Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Ask NT Wright Anything

How can you know you're truly saved? Could God's new creation fall into sin all over again? And if Christians are called to work for God's kingdom, why doesn't the world seem to be getting any better?In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird begin with the question of assurance. Drawing on Romans 10, Tom explains why justification by faith assures believers that they belong to God's family, while baptism and the Eucharist remain powerful signs of God's grace.Next, they consider whether the cycle of creation, fall and redemption could repeat forever. Tom turns to Revelation 21–22 and the promise that evil will finally be defeated: there will be no serpent in the new garden.Finally, what does it mean to build for the kingdom rather than build the kingdom itself? Tom challenges both naive optimism and despair, explaining why even our smallest acts of faithfulness can have a place in God's ultimate new creation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can a Christian serve in the military, knowing they may one day be required to take another person's life? And how should believers reconcile the call to peacemaking with the responsibility to protect the vulnerable? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle Christian vocation and the ethics of warfare, drawing on Mike's experience in the Australian Army and Tom's reflections on Romans 13, just war and the difficult moral decisions faced by soldiers. Then, what is the Bible's most important image of new creation? Tom explores the extraordinary relationship between temple and marriage, explaining how both point towards God's ultimate purpose of bringing heaven and earth together. Finally, should Anglicans be embarrassed that their church was founded by Henry VIII? Tom challenges the popular story, tracing the English Reformation back to reformers such as William Tyndale and John Frith, whose work began well before Henry's notorious break with Rome. Support & Subscribe    👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate 💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com 👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking here   Follow us    Instagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE) on X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Christianity really experiencing a “quiet revival” in Britain? Tom Wright responds to reports of increased interest in church and asks what genuine spiritual revival should look like. Tom and Mike Bird also tackle the disturbing story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. Why were they struck dead for lying, and what does the passage tell us about holiness, judgement and the presence of God? Finally, they turn to Jesus’ prayer that his followers “may be one”. Tom reflects on decades of ecumenical conversation and explains why Christian unity is not an optional extra but central to the church’s witness.Plus: the decline of New Atheism, the “myth of decline”, Romans 14–15 and why Tom says Christianity is fundamentally “a team sport”.Send your question to Tom at askntwright.com. Support & Subscribe 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow us Instagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can Christians challenge the decisions of historic church councils? What did Paul mean by the “righteousness of God”? And what actually happened when Jesus ascended into heaven?Tom Wright joins Mike Bird to explore three major questions from listeners.Tom explains why the great Christian creeds remain important while insisting that Scripture, not any theological system, has primary authority. He then unpacks the rich biblical meaning of righteousness, from Abraham and Phinehas to Romans and 2 Corinthians, and explains why no single English translation captures everything the biblical words convey.Finally, Tom tackles the physical reality of Jesus’ Ascension. Rather than imagining heaven simply as somewhere above the clouds, he argues that the Ascension points towards the biblical joining together of heaven and earth in Christ.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is the Rapture really biblical? And if friends or family strongly believe in it, should you try to change their minds? Tom Wright and Mike Bird revisit one of the most debated ideas in modern Christian eschatology. Tom explains why he believes 1 Thessalonians 4 has often been misunderstood, and why the New Testament points instead towards the return of Jesus, resurrection, renewed creation and Christ coming “to rescue, to rule, to reign”. They also ask whether apostles and prophets still exist today, with Tom warning against spiritual authority becoming authoritarianism. Plus, does it matter whether Christians call baptism and communion “sacraments” or “ordinances”? Tom explores why these practices point towards the biblical hope of heaven and earth coming together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can the God revealed in Jesus command acts of violence in the Old Testament? And what should Christians do with some of the Bible’s most troubling passages?Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle three major biblical puzzles in today's episode. First, why does Mark’s Gospel appear to end so abruptly, with the women fleeing the empty tomb in fear? Tom explains why he believes Mark’s original ending — and perhaps even its original beginning — may have been lost.Then, what is the book of Acts actually for? Is it simply a history of the early church or a manual for mission and church planting? Tom argues that its real hero is the gospel itself, as the message of Jesus travels from Jerusalem all the way to Rome.Finally, they confront violence in the Old Testament. Tom considers divine judgment, Israel’s own failures and why these disturbing stories ultimately have to be read within the larger biblical story that reaches its climax in Jesus and the cross.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does Jesus mean when he says we must be “born of water and Spirit”? Should Christians feel guilty if they pursue an ordinary career rather than full-time ministry? And why does Paul seem to blame Adam rather than Eve for the entrance of sin?In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird begin with John 3 and the relationship between baptism, the Holy Spirit and new birth. Tom places Jesus’ words within the wider biblical story of creation, Exodus and the renewal of God’s people. Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle three big questions: Which Anglican tradition is most faithful? Does Genesis 1 leave room for the “gap theory”? And does 2 Peter really teach that the earth will be destroyed by fire?They explore church tradition and biblical faithfulness, creation and Genesis, and whether the Christian hope is the destruction or renewal of the world.You may also like: What happens at the End of the Age? https://www.premierunbelievable.com/ask-nt-wright-anything/what-happens-at-the-end-of-the-age/20167.article What’s the fine print on the Second Coming…https://www.premierunbelievable.com/ask-nt-wright-anything/whats-the-fine-print-on-the-second-coming-the-transfiguration-and-michael-heisers-unseen-realm/21128.article Should I use the word ‘heaven’? Will we know everything in the new creation? https://www.premierunbelievable.com/ask-nt-wright-anything/ask-nt-wright-anything-145-should-i-use-the-word-heaven-will-we-know-everything-in-the-new-creation/14366.article Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are people basically good, or fundamentally sinful? Did Jesus teach salvation by works in the Sermon on the Mount? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore what the Bible really says about human nature, arguing that our primary identity is not simply "good" or "bad" but people created for God's vocation. They also examine one of the New Testament's enduring mysteries, the identity of the "beloved disciple" in John's Gospel, and ask whether we can know who he really was. Finally, Tom tackles a common misunderstanding of the Sermon on the Mount, explaining why Jesus' teaching is not legalism but a vision of what life looks like when God's kingdom breaks into the world.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if you genuinely want to love God, but find yourself more excited by your work, hobbies or a good novel than by reading the Bible? Does that mean something is wrong with your faith?In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird respond to a listener wrestling with fear, assurance and what it really means to desire God. Tom offers a refreshingly different way of thinking about prayer, Scripture and ordinary human passions — including why loving your vocation or even enjoying a crime novel need not compete with loving God.They also tackle the difficult ethical question of whether Christians can work in the defence industry, asking where personal conscience, national defence and responsibility for how our work is ultimately used should meet.Finally, they turn to the trial of Jesus: where exactly did Pontius Pilate judge him, how public would the proceedings have been, and could the Gospel accounts realistically preserve what happened during that extraordinary night?Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How does Jesus reveal the glory of God? Is the Trinity really the best way to understand Father, Son and Holy Spirit? And what should you do when you think your church is getting the Bible wrong?In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore how the New Testament reveals God’s glory through Jesus and whether Christians need a better way of explaining the Trinity. Tom argues that rather than beginning with an abstract idea of God and trying to fit Jesus into it, we should look at Jesus to discover what God is truly like.They also respond to a listener who feels increasingly isolated after rejecting the dispensationalist end-times theology of his church, asking how Christians can remain biblically faithful while disagreeing with their community, with both conviction and humility. Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are near-death experiences genuine glimpses of heaven and hell? Has Jesus always been the Son of God? And could Satan have prevented him from completing his mission? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore three substantial questions about death, the identity of Jesus and spiritual evil.Tom explains why Christians should remain open but cautious about near-death experiences, before tracing the biblical meaning of “Son of God,” from Israel and the Davidic king to the New Testament’s extraordinary claim that God’s eternal Son became human in Jesus. Finally Mike and Tom consider Satan’s role in the Gospel story.  Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can you forgive yourself? Were the Samaritans really Israelites? And what actually happened at Jesus' Ascension?In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird answer three thoughtful listener questions about forgiveness, biblical history and one of the most overlooked events in the life of Jesus. Along the way they explore healing from guilt, the relationship between Jews and Samaritans, and why the Ascension is central to understanding Christ's reign today.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can someone else's faith help bring us to Jesus? What really happens after Christians die? And why did Jesus keep healing people on the Sabbath?In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird answer three thoughtful listener questions about faith, death and the meaning of Jesus' Sabbath miracles. Along the way they explore corporate faith, the Christian hope of resurrection, and how Jesus fulfils Israel's vision of God's new creation.Books mentioned in today's episode:God's Homecoming https://amzn.to/4pkV2OLFor All The Saints https://amzn.to/3T1kJaVSupport & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why did Jesus often speak in riddles instead of plain language? What should Christians make of divorce in light of Jesus' teaching? And how should we understand Old Testament prophecies about Christ?In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore three challenging questions that sit at the intersection of biblical interpretation and pastoral wisdom.Tom explains why Jesus' teaching often appeared mysterious, showing how his parables confronted first-century expectations about God's kingdom rather than simply hiding the truth. He then offers a thoughtful and compassionate response to one of the most painful subjects Christians face today: divorce and remarriage. Finally, Tom explores Isaiah 53 and explains why biblical prophecy is far richer than a series of isolated predictions, revealing instead the larger story of God's purposes culminating in Jesus.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Description: Is the Greek Orthodox Church biblical? Should Christians judge non-Christians? And who exactly was the mysterious "elect lady" in 2 John?In this episode, Tom Wright answers three thought-provoking questions about church history, biblical interpretation and how Christians should engage with the wider world.Tom explains why Protestants often misunderstand the Orthodox tradition, explores one of the New Testament's most debated greetings, and reflects on Paul's teaching about judgment, holiness and Christian witness.👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does the Bible really say about heaven, eternal rewards, and the future God has prepared for his people?First, they discuss the meaning of "treasures in heaven" and heavenly rewards. If the Christian hope is ultimately resurrection and new creation, why does the New Testament speak about rewards stored in heaven? Tom explains how heaven functions in Scripture as God's space, where future realities are kept safe until the day they are revealed.Together they address a deeply personal question from a physician about medical ethics, end-of-life care, and the value of human life. How should Christians think about assisted dying, premature infants, human dignity, and the image of God in situations where modern medicine reaches its limits?Finally, they explore one of the most beloved passages in the Bible: Jesus' promise that "in my Father's house are many rooms." Does this refer to heaven as our final destination, or is there a richer biblical vision at work?Heavily referenced in this episode is Tom's book: God's Homecoming, which you can purchase worldwide: https://amzn.to/4f9H92dSupport & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do we make sense of some of the Bible's most difficult passages?In this episode, Tom Wright and Mike Bird discuss Jesus and divine judgment, the role of the Holy Spirit throughout Scripture, and the troubling problem of violence in the Old Testament.These are not easy questions, but they are questions many Christians wrestle with. Tom explores them through the lenses of Scripture, history, and the story of God's covenant purposes.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did the Church leave books out of the Bible? Are Roman Catholics truly saved? And should Christians support rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem?In this episode, Tom Wright and Mike Bird address three major questions about Scripture, salvation, and biblical prophecy.Tom explains how the biblical canon developed, why books like Enoch and Jubilees matter historically, and why Christians can have confidence in the core books of Scripture.They also discuss the doctrine of justification by faith and whether disagreements between Protestants and Catholics should lead Christians to question one another's salvation.Finally, they tackle modern fascination with a Third Temple and why the New Testament points believers to Jesus and the Church as God's true Temple.