Surprised By Hope: Re-Thinking Heaven, Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church Paperback

Surprised By Hope: Re-Thinking Heaven, Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church

by Tom Wright

Paperback|Sep 2011

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In this stimulating, accessible book, leading theologian Tom Wright explores the Christian hope of life beyond death, and the effect it has on the lives we lead now. He explains why Christians believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus, and how this bears upon the future hope of a new heaven and a new earth.

Lively and accessible, this book will surprise and excite all who are interested in the meaning of life not only after death but before it.

What do Christians hope for?
To leave this wicked world and go to 'heaven'?
For the 'kingdom of God' to grow gradually on earth?
What do we mean by the 'resurrection of the body', and how does that fit with the popular image of sitting on clouds playing harps?
And how does all this affect the way we live in the here and now?

Tom Wright, one of our leading theologians, addresses these questions in this provocative and wide-ranging new book. He outlines the present confusion about future hope in both church and world. Then, having explained why Christians believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus himself, he explores the biblical hope for 'new heavens and new earth', and shows how the 'second coming' of Jesus, and the eventual resurrection, belong within that larger picture, together with the intermediate hope for 'heaven'. For many, including many Christians, all this will come as a great surprise.

Wright convincingly argues that what we believe about life after death directly affects what we believe about life before death. For if God intends to renew the whole creation - and if this has already begun in Jesus' resurrection - the church cannot stop at 'saving souls', but must anticipate the eventual renewal by working for God's kingdom in the wider world, bringing healing and hope in the present life.
-Publisher.

Publisher Description

Tom Wright outlines the present confusion about future hope in both church and world. Wright convincingly argues that what we believe about life after death directly affects what we believe about life before death. This book will surprise and excite all who are interested in the meaning of life not only after death but before it.

PRODUCT DETAIL

Catalogue Code 335535
Product Code 9780281064779
ISBN 0281064776
EAN 9780281064779
Pages 352
Department Academic
Category Theology
Sub-Category Eschatology
Publisher Society For Promoting Christian Knowledge Spck
Publication Date Sep 2011
Sales Rank 3447
Dimensions 216 x 138 x 27mm
Weight 0.411kg

Features In Catalogues

Tom Wright

N.T.(Tom) Wright (D.Phil., Oxford) has recently retired as Bishop of Durham, and is one of the most influential theologians in the world today. During his long and dynamic ministry career, Wright has successfully blended the roles of pastor, preacher, academic, and popular author. His prolific written output reaches a wide range of readers: his books The New Testament and the People of God; Jesus and the Victory of God; and The Resurrection of the Son of God are monumental works of New Testament scholarship, while his For Everyone commentary series brings the Bible alive for a popular audience. Wright is currently Research Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

Koorong -Editorial Review.