Author, Simon.
Published, December 6, 2008.

From the blurb:

For years Christians have been asking “If you died tonight, do you know where you would go?” It turns out many believers have been giving the wrong answer. It is not heaven.

For those of you unfamiliar with N. T. Wright, he is the coolest old, bald Anglican since C. S. Lewis. In fact he is even balder than Clive Staples. He is also, much more significantly, the current Bishop of Durham, and one the foremost New Testament scholars in the world. This volume, Surprised By Hope, was published this year, so is a very recent addition to the literature. In my opinion, it is a very good one.

The subtitle of Surprised By Hope is ‘Rethinkin Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church’. Wright begins by debunking all of the most common misconceptions about the after-life. He tackles both the secular misconceptions and misconceptions within the church. ‘Heaven’ is given a thorough going-over, as Wright criticises the rampant Platonic dualism which has swept Evangelical circles in recent decades, and then shows what the Bible actually says about where we go when we die. It is a refreshing insight.

Wright then proceeds to analyse current trends within, and without, the church in regards to political progress or despair. With these trends in mind, he outlines and exposits what the Bible has to say about the Second Coming, the Ascension, the resurrection and redemption of our bodies, Purgatory, Hell and the New Heaven and Earth. All this time, Wright is emphasising the amazing hope which the Bible speaks of in key passages like Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 15, and the final chapter of Revelation, among others. It is made clear to the reader that the Bible does, indeed, speak of a very physical resurrection, and very real redemption of the entirety of creation. Jesus of Nazareth’s resurrection from the dead was the inauguration of this very real victory which was won over death, and the start of the Kingdom, which is the central theme in the third part of the book.

‘Part III: Hope in Practice’, is a very inspiring, and helpful section of practical theological writing. Wright explores the concepts of Kingdom and Salvation, then shows how clearly Jesus resurrection was the ultimate precursor to the redemption of creation. It also becomes clear that this work of redemption started at Easter, is the Church’s mission. The Church is commanded to anticipate this ultimate hope we have, by “building for the Kingdom.” A key verse quoted often here is 1 Corinthians 15:58. What you do in the Lord is not in vain. Wright states that “the church is called to a mission of implementing Jesus’ resurrection and thereby anticipating the final new creation.” Major categories explored, in which the church can and should be active are; justice, beauty and evangelism. These three areas, Wright suggests, all point to the coming hope we have if we are in Christ. As God’s church, we should be acting in justice in order to anticipate the justice of the New Creation, creating beauty in order to anticipate the incredible perfection and beauty of the New Creation, and we are to tell the world about this ultimate hope we have in the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Finally, Wright establishes a framework through which the church can start acting in anticipation of the final hope we have.

This is an important book for the church today. There is a theological framework, and vision of hope, from which the Church could launch a powerful movement to win back the hope it holds, but has forgotten in a tide of dispensationalism, cynical right-wing politics, and Platonist philosophy. Wright shows that the Bible says some quite incredible things regarding what we can very legitimately hope for. He also shows that, with that hope before us, we can behave like the hopeful Bride of Christ we are meant to behave like. There is a platform here on which the Church can build a mission of bringing justice, beauty and the Gospel to the nations; and it is hopeful! If you read this book, you will certainly be surprised by that hope. I heartily recommend this book.