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  • Surprised by Hope

  • Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church
  • Written by: N. T. Wright
  • Narrated by: James Langton
  • Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (34 ratings)

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Surprised by Hope

Written by: N. T. Wright
Narrated by: James Langton
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Publisher's Summary

In this groundbreaking book - available in audio for the first time - renowned Bible scholar, Anglican bishop, and best-selling author N. T. Wright argues that Christians have not distorted the Bible's message about heaven and what happens after we die.

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.

Wright outlines the present confusion about a Christian's future hope and shows how it is deeply intertwined with how we live today. Wright asserts that Christianity's most distinctive idea is bodily resurrection, and provides a magisterial defense for a literal resurrection of Jesus. 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, it will come as a great surprise to learn that heaven comes to earth instead of us going to heaven.

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.

©2010 Nicholas Thomas Wright (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

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ingenious

I loved this book. Wright explains the atonement in such a way that it gave me hope, instead of making me feel guilty for not having enough faith.

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A necessary challenge

N. T. Wright routinely challenges Mainstream Christianity to rethink assumed beliefs which in some cases are not as orthodox as we might think. The resurrection is one of the big ones dealt with in this book. A great book and great narration.

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Amazing and insightful!!

Thank you NT Wright for this book. It really helps put heaven, Gods kingdom, new creation and resurrection in perspective.

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