Tom Wright (Nicholas Thomas Wright) - author profile

A leading Christian evangelical, his books have theological depth and an engaging tone. Also writing as NT Wright, he offers practical wisdom to biblical scholars, ministers and ordinary readers.

Those who believe the gospel have no choice but to follow... the purpose of the Church in the world is to be signs and agents of hope.”

Leading Thinker and Communicator

Born Nicholas Thomas Wright on 1 December 1948 at Morpeth, Northumberland, Tom Wright graduated with first class honours from Exeter College, Oxford going on to another first in theology in 1973. Receiving his MA from Wycliffe Hall, he entered the Anglican ministry in 1975.
 
From 1975 to 1981 Tom Wright studied and held appointments at Merton College, Oxford and Downing College, Cambridge. His doctorate from Merton was awarded for his thesis: "The Messiah and the people of God: a study in Pauline theology with particular reference to the Epistle to the Romans".
 
After five years as assistant professor of New Testament Studies at McGill University, Montreal, Tom Wright returned to become chaplain and New Testament lecturer at Worcester College, Oxford. In 1994 he was appointed Dean of Lichfield Cathedral and in 2000, Canon Theologian at Westminster Abbey.
 

Commitment to Church Unity

Tom Wright was enthroned Bishop of Durham in 2003 and appointed to the Court of Ecclesiastical Causes. In 2010 he retired from Durham to take a new appointment as Research Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at St Andrews University, Scotland.
 
A member of the Eames Commission, Tom Wright contributed to the debate over the 2004 appointment of an openly gay bishop in the US. In 2006 he prevented a split by speaking out against parallel church structures to bypass liberal bishops.

Tom Wright’s commitment to church unity and his intellectual authority maintains his reputation within the whole church including his own evangelical home ground. His writing and speaking establishes him as a foremost authority on the early Christian church and the teaching of St Paul.
 

Jesus' resurrection summons us to dangerous and difficult tasks… Christians must build for the new kingdom of heaven and earth.”

Biblical and Theological position

Possibly the Anglican Church’s leading Evangelical, Tom Wright’s beliefs are clear from his many written works, talks and interviews. He believes forcefully in the authority of scripture and the historical truth of the gospels.
 
More than merely an academic, his theology of the resurrection is deeply connected to what it means to be resurrected in the world today. In 'Surprised by Hope', he writes, “Jesus' resurrection summons us to dangerous and difficult tasks on earth… Christians must build for the new kingdom of heaven and earth.”
 
Identifying global debt as an “…enormous scandal of glitzy, glossy western capitalism that must be corrected,” he says that taking the Bible seriously means acting seriously: “The Resurrection creates a programme for change."

...taking the Bible seriously means acting seriously: The Resurrection creates a programme for change."

Secular Morality and Contemporary Issues

Currently Research Professor in New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews. In this role, he writes and publishes extensively on new interpretations of Paul’s letters and teaching, and on new research into the real and historical Jesus.

From his standpoint on the supremacy of Biblical teaching, Tom Wright has spoken out strongly on virtually every moral dilemma facing the church and society. His views on abortion, genetic manipulation, homosexuality, gay marriage and the killing of Osama Bin Laden are frank and direct.

Many consider his views to be hard-line and conservative though he continues to engage his critics and detractors in good humoured and scholarly discussion. “Those who believe the gospel have no choice but to follow,” he says, “the purpose of the Church in the world is to be signs and agents of hope.”

The New Testament 'For Everyone'

Tom Wright's editorship of the 'For Everyone' New Tesatment commentaries, is widely acclaimed as a masterpiece of Biblical scholarship. Each book in the series uses Tom Wright’s own translation from the original texts with section by section exploration and application.
 
Written in Tom Wright’s approachable story-telling style, 'For Everyone' explains each New Testament book in its historical context and gives ordinary readers and scholars an all-important sense of depth in discovering who they really are within God's love and purpose.

For  more academic works: read NT Wright

Tom Wright’s more academic and philosophical works and his US publications appear under the name NT Wright - more widely used in the US. Books under the name NT Wright include 'The New Testament and the People of God', 'The Resurrection of the Son of God' and 'Scripture and the Authority of God'.

In his role as Research Professor in New Testament and Early Christianity at St Andrews University, his books historical explorations include 'Paul: Fresh Perspectives', 'Who Was Jesus?' and 'The Meaning of Jesus' written with one of his critics, Marcus Borg. 

February 29th, 2012 - Posted & Written by Les Ellison

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