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE) / X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today's podcast Ask NT Wright Anything, Mike Bird and Tom Wright tackle listeners’ questions on marriage, biblical interpretation and Tom’s future writing projects. Tom explains why, in Simply Jesus, he describes the union of man and woman as a signpost to the coming together of heaven and earth, drawing on Genesis, John 2, Ephesians 5 and Revelation 21. He also reflects on how marriage points beyond itself to God’s ultimate new creation. Mike and Tom then explore how Christians can develop a genuinely biblical lens while recognising the cultural assumptions that shape every reader. Finally, Tom shares updates on possible forthcoming books, including work on the Gospels, mission, Philippians, and a more personal project on lessons learned over fifty years.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does Genesis really mean when it says a woman’s “desire will be for your husband and he shall rule over you"? Should Christians still tithe today? And are Oneness Pentecostals outside historic Christianity?In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle three major theological questions shaping modern Christianity.Together they explore Genesis 3:16 and whether the fall introduced distorted power dynamics into marriage. Next, the conversation turns to tithing: was the Old Testament tithe a permanent command for Christians, or part of Israel’s covenant life? Tom discusses the role of generosity in the New Testament and why Christian giving should flow from gratitude rather than obligation.Finally, Mike and Tom discuss Oneness Pentecostalism and the doctrine of the Trinity.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Mike Bird and Tom Wright tackle three big listener questions that sit at the crossroads of biblical interpretation and pastoral care.First, they explore what Jesus meant when he said the gospel must be preached to “the ends of the earth” in Matthew 24:14, and how that relates to Acts 1:8, Paul’s mission to Spain, and the fall of Jerusalem. Is global evangelisation a trigger for the Second Coming, or have we misunderstood Jesus’ words?Next, they address the painful experience of not feeling spiritually transformed. Drawing on Romans, Galatians, and 2 Corinthians, Tom reflects on the gap between our ideals and our lived reality, the role of mental health (including OCD), and the importance of spiritual direction and wise pastoral care.Finally, they turn to a deeply emotional question: What happens when our children walk away from the faith? Tom and Mike wrestle with how to hope, pray, and trust God’s mercy when we fear an eternity without those we love most, and how to live in that tension without easy answers.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another three thorny questions tackled with clarity and depth by Tom Wright and Mike Bird this week. Grab a coffee and prepare for vintage NT Wright. First, they explore the difference between biblical theology and systematic theology, asking when each is most useful and why keeping close to the biblical text really matters. Next, Tom unpacks the much-debated “I” the "Wretched Man" in Romans 7, explaining why Paul is not simply describing the ordinary Christian life but telling a bigger story about Israel, Torah and the problem of sin. Finally, they tackle Calvinism, predestination, the five points of TULIP and the tension between divine sovereignty and human freedom.Into The Heart of Romans  https://amzn.to/4sq8aBXSupport & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is building God’s kingdom basically the same thing as secular humanism? Should Christians pray directly to the Holy Spirit? And how do you relearn biblical Greek after years away from it?In this episode, Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore the deep difference between Christian hope and secular progress, giving practical advice for recovering New Testament Greek, and explain how the Trinity shapes Christian prayer.A thoughtful conversation about theology, language, and the presence of God.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Mike Bird and Tom Wright tackle three very different but deeply connected questions about faithfulness in a confused age today. First, they address the growing entanglement of MAGA politics, nationalism and parts of white evangelical culture, asking how Christians can resist ideological capture and recover the way of Jesus. They then respond pastorally to a listener wrestling with chronic illness, suffering and the search for meaning, offering compassion, prayer and a cross-shaped vision of purpose. Finally, they explore how to teach a more biblical hope in church: not escapist ideas of souls flying to heaven, but resurrection, new creation and God dwelling with his people. A thoughtful, searching and timely conversation about politics, pain and Christian hope in our present moment together.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happened to the “lost tribes” of Israel, and do they matter today?In this episode, Tom Wright explores the mystery of Israel’s northern tribes, the meaning of exile, and how the New Testament reframes restoration.They also dive into the debate around penal substitution, asking whether it truly reflects the biblical story. Finally, Mike and Tom tackle a practical question: which Old Testament should Christians read: the Hebrew Bible or the Septuagint? We hope you find today's episode a deep and clarifying episode on Scripture, history, and theology.