Tom Wright (theologian)

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Nicholas Thomas "Tom" Wright (born 1948) is the Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and a leading British New Testament scholar. His academic work has always been published under the name N.T. Wright. He is generally perceived as coming from a moderately evangelical perspective. He is associated with the so-called Third Quest for the Historical Jesus, and the New Perspective on Paul (a complex movement with many unique positions, originating from the probing works of James Dunn and E. P. Sanders). 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.

1 Biography
2 Writing
3 Influence and controversy
4 Opposition to civil partnerships
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Biography

1948: Born in Northumberland, England.
1968 - 1971: Studied theology, then Literae Humaniores (sometimes called "Greats" at Oxford) (i.e. classical literature, philosophy and history) at Exeter College, Oxford; president of the undergraduate Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union.
1971 - 1975: Studied for the Anglican ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford
1975 - 1978: Junior research fellow and later junior chaplain at Merton College, Oxford.
1978 - 1981: Fellow and Chaplain at Downing College, Cambridge.
1981 - 1986: Assistant professor of New Testament Studies at McGill University, Montreal.
1986 - 1993: Lecturer in New Testament at Worcester College, Oxford.
1994 - 1999: Dean of Lichfield Cathedral.
2000 - 2003: Canon theologian of Westminster Abbey.
2003 - present: Bishop of Durham.

[edit] Writing

Wright has written over 30 books.

He has completed three books in a projected six-volume scholarly series Christian Origins and the Question of God. These are The New Testament and the People of God, Jesus and the Victory of God and The Resurrection of the Son of God.

His latest book (March 2006) is a popular-level one: Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense. His other books in this vein include The Challenge of Jesus and the projected twelve volume For Everyone Bible commentary series in a similar vein to William Barclay's Daily Study Bible series.

[edit] Influence and controversy

His work has been praised by scholars from a wide range of views, such as Professor James D. G. Dunn, Richard B. Hays and Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury. 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. Miller.

Within evangelicalism, Wright has been warmly received particularly by those who identify with the postmodern Emerging Church movement. Bishop Wright welcomes the hearing he has gained from the Emerging Church, but notes his own commitment to historical and biblical foundations not always shared by the Emerging Church. His evangelical credentials, however, have often been disputed by conservative theologians and others representing the strongly Reformed evangelical tradition, particularly in the United States. The most contentious issue has been whether he is guilty of denying the Protestant doctrine of justification by faith alone.

He has also received heavy criticism in some decidedly more liberal circles. By contrast with Miller's views as noted above, though, Marcus Borg, of the controversial Jesus Seminar, has co-authored with Wright the book The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions, and the two scholars are well-known for their mutual admiration and respect.

Most recently N.T. Wright has been involved in the controversy over Auburn Avenue Theology which is also known as the "Federal Vision", which has some overlap with the 'New Perspective on Paul.'^{[citation needed]}

He was a member of the Lambeth Commission set up to deal with controversies that emerged following ECUSA's ordination of a practicing homosexual as Bishop, and the senior member from the Church of England <ref>http://www.anglicancommunion.org/windsor2004/members.cfm</ref>

[edit] Opposition to civil partnerships

Wright hit the headlines 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 be likely to take disciplinary action against any clergy registering as civil partners, or any clergy blessing such partnerships.