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| Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church | 
 enlarge | Author: N. T. Wright
Publisher: HarperOne
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $14.04
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (29 reviews)
Sales Rank: 1092
Languages: English (Unknown), English (Original Language), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.9
ISBN: 0061551821
Dewey Decimal Number: 236.8
EAN: 9780061551826
ASIN: 0061551821
Publication Date: February 1, 2008
Release Date: February 5, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
For years Christians have been asking, "If you died tonight, do you know where you would go?" It turns out that many believers have been giving the wrong answer. It is not heaven. Award-winning author N. T. Wright outlines the present confusion about a Christian's future hope and shows how it is deeply intertwined with how we live today. Wright, who is one of today's premier Bible scholars, asserts that Christianity's most distinctive idea is bodily resurrection. He provides a magisterial defense for a literal resurrection of Jesus and shows how this became the cornerstone for the Christian community's hope in the bodily resurrection of all people at the end of the age. Wright then explores our expectation of "new heavens and a new earth," revealing what happens to the dead until then and what will happen with the "second coming" of Jesus. 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's 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. 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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 24 more reviews...
Good Book August 12, 2008
N. T. Wright is a great author and most knowledgeable within the Christian ranks. At the same time he can sometimes speak a little over my head. The book is worthwhile if you want to work while you read it.
 Powerful insights & lifechanging truth August 12, 2008
I believe this book is destined to be a "Christian classic" along the lines of C.S. Lewis's best works. Being more succinct than Wright's previous tomes, it is much easier to digest and has, in turn, a greater impact on the reader. I say this having read most of what N.T. Wright has written.
The central of truth of the kingdom of heaven being inaugurated with Christ's life, death and resurrection is one of the most powerful truths ever -- and will change our lives, if we'll let it. I am still grappling with the practical ramification of heaven being "right here" among us, albeit in a different dimension -- rather than being "out there" somewhere.
Likewise, the truth of Jesus ruling and reigning presently, in his bodily resurrected form as opposed to spirit-form, is profound. That's another one that I'm wrestling with. I can honestly say I've been energized in the last couple of weeks just pondering this.
Bottom line, this book challenges us to re-think and re-shape many of the traditional views of heaven, the resurrection, and the kingdom. And, most importantly, we are provided practical guidance on "what this all means" to our everyday lives.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ALL!
 LOOK AT MY COMMENT August 4, 2008
I posted on Bookguy's review
I looked at this book at B and N...I would never subject my soul to such ideas. I wish to inform christians that what you read affects the soul. Please read Jung and the history of the church, you christians may come to know some things about your shadow...which is deep and dark, 1700 yr period. European *christians* have been persecuting jews for the past 1700 years. Violent persecutions. Of course you do not wish to look at that, truth hurts.
This book only leads astray into very strange ideas, having nothing whatsoever to do with God's Kingdom on earth.
Brother Paul
New Orleans
Aug 27,2208
refreshing and insightful July 30, 2008
We often view the afterlife in very narcissistic terms, as some kind of self-centered, individualistic reward for personal holiness. Bishop Wright blows that theory right out of the water. Its not about us at all, but the Kingdom of God and our expanding role in it. Having just finished this excellent book, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about what the Bible actually teaches about what resurrection really means for the life of the world. You may be surprised, as the title says, but I have no doubt that you'll also find it quite inspiring. The cost of this book is money well spent.
 Good for evangelists July 11, 2008
2 out of 9 found this review helpful
The premise of this book is that most people, including most Christians, don't understand the revolutionary nature of the faith's core beliefs. Those beliefs being, Christ physically died, Christ was physically resurrected, and that Christ will come again to physically raise the dead, who will then live on a new earth that is cojoined to a new heaven.
The first part of the book attempts to prove -- without success -- that most Christians don't understand these core beliefs. The subsequent sections go through the historical and social context of the resurrection and how surprised the first believers were to be faced with these ideas. The final sections consider what believers today armed with the "full" revelation on life, death, and life after death is dead, should be doing in the world now as a result.
While the book has a few interesting sentences, most chapters could be reduced to a paragraph or two. Better editing would have been a plus. The author has a few peculiar theories, but does state they are his personal theories, and are without any foundation in scripture. Ditto his pet peeves.
Non-Christians may perhaps be surprised by the information in this book. But most Christians and denominations already know this information, in some form or variation, and are actively and appropriately engaged in the work Wright seems to think needs to be done. The latter fact, makes the book overall disappointing and made the final sections seem very out of touch.
The book is worth purchasing only if you are looking for detailed information on early Christianity and the resurrection. These sections could be a help to individuals who need a stronger, more scholarly foundation for their faith or for their evangelism. "You're a sinner and need to be saved to avoid Hell," while scripturally true is but a small part of the Christian faith. Wright's book will help you get the big parts back in play.
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