Kindle
$10.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$16.66
Paperback
$7.89
Buy used:
$7.89
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime
FREE delivery Monday, May 13 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 2 hrs 51 mins
Used: Acceptable | Details
Sold by -OnTimeBooks-
Fulfilled by Amazon
Condition: Used: Acceptable
Comment: Shipped fast and reliably through the Amazon Prime program! Book may contain some writing, highlighting, and or cover damage.

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime.

If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. Learn more about the program.

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

N. T. Wright
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is Paperback – February 11, 2015

by N. T. Wright (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 251 ratings
See all formats and editions

Today a renewed and vigorous scholarly quest for the historical Jesus is underway. In the midst of well-publicized and controversial books on Jesus, N. T. Wright's lectures and writings have been widely recognized for providing a fresh, provocative and historically credible portrait. Now this paperback edition of Wright's classic work contains the same original content plus even more insight with an all-new introduction by the author.Out of his own commitment to both historical scholarship and Christian ministry, Wright challenges us to roll up our sleeves and take seriously the study of the historical Jesus. He writes, "Many Christians have been, frankly, sloppy in their thinking and talking about Jesus, and hence, sadly, in their praying and in their practice of discipleship. We cannot assume that by saying the word Jesus, still less the word Christ, we are automatically in touch with the real Jesus who walked and talked in first-century Palestine. . . . Only by hard, historical work can we move toward a fuller comprehension of what the Gospels themselves were trying to say."The Challenge of Jesus poses a double-edged challenge: to grow in our understanding of the historical Jesus within the Palestinian world of the first century, and to follow Jesus more faithfully into the postmodern world of the twenty-first century.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    217 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    IVP
  4. Publication date
    February 11, 2015
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.5 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0830836969
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0830836963
  8. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

From the brand

Previous page
  2. 'Ebooks on Sale' text with an image of a kindle

    ALL IVP ebooks 50% off!

  3. Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope
    First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament
    The Celebration Place: God's Plan for a Delightfully Diverse Church
    Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life

    Shop the Ebook Sale!

    Visit the Store

  4. 'Celebrate AAPI Month' text with the book cover 'Learning Our Names'
  5. Learning Our Names: Asian American Christians on Identity, Relationships, and Vocation
    Reading the Bible Around the World: A Student’s Guide to Global Hermeneutics
    Analog Christian: Cultivating Contentment, Resilience, and Wisdom in the Digital Age
    Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up

    Celebrate AAPI Month

    Visit the Store

  6. 'Resources for Mental Health' text with the book cover 'Can You Just Sit With Me?'
  7. Hurting Yet Whole: Reconciling Body and Spirit in Chronic Pain and Illness
    Can You Just Sit with Me?: Healthy Grieving for the Losses of Life
    On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living
    The Anxiety Field Guide: Healthy Habits for Long-Term Healing

    Resources for Mental Health

    Visit the Store

  8. 'Books for Kids' text with the book cover 'Zion Learns to See'
  9. Zion Learns to See: Opening Our Eyes to Homelessness
    Not Finished Yet: Trusting God with All My Feelings
    The O in Hope: A Poem of Wonder
    Isaiah and the Worry Pack: Learning to Trust God with All Our Fears

    Books for Kids

    Visit the Store

  10. 'Gifts for Grads' text with the book cover 'Single, Just Because'
  11. After College: Navigating Transitions, Relationships and Faith
    The Leader in You: Discovering Your Unexpected Path to Influence
    Single, Just Because: A Pilgrimage into Holy Aloneness
    Discover Your Gifts: Celebrating How God Made You and Everyone You Know (Lutheran Hour Ministries...

    Gifts for Grads

    Visit the Store

  12. 'Fan Favorites' text with the book cover 'Tell Her Story'
  13. The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery
    Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory
    Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters
    Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church

    Popular Books

    Visit the Store

  14. 'Prayer Books' text with the book cover 'Praying'
  15. Praying: Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight
    Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep
    The 1662 Book of Common Prayer: International Edition
    Soul Care in African American Practice

    Prayer Books

    Visit the Store

  16. InterVarsity Press

    Who Are We?

    Since 1947, InterVarsity Press (IVP) has been publishing thoughtful Christian books that shape both the lives of readers and the cultures they inhabit. Throughout these seventy-five years, our books and authors have established a legacy of speaking boldly into important cultural moments, providing timeless tools for spiritual growth, and equipping Christians for a vibrant life of faith.

Next page

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Wright has produced a work of frankly evangelical faith with strong historical integrity, because both are necessary for serious study, uncomfortable as that may be. . . . A refreshing and inspiring read for those who take both conservative faith and historical scholarship seriously. Recommended for academic and public libraries."

