Jesus Creed

Jesus Creed

Review of Tom Wright’s “After You Believe”

posted by Scot McKnight | 12:13am Monday May 24, 2010

A clip from Books & Culture, my review of Tom Wright’s newest book  …

Tom Wright is  well-known for insightful theories about Judaism that are swiftly developed so we gain fresh and enduring insights into the New Testament. He has  brought into the field of play ideas like this: that Jesus’ kingdom vision and mission were about the “end of the exile,” that the apostle Paul’s understanding of justification was not so much about personal redemption as about Gentiles being included in the people of God alongside Israel, and that Paul’s gospel message itself was, in the very core of that message, about Jesus as Lord (with the anti-imperial cult implication being that Caesar was not). Wright, then, has been at the center of the Third Quest for the historical Jesus, the New Perspective on Paul, and now the “fresh” (anti-empire) perspective on Paul.

Each of these scholarly but always readable and digestible proposals enters into the field of academic and pastoral theology as credible because each of these perspectives emerges out of Tom’s fresh studies of Judaism. Suddenly, and with the unpredictable freshness that characterizes his work, Tom’s newest book, After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters
, shifts, circles round, dodges one blow after another, and contends that New Testament ethics is most like Aristotle’s virtue ethics but is both something else and more than anything Aristotle ever imagined. I’ve brewed over this new book of Tom’s, pondering it daily during my commute. At times I’ve wondered if he has an excessively Aristotelian view of NT ethics, but at other times I’ve wondered if his proposal is Jewish enough, and I’m convinced that he has successfully employed Aristotle both as foil and friend of Jesus and Paul. In other words, Wright gets it right, even if each of us will find some points to quibble with here and there.

See here for the rest of the review.



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Comments read comments(7)
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josenmiami

posted May 24, 2010 at 10:16 am


makes me want to read Aristotle, and then the new book by Wright.



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Larry Chouinard

posted May 24, 2010 at 1:48 pm


Thanks Scot–
I’ve been working through the book and found it a breath of fresh air, especially on the much neglected theme of being proceeding doing. Much of evangelical crankiness would be reduced if we had more emphasis in ethical discussions on what a virtuous character really looks like. Perhaps our conversations would be more “full of grace, seasoned with salt” (col.4:6). Where the NT surpasses Aristotle is linking virtue to story and moving from individualism to community formation. Wright’s book is an important contribution and I plan to use it in my classes on Ethics. Thanks for highlighting it.
Larry



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pam w

posted May 25, 2010 at 3:22 am


“Where the NT surpasses Aristotle is linking virtue to story and moving from individualism to community formation”
Love this idea Larry. Can you expand on what you mean by ‘linking virtue to story’?
I can’t believe this book only got two comments! I love it so far, and he has me in constant dialogue with current culture/community/commons issues in my ministry.
Thanks for your thoughts Scot. I too want to read more Aristotle now. It’s been too long.



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pam w

posted May 25, 2010 at 3:32 am


“Where the NT surpasses Aristotle is linking virtue to story and moving from individualism to community formation”
Interesting point Larry. Can you expand on your thoughts ‘linking virtue to story’? I have my meaning I put to that, but am wondering if it is what you were thinking.
Love this book. It has had me in dialogue with current issues of culture/community/commons in my ministry. Can’t believe there are only 2 comments.
Scot – you also have me wanting to reread Aristotle. It has been too long for me to truly engage with your thoughts.



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pam w

posted May 25, 2010 at 3:35 am


I didn’t have a captcha! Is Beliefnet changing this crazy system???



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Larry Chouinard

posted May 25, 2010 at 12:33 pm


Pam– what I mean is that virtue is given concrete expression in the Jesus story. In him we see justice, love, mercy, and etc. played out in the drama of life situations. Thanks for your inquiry.
Peace,
Larry



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Mike Bishop

posted May 27, 2010 at 1:20 pm


Scot,
It is surprising about the lack of comments…maybe people are just sick of talking about NT Wright:)
I’m about halfway through the book and I love it. Willard’s work has been very formational for me, but I’ve always felt he didn’t expand enough on how the practices of the church shape our character. I’ll be interested to keep reading to see what Wright has to say about it.
Peace,
Mike



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