Wright on Pre-Pub and the Origins series

I noticed that a bunch of N.T. Wright's books are being put together as a collection. This is great, and I've thought for a long time that the "Everyone" series would be great for Logos. But now a bunch of us have $100 sunk into the Christian Origins and the Question of God series. Will we be able to buy the "Everyone" series separately? Or can we get some kind of break on the package if we've already purchased part of it?

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Mark Barnes

Well spotted - it can only have arrived in the last few minutes! But the Christian Origins and the Question of God isn't part of this collection, so I guess there's going to be no break.

Andreas Holmberg

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/193089#Comment_193089

I've read some books by Wright but none of the books in the "For everyone"-series.

What are they like? Judging from the number of pages they come in as mid-level commentaries. Or?

Are they geared towards application? Are they useful in sermon preparation? Or rather more useful in the context of a bible study group?

Similarly for the three-volume "Twelve Months of Sundays: Reflections on Bible Readings": are they primarily for the pastor preparing a sermon or for the keen lay-person wanting to dig deeper into the Word before or after church on Sunday? Or, possibly, both?

I would really appreciate any experiences of those books that some of you may have. Thanks!

Andreas Holmberg

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/193378#Comment_193378

Just like to add that it seems all of the "For Everyone" books get raving reviews at Amazon.

And I found some answers to my questions.

About the "Twelve Months of Sundays":

These texts
(12 Months of Sundays A/B/C are a great aid for clergy who want to use the
church calendar of readings as the basis for their sermons. My wife and I read
them along with the Scripture readings for the day every Sunday before our time
of prayer together. I recommend these works for all pastors and for Christians
who want to incorporate the traditional Scripture reading schedule into their
devotional lives.

About "For Everyone"

This is a
book that can be used as a sermon resource (and what a resource it is!), a
daily devotional guide, or simply a new, exciting path through the New
Testament. and

If you're
looking for an academic commentary, this is not for you. But if you're looking
for an academically grounded, biblically faithful, and wisely popular commentary
on Matthew, you need look no further.

However, still interested in what others think about these books.

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/193385#Comment_193385

I'm glad to see this collection includes Surprised by Hope, but it's too bad it doesn't include Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision. I think it would settle a lot of the confusion over this "new perspective" debate. I personally am looking forward to reading it but will have to settle for it in paper for now.

"For some time now, I have watched in puzzlement as some critics, imagining themselves as defenders of Paul's gospel, have derided Tom Wright as a dangerous betrayer of the Christian faith. In fact, Paul's gospel of God's reconciling, world-transforming grace has no more ardent and eloquent exponent in our time than Tom Wright. If his detractors read this book carefully, they will find themselves engaged in close exegesis of Paul's letters, and they will be challenged to join Wright in grappling with the deepest logic of Paul's message." -- Richard B. Hays, Duke University

"Tom Wright has out-Reformed America's newest religious zealots--the neo-Reformed--by taking them back to Scripture and to its meaning in its historical context. Wright reveals that the neo-Reformed are more committed to tradition than to the sacred text. This irony is palpable on every page of this judicious, hard-hitting, respectful study." -- Scot McKnight, North Park University

Here's a review by Craig Blomberg from Denver Seminary: http://www.denverseminary.edu/article/justification-gods-plan-and-pauls-vision/

Mark Barnes

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/193406#Comment_193406

I enjoy reading Tom Wright's academic books, but find his 'simpler' books dull. I know I'm in the minority. The 'For everyone' series reads a bit like an expositional commentary. Most sections are only a few pages, and will likely begin with an illustration, for example. The exposition itself will be easy to understand and clear principles are drawn out. What's unusual, however, for expositional commentaries is that the scholarship underlying the exposition is of a very high order.

Now you're thinking: that sound's great! Why does he think they're dull? Two reasons. First, although Wright brings out some really excellent principles, he never applies them. He tells you all about the Corinthian church (for example) and what Paul was saying to them, but he never tries to apply those principles to us. In a sense that's what you want in an academic commentary, but it's not what I want in an expositional commentary, and I miss it. The second reason that I find Wright's popular books dull is that I get frustrated with him for not really saying what he means. I don't know if it's the old CofE problem of being all things to all men, or the postmodern problem of allow the reader to make his own interpretation, or the human problem of just wanting to be liked by everyone, but it's almost impossible not to like or agree with what Wright says in most of his popular works. When I know I disagree with him on some fairly fundamental points, that's frustrating. When I know that he'll disagree with some of his other readers on different points, that again he doesn't raise, then that's doubly frustrating. Unfortunately it comes across to me as a lack of conviction, and it's that that makes it a dull read for me. (Though I've still placed my order!)

Allen Browne

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/193424#Comment_193424

Mark, while I don't find the Everyone series as useful for me personally, I certainly would not call them dull. In fact, my wife and I bought the set (in paper) to hand out to family and friends who would never read a more academic commentary. To a person, everyone loves them. The idea is that people have to give back the one they have before they can take another, but we still have many of the series missing from our bookshelf at any one time.

I noticed that Logos doesn't distinguish between the Tom Wright books and the N T Wright books on the website. While this has the advantage of making it easy to identify the author, it does make it harder to recognize the intentional differences between the two styles/target audiences. (Personally, I find it fascinating and instructive that one author can sustain two such completely different styles/audiences as he does.)

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/193406#Comment_193406

it's too bad it doesn't include Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision. I think it would settle a lot of the confusion over this "new perspective" debate. I personally am looking forward to reading it but will have to settle for it in paper for now.

Maybe it can be added to the bundle!?

We can at least ask N.T.Wright when Logos interviews him. http://community.logos.com/forums/p/26054/192292.aspx#192292

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/193471#Comment_193471

We can at least ask N.T.Wright when Logos interviews him. http://community.logos.com/forums/p/26054/192292.aspx#192292

They've already interviewed him. That was yesterday. He was here in BC for a series of lectures yesterday and today.

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/193471#Comment_193471

Mark, while I don't find the Everyone series as useful for me personally, I certainly would not call them dull. In fact, my wife and I bought the set (in paper) to hand out to family and friends who would never read a more academic commentary.

That is my feeling about them too. While they are probably not something I would need to read cover to cover, I'm sure there are passages in them that I'd want to quote to others when explaining things, because they are so accessible. Also if I get them in Logos, then I can give away my paper copies and recover some shelf space. [:)]

Allen Browne

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/193472#Comment_193472

it's too bad it doesn't include Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision. I think it would settle a lot of the confusion over this "new perspective" debate. I personally am looking forward to reading it but will have to settle for it in paper for now.

Maybe it can be added to the bundle!?

Have posted this request as a suggestion.

Jonathan Burke

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/193424#Comment_193424

Mark B, I agree with you to some extent, especially about Wright apparently not saying what he really means. I find he leads to a conclusion and then stops just short, and sometimes turns around and says something which sounds quite different. I'm purchasing the bundle anyway, just because of the higher order material.

Ted Hans

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/193424#Comment_193424

I am with you Mark B, on your assessment on N.T.Wright popular works. I would also extend 'some' of your comments to some of his more serious work. That said, I do like his work on the Resurrection (the trio already in Logos) http://www.logos.com/product/5223/christian-origins-and-the-question-of-god-series

Ted

Edit

Jim Poulsen

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/193406#Comment_193406

I heard NT Wright speak this week on our campus, and I'm reading both Piper's book and Wright's "Justification". Hope to finish them both this weekend if it snows and forces me to stay home/inside! No conclusions yet, just some scattered observations [:D]