-- Library Journal, January 2000

"This superb addition to Wright's oeuvre will prove fruitful reading for neophytes as well as for those already familiar with his approach."

-- Publishers Weekly

About the Author

N. T. Wright, formerly bishop of Durham in England, is professor of New Testament and early Christianity at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. He also taught New Testament studies for twenty years at Cambridge, McGill and Oxford Universities. He has written over thirty books, including Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, Justification and Evil and the Justice of God. His magisterial work, Jesus and the Victory of God, is widely regarded as one of the most significant contributions to contemporary New Testament studies.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ IVP; Unabridged edition (February 11, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 217 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0830836969
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0830836963
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.5 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 251 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
N. T. Wright

N. T. Wright

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

N.T. WRIGHT is the former Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and one of the world’s leading Bible scholars. He is now serving as the Chair of New Testament and Early Christianity at the School of Divinity at the University of St. Andrews. For twenty years he taught New Testament studies at Cambridge, McGill and Oxford Universities. As being both one of the world’s leading Bible scholars and a popular author, he has been featured on ABC News, Dateline, The Colbert Report, and Fresh Air. His award-winning books include The Case for the Psalms, How God Became King, Simply Jesus, After You Believe, Surprised by Hope, Simply Christian, Scripture and the Authority of God, The Meaning of Jesus (co-authored with Marcus Borg), as well as being the translator for The Kingdom New Testament. He also wrote the impressive Christian Origins and the Question of God series, including The New Testament and the People of God, Jesus and the Victory of God, The Resurrection of the Son of God and most recently, Paul and the Faithfulness of God.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
251 global ratings
Five Stars
5 Stars
Five Stars
OUGHT TO BE READ BY MANY AND LOVED BY ALL! <3
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

James Brooks
5.0 out of 5 stars Review:
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2024
Verified Purchase
The book arrived timely and as described. I would definitely purchase from thus vendor again.
Helpful
 Report
Maria Nielsen
5.0 out of 5 stars Conten
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
Excellent read
Helpful
 Report
D. Powers
4.0 out of 5 stars And You Thought You Knew the Real Jesus
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2004
Verified Purchase
This is an excellent book if you want a quick overview of Wright's thought, yet you are not ready to purchase and read the books in his Christian Origins series. For most Christians, the ideas expressed in this book will be unsettling.

The goal of the book is to view Jesus (and the Gospels) from a first century Jewish perspective, not from a 16th century Reformation or 21st century Christian perspective. Wright attempts to peel away the theological and historical layers that have accumulated around the actual, historical figure of Jesus.

The sections in the book are: (1) Wright's methodology used, (2) a 1st century view/understanding of the Kingdom of God, the Parables, the crucifixion, and the resurrection, and (3) how should a 20th/21st century Christian live now they have a historically more accurate view of Jesus.

Though no biblical scholar, I have a background in theology, biblical studies, and history. I found Wright's methodology correct and refreshing. In my Interpreting the Bible class, we were pounded with the dictum that (1) we must first understand what the author of a book in the Bible thought they were saying, (2) what the intended hearers/readers thought was said, and (3) once 1 and 2 were completed accurately we should move to what does the biblical passage mean to us in the 21st century. This is exactly what this book does for the Gospel portrayal of Christ.

Wright focuses on what a 1st century Palestinian Jew living in Galilee would think if they did and said what Jesus said and did. He also looks into what a 1st century Palestinian Jew living in Galilee would think when they heard and saw what Jesus said and did.

Wright makes a good (though not obvious) point that what we Christians hear and think when reading/studying the Gospels is based on a long trail of historical interpretation of the Gospels. The Reformers interpreted the Gospels from a 15th century perspective and had very little evidence to understand the 1st century perspective. A pastor/preacher/priest giving a sermon today sees the Gospels from a historical perspective that has been changed by 20 centuries.

Based on this, how can Wright know the real Jesus? Wright and other scholars have the good fortune of living in a time when 1st century documents have come to light. The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Library are two examples. Both of these were discovered after 1940. Wright (and other scholars like Geza Vermes) are using these new discoveries to get a more historically accurate view of Jesus and the times he lived in.

If you are an evangelical or have an interest in Jesus, read this book! It will be unsettling and disturbing as (like me) you may find many of your cherished, long held views of Jesus undermined and dismissed. Wright is not out to destroy Jesus or the Christian religion. Wright is not out to make a name for himself by putting forth crazy theories. He is very conservative in his thinking. I think his goal is to try to discover the true meaning of Jesus and the gospels. I don't agree with everything in the book, but I agreed with much of it.

