Here is one of the smaller books written by one of the so-called NEW PERSPECTIVE proponents. It is suggested by critics of N.T.Wright, and other writers who share his views, that they are introducing pluralistic understandings of salvation and even Unitarian notions of God. Whilst these writers do question certain aspects of Reformation thought they do so from a thoroughly Biblical standpoint. The writings of N. T. Wright are mostly heavily theological in nature but also readable. They do lead to an enlarged and fuller view of Biblical doctrine and are the work of a man who is one of the brilliant biblical thinkers of our time. Coupled with this brilliance is a flow of spiritual revelation so that within the doctrines expounded there is a prophetic quality and a sense of Divine revelation. The increasing conviction as one reads his books is that he is warm in personality, evangelical in doctrine and with a great burden to set forth the gospel of the Lord Jesus in ways more nuanced to the needs of our post-modern world. Tom Wright is currently Bishop of Durham and is clearly a churchman and has a website www.ntwrightpage.com “The Challenge of Jesus” is a book of 152 pages and is wrestling with the Person of Jesus in His historical setting. Some will know that there has been much skeptical speculation in theological circles as to ‘the historical Jesus’ and this book is a contribution that seeks to ground Jesus in the first century time in which He came, lived and ministered, died and rose. He explores Jesus’ own understanding of both His Messiahship and His relation to God, the meaning of the resurrection and applies these things to us in our mission as church in this post-modern time. The final chapters ask questions as to how we should live both personally and as a society in the light of Who Jesus is and what He is doing. The preface of the book details three purposes which the author has in writing it, firstly to bring clearly to our sight the Jesus of the historical narratives of the gospels. Secondly, to show Jesus to be an exciting and deeply interesting human being and not someone we make in our own image so making Him our servant. Finally, the book sets forth Jesus as the model of and motivation of mission that will transform our world in the power of His gospel.
