Product Description

Tom Wright's own translation of Romans is combined, section by section, with a highly readable discussion, with background information, useful explanation and interpretation, and thoughts as to how it can be relevant to our lives today. No knowledge of technical jargon is required.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #61941 in Books
• Published on: 2006-12-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

About the Author
Tom Wright is the Bishop of Durham and is a regular broadcaster on radio and television. He is the author of over forty books, including the For Everyone guides to the New Testament, the highly acclaimed series Christian Origins and the Question of God, and the best-selling books Simply Christian and Surprised by Hope.

Customer Reviews

Romans for everyone
Tom Wright, also known as N.T.Wright, is the Church of England Bishop of Durham and a leading Bible scholar. He is going through the whole New Testament, providing his own translation of the Greek text, explaining the books for the average reader one by one. His style is easy going without ever being simplistic. He has a knack for being able to explain theological concepts in everyday language. He makes frequent use of illustrations - little stories - make telling points

His study of Romans is in two parts. This book for chapters 1 - 8 and Part 2 for chapters 9 - 16. The second book has now been published.

Wright does not write like someone who has a book of systematic theology in front of them and is now trying to attach various parts of the `Salvation' section to various parts of the text of Romans. He does not write like someone who is more interested in giving us a blow by blow account of Reformation arguments than telling us what the plain meaning of the text is. He does not write as someone whose purpose is to repeat the same basic point about justification by faith over and over again to the exclusion of other themes. The absence of these well worn paths is a relief.

Instead he introduces us to the unfolding argument of the apostle Paul, a Jew who has come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah and therefore King of the whole world. He takes us step by step through Paul's reasoning as Paul explains the salvation that Jesus the King has won by constant reference to the history of Israel. We are now in a new stage of salvation history: one in which all the nations of the world are invited in to be part of God's one family. But of course, this new stage of salvation history flows directly from the preceding stage - God's previous dealing's with Israel.

Some readers will find themselves asking - When is Tom Wright ever going to get round to telling us about the age-old lessons of this letter - like Justification by Faith? The answer is: All in good time! When Wright explains the justification texts in the early chapters of Romans his emphasis is on God's justice as his faithfulness to his promises - his covenants. Wright does get to the justification of people in more traditional terms when he explains chapter 8. Wrights point seems to be this: we cannot get a deep understanding of a key concept like justification by rushing to a final conclusion the first time we come across it. We have to let Paul develop his argument - taking in one lesson at a time, then when Paul sums up his argument in chapter 8 the whole picture will fall into place.

This is a valuable study aid. I am sure it will help many people understand Paul's letter to the Romans better.

It is also invaluable for anyone interested in the `New Perspective' and where N.T.Wright (as he will be known to you) stands within it. The thinking that is the foundation for his scholarly books is laid out here.