The Challenge of Jesus:
Rediscovering who Jesus was and is,
by N. T. Wright

a review by Kevin Binkley

N. T. Wright in The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering who Jesus was and is is on a quest to discover the historical Jesus. He believes that a better, deeper, fuller understanding of who Jesus was (or who Jesus thought he was) will help modern day scholars remain truth tellers and not story tellers.

I agree with Wright when he says "Many Christians have been, frankly, sloppy in their thinking and talking about Jesus, and hence, sadly, in their praying and in their practice of discipleship. We cannot assume that by saying the word Jesus, still less the word Christ, we are automatically in touch with the real Jesus who walked and talked in first-century Palestine... Only by hard, historical work can we move toward a fuller comprehension of what the Gospels themselves were trying to say. "

Wrights three aims in the book are to

1. maintain historical integrity in talking about Jesus,
2. continue proper discipleship that follows from the conclusions of the previous aims, and
3. reinvigorate the mission of the Church by integrating all of human life with the kingdom of God.

Does Wright fulfill his objectives?

Wright has maintained historical integrity in talking about Jesus. He uses all the tools available including the Bible, extra-biblical writing, church fathers, and diligent assessment of what has been and is being said about Christ. His writing has no shortage of study and research.

Wrights reasons for making the study are sincere and legitimate. He says we must answer the questions he asks because

1. we are made for God,
2. we must be loyal to scripture,
3. of a Christian imperative for truth, and
4. of the Christian commitment to missions.

Wright has been faithful to his purposes from his perspective, even though I disagree with his conclusions. I have no doubt that Wright's objective to foster proper discipleship is realized in many regards. There is credibility by just staying in the conversation.

Certainly Wright is more of a theologian now than this writer or many likely to read this paper will ever be. But, discipleship is steered by ones conclusions in study. Some of the conclusions that Wright draws open the door to thinking that will be a detriment to discipleship, the very thing he proposes to foster.

Wright writes with the idea that Jesus did not know why he was here on earth, and that he did not know he was the son of God (page 121). This conclusion is unthinkable. This false conclusion opens the door for additional skepticism on what Jesus said and did.

The Bible certainly declares that Jesus was God in John 1:1 and other passages. Jesus knew he was God. He told his Jewish opponents that "before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). He repeatedly forgave sin (Matt 9:2, Mark 2:5, Luke 5:20) which is the right of God alone. The religious leaders told Jesus in Mark 2:7 that only God can forgive sins. Jesus forgave sin and gave the religious leaders no argument to their declaration that only God can forgive sin. Jesus knew he was God.

If Jesus wasn't sure he was God, and if Jesus did not know why he was here, then the statements Jesus made recorded in the Bible saying he was God, forgiving sin, and telling listeners that I and the father are one, are just the silly ranting of a "wanna-be" gospel writer trying to make Jesus say something he did not know he saying. The Bible does not paint Jesus as the one who does not quite know what was going on. That spot is interestingly reserved for the disciples, and they were not afraid to write about their own shortcomings.

Jesus knew what he was doing and he knew why he was here. To discern what Jesus said differently is to disregard what Jesus said, and to discredit the infallible word of God, which incidentally, teaches us what true discipleship is all about. If a person discredits the truth that Jesus proclaimed about himself, what reason would there be to read, listen, and obey anything he said about discipleship? Jesus came to make disciples for the glory of God.

Although Wright is certainly sincere, his false conclusions will hamper the very thing he proposes to foster, namely, discipleship.

Wright desires to reinvigorate the mission of the church. The mission of the church is reinvigorated by the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of disciples. The Holy Spirit came, among other things, to teach us and remind us of truth (John 16:13). Truth is important and comes from integrity in scholarship. Integrity in scholarship yields truth in doctrine. Missions without truth is a disaster. False religions do missions, but they have nothing to offer. Their gospel is false. Their hope is ever illusive.

Jesus said you will know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8:32). Jesus said go to the world (this is missions) and teach them all things I have commanded you (Matt 28:20). Paul told Timothy to teach no other doctrine (1 Tim 1:2-3). Scholarship that results in erroneous conclusions will ultimately thwart the purpose of missions. Some of Wright's conclusions, in my opinion, are that dangerous.

Wright is a gifted writer. Reviewers abound with accolades of his skill. His writing skill is not in question; it is his conclusions that trouble me. I would recommend the book to discerning Bible students that I wanted to teach how to guard against paths that lead to places we don't want to end up. I would not suggest the book to help someone learn more about who Jesus was and is, the subtitle of Wrights book, because I think he fails to answer the question correctly.

Forgive me for not seeing as much value in the book as other sincere Christians. I would be the first to back down from my opinions when a credible argument refutes it.

Just because Wright is a famous, gifted writer and speaker does not automatically make him "right." In the end analysis, in this book, Wright is wrong.