Category Archives: Blogging Through a Book

Simply Jesus: On Miracles

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A miracle is a violation of the laws of nature, and as a firm and unalterable experience has established these laws, the proof against a miracle, from the very nature of the fact, is as entire as could possibly be imagined. … Nothing is esteemed a miracle, if it ever happen in the common course of nature. … There must, therefore, be a uniform experience against every miraculous event, otherwise the event would not merit that appellation. – David Hume (On Miracles)

In chapters 6 and 7, Wright explores Jesus’ miracles and asks us to consider what they mean? Before tackling their meaning, Continue reading →

Simply Jesus: Unpredictable

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For the sovereign Lord is awe-inspiring;
he is the great king who rules the whole earth!
He subdued nations beneath us
and countries under our feet.
(Ps. 47:2-3; NET)

This is the best chapter (#5) of the book (so far), and an excellent explanation of how the OT had setup expectations and varying ideas in the minds of those living in the first century about how God was going to fulfill His promises to return and restore Israel. In a flowing narrative full of references to Scripture, Wright describes the difficulty that the people of Israel had in understanding how both God and David would be King. Continue reading →

Simply Jesus: The Perfect Storm

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This is post is part of a series of posts as I blog through the book Simply Jesus by N.T. Wright. Feel free to join in at anytime.

In 1991, the Perfect Storm (aka as the Halloween Nor’easter of 1991) hit the North East Coast of the US. It was the storm behind the popular movie of the same name. In chapters 3 – 5, Wright uses the image of the Perfect Storm to describe both the modern culture wars as well as the historical situation in Jerusalem during the first century. Continue reading →