser-known Ben F. Ed Parish Sanders (born 18 April 1937) is a New Testament Scholar, and is one of the principal proponents of the New Perspective on Paul Meyer (whom Wright calls "the unsung hero" of New Testament studies[11]), although he thinks Sanders and others go too far in their use of form criticism. Form criticism is a method of biblical criticism that classifies units of scripture by literary pattern (such as parables or legends and that attempts to trace each type to its period He also thinks it is a mistake to say that Jesus expected the imminence of the end of history, as Schweitzer thought,[12] but rather thinks that Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God as something both present and future. History is the study of the past particularly the written record Those who study history as a Profession are called Historians Etymology

He was a member of the Lambeth Commission set up to deal with controversies that emerged following Episcopal Church in the United States of America's ordination of a practising homosexual as bishop. The Windsor Report was the document containing the finding of the Eames Commission The Episcopal Church is the official name of the Province of the Anglican Communion in the United States. Wright is the senior member from the Church of England. [13]

Opposition to civil partnerships

Wright attracted media attention in December 2005 when he announced to the press, on the day that the first civil partnership ceremonies took place in England, that he would likely take disciplinary action against any clergy registering as civil partners or any clergy blessing such partnerships. [14]

Selected works

Christian Origins and the Question of God series

Six volumes expected:

For Everyone series

See also

References

  1. ^ Nicholas Thomas Wright, Curriculum Vitae. In the Philosophy of perception, critical realism is the theory that some of our Sense-data (for example those of primary qualities can and do accurately represent Retrieved on 2007-07-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 622 - The beginning of the Islamic calendar. 1054 - Three Roman legates fractured relations between the Western and
  2. ^ Durham University: Anniversary accolades for major achievement (accessed 16 July 2007)
  3. ^ London Gazette: no. 58062, page 10685, 4 August 2006. The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the UK in which certain Events 70 - The Destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Retrieved on 2007-11-21. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem.
  4. ^ Stewart, Robert B. (2007) The Resurrection of Jesus: William Dembksi and Michael Ruse in Dialogue Minneapolis: Fortress Press. ISBN-13: 978-0800662189
  5. ^ BBC News In quotes: The ethics of embryos (accessed 31 March 2008)
  6. ^ Times Online Wicked untruths from the Church (accessed 31 March 2008)
  7. ^ Times Online Bishops speak out on embryos (accessed 31 March 2008)
  8. ^ Times Online Who wants to kill the elderly? (accessed 31 March 2008)
  9. ^ Times Online Euthanasia - a murky moral world (accessed 3 April 2008)
  10. ^ Wright, N. T. (1999) The Challenge of Jesus InterVarsity Press. ISBN-13: 978-0830822003
  11. ^ Wright, N. T. (1997) The Original Jesus: The Life and Vision of a Revolutionary Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. ISBN-13: 978-0802842831
  12. ^ Wright, N. T. (1999) The Challenge of Jesus InterVarsity Press. ISBN-13: 978-0830822003
  13. ^ The Lambeth Commission on Communion - The Windsor Report - Members
  14. ^ Gay vicar flouts partnership rule, BBC News (accessed 19 May 2007)

External links

Reviews and criticism

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