This is part 3  of the series blogging through the book Scripture and the Authority of God by N.T. Wright. You might want to start with part 1. 

Having laid out a thesis (see part 1) and presenting the problems with how scripture is used as authoritative today (see part 2), Wright sets out to examine the use of scripture across different periods of time.

In chapter 2,Wright looks at Israel’s use of scripture and touches on the idea that these writings were inspired by God.

“Inspiration” is a shorthand way of talking about the belief that by his Spirit God guided the very different writers and editors, so that the books they produced were the books God intended his people to have. This is not the subject of the present book, but we should note that some kind of divine inspiration of scripture was taken for granted in most of the ancient Israelite scriptures themselves, as well as in the beliefs of the early Christians.

While it would be difficult to fully understand Wright’s view of inspiration since he leaves that term packed in a suitcase, it would appear that Wright holds to God being actively involved in the writing and editing process of the scriptures. Continue reading →

This is part 2  of the series blogging through the book Scripture and the Authority of God by N.T. Wright. You might want to start with part 1. 

When the question is asked – what is Scripture? – what is the first thing that pops into your head?

Was it the revelation of God, 66 infallible books, or Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth? Whatever your answer was, this is the question raised by Wright in the closing pages of chapter one. He is not asking the question regarding how many books, which books, or these kinds of questions we might have when posed with that idea. Nor has he grappled with views on inspiration or inerrancy.

Rather his aim is to explore the question what does Scripture contain that makes it authoritative? In the closing pages of chapter 1 under the section Transcending Revelation, Wright says that scripture is more than simply “conveying information” or a “record of revelation”. His goal is to help us grapple with the idea that scripture should be understood as more than “merely conveying true religious, theological, or ethical information” but as the story of God’s mission to renew creation. Continue reading →