This is the rare book that makes you think. It does not contain the same re-hashed arguments and evidences. Also, the last two chapters examine what it means to live the Christian life today. Unlike most academics, Wright does not give generalities but goes into specifics where he can. This was great! I am always annoyed when I read a self-help or Christian living book and all they give are basic generalities that everyone knows. Wright does not do this, he lets the rubber hit the road and gives you much to think about on living the Christian life in the 21st century.
49 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Erin J
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! What a book!
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2006
Verified Purchase
Wright has outdone himself in this work that is a capsule of his work "Jesus and the Victory of God", but here has has taken that massive work and laid it out simply for everyone to enjoy and be blessed by it. Recently I was asked for the single best book that I had read outside the Bible and I wanted to recommend something that everyone could read. I responded with Desmond Tutu's "No Future Without Forgiveness", but now I have found the book that reflects succinctly who Jesus was and is and I highly recommend this work. Wright takes the scriptures very serously, especially how the New Testament writers as well as Jesus, saw God acting and bringing the story of Israel and the world to its climax in Jesus life, death, resurrection and pouring out of the Spirit and how to implement the story of Jesus in today's world. He takes the story of Israel and Israel's symbols of Torah, Temple, Feasts, and Sabbath's and interprets them in light of Jesus the New Israel, New Temple, and New Man who is bringing about a New Creation. His thoughts on the eigth day or the first day of the week as the New Creatin of God are transformative. Wow! I will say it again backwards, Wow! What a book!

Wright is a scholar of theology and history and has thought through and through the story of Jesus and has taken seriously the questions of why did Jesus die? Why did they crucify him? Why theologically did he die? What does it mean that he rose from the dead? What does Israel have to do with these questions and what if anything do the answers to these question have to do with our world today. You will not be disappointed with how Bishop Wright has worked all this out. Get this book!
21 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
tim_farrington
5.0 out of 5 stars exhilarating--and the place to start with Wright
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2011
Verified Purchase
N. T. Wright is an extraordinary scholar, an ostensibly "orthodox" Christian whose historical works on the New Testament are fearless, lucid, and in my reading even revolutionary. One senses in Wright that rare thing, a genuine Christian, capable of the most radical awareness of what Jesus meant, in context, when he talked about loving God, neighbor, and enemy, and of the implications of that (enacted, embodied) message. This is in my opinion the perfect book to start with, if you are interested in exploring Wright and his immense contribution to thinking about Jesus without blinking about history. The gist of his most substantial scholarly conclusions and the freshness of his take on Christianity's historical ground are here without the academic machinery he employs to such great effect in his masterful series Christian Origins and the Question of God. From here, if you love this and crave more, I would recommend those willing to brave the scholarship to try The New Testament and the People of God, volume 1 of the series; and for those less inclined toward the heaviest-going but still inspired by The Challenge of Jesus to seek out Surprised by Hope, which is such a deep and topsy-turvy-making take on the usual inherited conventionally "Christian" views of heaven and the afterlife that it almost seems humorous to me that the book has not provoked more of a stir, if not an outrage and a scandal. But that is part of the genius of N. T. Wright-- he manages to tell us the good news of God-with-us in all its radical and piercing depth without anyone really complaining (well, he has actually poked into a few hornets' nests with his Paul scholarship) too much about how many of the money-changers' tables he has turned over in the Temple in the process.
5 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

James Love
5.0 out of 5 stars N.T. Wright never fails to disappoint with much biblical and intellectual insights to chew on.
Reviewed in Canada on September 15, 2014
Verified Purchase
N.T. Wright never fails to disappoint with much biblical and intellectual insights to chew on. While at times, I'm not sure he overcomes the liberal/conservative divide, however I truly admire his desire to achieve that end. The Church needs to move past the stagnation of the liberal/conservative camps of the 20th Century, and embrace a richer synthesis which will invigorate the Church.

What I love most is that he provides solid challenge to liberals and conservatives such that some will surely pause and think, "Hhhmmm, I guess its not so cut and dried as I thought." For that, I love the school of N.T. Wright.
Report
mahim
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
Reviewed in India on December 8, 2013
Verified Purchase
My view about Jesus and how to portray his life in today's world has so much changed. I truly think I can meet people and share the story about Jesus with fresh new perspective.
Report
A Gents
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read
Reviewed in Australia on March 29, 2015
Verified Purchase
Enjoyed this book very much. Got a different perspective about the life and purpose of Jesus Christ with regards to Israel.
Report