Simply Good News: Why the Gospel Is News and What Makes It Good

by N. T. Wright

Overview

The bishop, Bible scholar, modern heir to C. S. Lewis, and revered author of Simply Christian and Simply Jesus offers a fresh look at the Gospel, explaining why Jesus’ message is “good news” and why it is more timely and transforming today than we know.

The Gospel means good news. But if the message has been around for 2,000 years, what makes it significant today? What’s so “good” about stories involving damnation, violence, and a God who sacrifices his only son?

Noted Bible scholar N.T. Wright shows us how Christians today have lost sight of what the “good news” of the gospel really is. In Simply Good News, he takes us back in time to reveal how the people of the first-century—the gospel’s original audience—would have received Jesus’ message. He offer a clear and thoughtful analysis of what the “good news” really is, and applies it to our lives today, revealing its power to transform us.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062334350
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/31/2017
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	433,007
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

N. T. Wright is the former Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and one of the world’s leading Bible scholars. He serves as the chair of New Testament and Early Christianity at the School of Divinity at the University of St. Andrews as well as Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University. He has been featured on ABC News, Dateline, The Colbert Report, and Fresh Air. Wright is the award-winning author of many books, including Paul: A Biography, Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, The Day the Revolution Began, Simply Jesus, After You Believe, and Scripture and the Authority of God.

Table of Contents

1 What's the News? 1

2 Foolish, Scandalous, or Good? 15

3 Surprised by King Jesus 35

4 Distorted and Competing Gospels 57

5 Rethinking Heaven 89

6 Wrong Future, Wrong Present 105

7 Surprised by God 127

8 Praying the Good News 153

Acknowledgments 173

Scripture Index 175

Subject Index 177

Preview from N. T. Wright's latest book The Day the Revolution Began 195

Editorial Reviews

Clarifies what exactly the good news is, and why such an undertaking even matters . . . well-articulated.

Seedbed

Takes aim at pious church-going Christians who cling to a naive but persistent belief—that Jesus’ teaching is all about getting your caboose into Heaven. . . . Wright is a giant among conservative Christian thinkers, often compared to C.S. Lewis in stature and influence.

The News & Observer

Simply Good News is a potent reminder that the gospel is an announcement of a past event, and this ensures the future and transforms the present. In a world of competing allegiances and rivals for cultural dominance, Wright steps in to say, ‘Jesus is Lord.’

Gospel Coalition

When today’s leading New Testament theologian has something new to say about anything, readers pay attention.

Kimberly Mauck

For those who are new to Wright, Simply Good News will offer a helpful introduction to and summary of . . . the work of an undoubtedly brilliant artist.

Christianity Today

Wright’s direct style, reminiscent of C. S. Lewis’ writings, invites readers in but allows for internal argument.

Booklist (starred review)

Thoughtful and accessible, offering concrete Biblical wisdom as to how we can live as good news people.

Unfundamentalist Christians

Wright wipes off the dust of history and culture and finds that the good news of Jesus is more exciting, dynamic, and inspirational than what we have settled for. . . . Excellent scholarship expressed clearly and simply . . . a short gem.

Above the Haze

Praise for N. T. Wright: “Tom Wright is, as always, brilliant at distilling immense scholarship into vivid, clear and accessible form.

Rowan Williams

Wright’s got another masterful book under his belt with Simply Good News.

Clarion Journal

Simply Good News sets out to reorient and refocus the Christian faith by examining its central tenet: the gospel… His exegesis of Jesus’ words is thoughtful and accessible, offering concrete Biblical wisdom as to how we can live as good news people.

Patheos

Wright’s books have overpowered both Lewis and Stott because he has expanded those studies and set it all in a firmer historical orientation.

Scot McKnight

For those who are new to Wright, Simply Good News will offer a helpful introduction to and summary of . . . the work of an undoubtedly brilliant artist.” — Christianity Today

“Simply Good News is a potent reminder that the gospel is an announcement of a past event, and this ensures the future and transforms the present. In a world of competing allegiances and rivals for cultural dominance, Wright steps in to say, ‘Jesus is Lord.’” — Gospel Coalition

“Takes aim at pious church-going Christians who cling to a naive but persistent belief—that Jesus’ teaching is all about getting your caboose into Heaven. . . . Wright is a giant among conservative Christian thinkers, often compared to C.S. Lewis in stature and influence.” — The News & Observer

“Wright wipes off the dust of history and culture and finds that the good news of Jesus is more exciting, dynamic, and inspirational than what we have settled for. . . . Excellent scholarship expressed clearly and simply . . . a short gem.” — Above the Haze

“Explains the nature of good news, the essence of what that good news is and is not, and what it means for the way we live now, think about God, and pray . . . readable and insightful, characterized by Wright’s familiar mixture of rich scholarship, vivid illustration, and contemporary application.” — Christianity Today

“Clarifies what exactly the good news is, and why such an undertaking even matters . . . well-articulated.” — Seedbed

“Thoughtful and accessible, offering concrete Biblical wisdom as to how we can live as good news people.” — Unfundamentalist Christians

Praise for N. T. Wright: “Tom Wright is, as always, brilliant at distilling immense scholarship into vivid, clear and accessible form.” — Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

“Wright’s direct style, reminiscent of C. S. Lewis’ writings, invites readers in but allows for internal argument.” — Booklist (starred review)

“When today’s leading New Testament theologian has something new to say about anything, readers pay attention.” — Kimberly Mauck, The Christian Chronicle

“Wright’s books have overpowered both Lewis and Stott because he has expanded those studies and set it all in a firmer historical orientation.” — Scot McKnight, author of The Jesus Creed

“Simply Good News sets out to reorient and refocus the Christian faith by examining its central tenet: the gospel… His exegesis of Jesus’ words is thoughtful and accessible, offering concrete Biblical wisdom as to how we can live as good news people.” — Patheos

“Wright’s got another masterful book under his belt with Simply Good News.” — Clarion Journal

From the Publisher

03/01/2015
Wright (New Testament and early Christianity, Univ. of St. Andrews; Paul and the Faithfulness of God), a retired bishop of the Anglican Church and a busy author of scholarly books on New Testament subjects and more accessible theological works, has been criticized for his outspoken opposition to liberalizing tendencies within the Anglican communion, especially in matters of sexuality. In his latest book, Wright states that the good news is not simply of God's grace or love, but that God came to earth as Jesus, and therefore is like Jesus: complex, real, loving, and utterly unlike—as the author takes pains to point out—the gods of the pagan world. All of this, according to Wright, is part of the Lord's larger project, for Christians to see that God wants to save the world through the actions of the faithful. VERDICT Far from Wright's most profound or effective contribution to theological dialog, this title should nevertheless prove of interest to students and pastors.

Library Journal