Into the Heart of Romans: A Deep Dive into Paul’s Greatest Letter

by N. T. Wright

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2023

Overview

N. T. Wright is widely regarded as the most influential commentator and interpreter of Paul, and Paul’s letter to the Romans is often thought of as the Gospel in condensed form. And, within Romans, chapter 8 is one of the most spectacular pieces of early Christian writing. It’s thrust is clear, but its detailed argument is complex, incorporating the major biblical and theological themes. In this short book, Wright takes a deep dive into Romans 8, showing how it illuminates so much else that God reveals in Scripture: God the Father, Christology, and the Spirit; Jesus’ Messiahship, cross, resurrection, and ascension; salvation, redemption, and adoption; suffering and glory; holiness and hope. Wright shows how Romans 8 holds together covenant and apocalyptic and justification and “being in Christ.” It illuminates the Gospel from the promises to Abraham through the visions of Revelation.

Key Features

• Takes the reader deep into the heart of Paul’s understanding of God and his purpose
• Includes questions for reflection or discussion
• Shows how Romans 8 holds together covenant and apocalyptic and justification and “being in Christ”

Contents

• Preface
• 1 Romans 8 in Context
• 2 Romans 8.1–4: No Condemnation
• 3 Romans 8.5–11: The Spirit Gives Life
• 4 Romans 8.12–17: Led by the Spirit
• 5 Romans 8.17–21: The Liberation of Creation
• 6 Romans 8.22–7: The Groaning of the Spirit
• 7 Romans 8.28–30: Justifi ed and Glorified
• 8 Romans 8.31–4: If God Is for Us
• 9 Romans 8.34–9: Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love
• Appendix 1: Roman-Inaugurated Eschatology: The Return of the Golden Age (the Age of Saturn)
• Appendix 2: Hebrew Eschatology: The Messianic Age and/or the Coming of God’s Glory

Praise for the Print Edition

Romans is a mystery. Wright leads us on an exciting journey beyond the veil, into its inner sanctum. Discover how humans are being renewed in glory, creation refreshed, and God honored. As we gaze upon Jesus, our King and High Priest, we discover our true mission and human purposes.

—Matthew W. Bates, professor of theology, Quincy University

Like a falcon in a dive, Tom Wright takes readers on a majestic and soaring flight through Romans 8, the heart of Paul's letter to the Roman house churches. There's so much to see on atonement, spirit versus flesh, adoption, love, and hope, and Tom does not disappoint with his amazing mix of explanatory insights and easy readability. For many readers, reading this book will be the first time Romans actually makes sense to them.

—Michael F. Bird, deputy principal at Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia

N. T. Wright has long made it clear that Romans 8 is a text that is dear to his own heart and understanding of Paul. In this book, we encounter Wright as pastor, professor, and scholar. He teaches us how to read a text (as professor), what he discovers in the text (as scholar), and why Paul's message in one of his most significant passages still matters for the church today (as pastor). It was also refreshing to witness Wright model the ability to grow as an exegete revising one's opinion when better readings present themselves. This book is an exemplar of a pastorally and exegetically rich analysis of a dense but rewarding section of Paul's most famous letter.

—Esau McCaulley, associate professor of New Testament, Wheaton College

Product Details

• Title: Into the Heart of Romans: A Deep Dive into Paul’s Greatest Letter
• Author: N. T. Wright
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Print Publication Date: 2023
• Logos Release Date: 2023
• Pages: 232
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible. N.T. Romans 8 › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Bible. N.T. Romans › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Bible. N.T. Romans › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9780310157823, 9780310157748, 9780310157816, 031015782X, 0310157749, 0310157811
• Resource ID: LLS:INTOHEARTROMANS
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-10-17T18:26:10Z

About N. T. Wright

Nicholas Thomas “Tom” Wright (1948–) is a New Testament scholar, Pauline theologian, and Anglican bishop and currently Research Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity at St. Mary's College in the University of St Andrews and Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. Christianity Today named him one of today's top theologians. 

Wright was born in Morpeth, Northumberland, and recounts an awareness of God's presence from a young age—and that relationship with God ever since is reflected in his life and work. He's a prolific author; one of his most popular books, Surprised by Hope, frames the resurrection of the dead as the appropriate hope for all believers rather than an overemphasis on just "going to heaven when you die." He's among the leading theologians in the New Perspective on Paul debate. Wright has several honorary doctoral degrees, and in 2014, the British Academy awarded him the Burkitt Medal "in recognition of special service to biblical studies." In 2015, he was made a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Wright served as chaplain at Cambridge from 1978 to 1981, then as assistant professor of New Testament language and literature at McGill University in Montreal. Before becoming a chaplain, tutor, lecturer, and fellow at Oxford in 1986, Wright served as dean of Lichfield Cathedral, canon theologian of Westminster Abbey, and the bishop of Durham from 2003–10. In addition to the entire New Testament for Everyone Series, some of N. T. Wright's books include The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians, Who Was Jesus, The New Testament and the People of God, God and the Pandemic, Evil and the Justice of God, Surprised by Hope, and Simply Christian. He coauthored Jesus the Final Days with Craig A. Evans.