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does the Bible really mean by “soul” and “spirit”? Are they the same thing, or something very different?In this episode, Tom Wright unpacks key biblical words like psuchē, pneuma, and ekklesia, showing how modern misunderstandings can distort Christian theology.They also tackle a profound question: Does God “repent”? How do we reconcile passages where God seems to change his mind with the idea that God is unchanging?This episode is all about getting back to Scripture and avoiding the confusion that comes from some biblical terms and words.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recorded in the Anglican calendar's Holy Week this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Michael Bird and Tom Wright begin with Easter traditions, from Bach’s St Matthew Passion to smashing chocolate Humpty Dumpty eggs. Then they tackle three rich questions. First: did Paul “convert” from Judaism to Christianity, or did his encounter with Jesus radically reframe his identity as a child of Abraham and member of God’s covenant people? Next: did Jesus make mistakes? Tom reflects on Hebrews, Gethsemane, and the Syrophoenician woman to explore what it means that Jesus “learned obedience” without implying sin or error. And finally, they discuss apostolic succession, asking whether continuity with the apostles rests mainly in bishops, priests, and deacons, or more deeply in Scripture, sacrament, prayer, and the church’s visible unity across time and space. Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright responds to listener questions about attending churches across denominational lines, the meaning of key biblical terms, and puzzling moments in the life of the Apostle Paul.Tom explores whether Protestants can attend Catholic churches, reflecting on how Christian unity should be lived out despite real theological differences. He also explains why some Bible translations use “Judeans” instead of “Jews,” and why this matters for understanding the New Testament without importing modern assumptions.Finally, Tom tackles a challenging question about Paul: why did he circumcise Timothy but refuse to circumcise Titus? Through this, he unpacks Paul’s mission strategy, his commitment to unity, and what it means to be faithful to the gospel in different cultural contexts.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this deeply pastoral episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle some of the most sensitive and difficult questions Christians face.How should believers respond when heartfelt prayers seem unanswered, especially in the tragedy of miscarriage and pregnancy loss? Tom reflects on grief, prayer, and the mysterious work of the Spirit in the midst of suffering.The conversation then turns to the Eucharist: what really happens in Holy Communion? Is it merely symbolic, or does something deeper occur when the church shares the bread and wine?Finally, Tom and Mike explore a question often raised in modern discussions about the Bible: did the characters of scripture, figures like Moses, Jonah, or Job, actually exist?Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright answers listener questions about John’s Gospel, worship music, and the relationship between Jesus and Paul.Tom explains how the miracle at Cana reveals Jesus’ glory and points forward to the cross. He also reflects on the theology embedded in Christian hymnody and why some lyrics may need updating. Finally, he addresses the long-standing claim that Paul distorted Jesus’ message and shows how Paul’s mission actually grows directly out of Jesus’ kingdom movement.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore three significant questions facing the church today:• Can Christians remain in a church that disagrees about women in leadership?• How can the global church move toward deeper unity across traditions?• Did the Apostle Paul wrongly expect Jesus to return within his lifetime?Tom reflects on the revolutionary role of women in the early church, the biblical vision of unity in Ephesians, and why Paul’s language about the Lord’s return has often been misunderstood.Rather than predicting the end of the world, Tom explains that the New Testament speaks of the fulfillment of God’s purposes for creation, the arrival of new creation.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Ask NT Wright Anything, N.T. Wright and Mike Bird tackle three major theological questions: Can Christians lose their salvation? What did Jesus actually mean when he spoke about hell? Is hyper-Calvinism a distortion of biblical teaching?Tom explores how the New Testament holds together both assurance and warning, why many modern ideas about hell owe more to medieval imagery than the Bible, and why philosophical systems about predestination often miss the central narrative of Scripture.Instead of abstract speculation about who is “in” or “out,” Tom argues that the Bible consistently tells the story of God choosing people in order to bless the world through them. Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle three fascinating theological questions: What actually happens at the Second Coming? Were Moses and Elijah resurrected at the Transfiguration? How should Christians understand the “unseen realm” of angels and spiritual beings?Tom explains why many popular readings of “rapture” passages misunderstand Jesus’ teaching, clarifies the biblical meaning of Christ’s return, and explores how resurrection differs from “going to heaven.” He also addresses the mystery of the Transfiguration and reflects on Michael Heiser’s work on angels and divine beings.Tom unpacks Daniel 7, 1 Corinthians 15, Philippians 3, Revelation 21, and more — explaining how heaven and earth ultimately come together in God’s renewed creation.This episode dives deep into eschatology, resurrection, biblical cosmology, and the nature of heaven and earth. Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donateGot a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠Start going deeper in the Bible with a free trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠logos.com/NT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber like you - they can get 10% off by clicking here: https://askntwright.supportingcast.fm?sc_promo=ASK10)SOCIAL LINKS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefeFacebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did Judas really die, by hanging or by falling and bursting open? Does the Bible contain contradictions? And what does it really mean to “set your mind on things above”?In this episode of Ask N.T. Wright Anything, Tom Wright, and Mike Bird tackle three challenging questions: Reconciling Matthew and Acts on the death of Judas Whether “biblical inerrancy” is the best way to speak about Scripture’s authority How to read Colossians 3 without falling into a heaven-good, earth-bad mindset Tom explores what biblical authority actually means, why “inerrancy” can sometimes miss the point, and how the New Testament vision is not escape from earth — but heaven and earth coming together in new creation.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle three profound theological questions that sit right at the heart of Christian hope.Is our suffering somehow “redemptive”? What does Paul mean when he says he is “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions”? Tom explains how our suffering participates in Christ’s mission — without adding to the finished work of the cross.Next, they explore the rapture. Is 1 Thessalonians 4 really about believers escaping earth? Or is it about welcoming the returning King as heaven and earth come together?Finally, what does it mean to become “partakers of the divine nature”? Do Christians somehow become divine? Tom unpacks the ancient idea of theosis and shows how the New Testament speaks of transformation without collapsing the distinction between Creator and creature.Suffering. Resurrection. New creation.SOCIAL LINKS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefeFacebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donateGot a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠Start going deeper in the Bible with a free trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠logos.com/NT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 If you’re enjoying this exclusive series, leave us a comment or share what you’re learning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What do you get from Church that you cant get from another community? Does the church actually offer a unique spiritual protection? And how should Christians navigate salvation, infant baptism, and bad teaching across different denominations? Today on Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle some of the tricky questions facing the church today. They look at why Christian community matters for spiritual health, how salvation is understood across denominations, and how bad teaching can arise, even among well-educated leaders. Along the way, they emphasize accountability, discernment, and the church’s calling to be a place of love, protection, and truth. They look at why Christian community matters for spiritual health, how salvation is understood across denominations, and how bad teaching can arise, even among well-educated leaders. Along the way, they emphasize accountability, discernment, and the church’s calling to be a place of love, protection, and truth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can Christians work within unjust governments? What actually changes with the New Covenant? And what does the future hold for Anglicanism amid global shifts and internal tensions? Today on the podcast, Tom Wright and Mike Bird are answering your questions on faith, politics, and church life. How should Christians think about power and conscience? How did Jesus approach to political authority? How do the Old and New Covenants relate to one another, and why does Anglican liturgy continue to shape Christian faith across cultures? The conversation also addresses the challenges facing the Anglican Communion today including, authority, unity, leadership, and global growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does your everyday work really matter to God? Why did Jesus have to be fully human and fully divine? And how should Christians live faithfully while waiting for Jesus’ return? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore how ordinary life fits into God’s extraordinary purposes.They discuss how all kinds of work, from manual labor to data analysis, can participate in building God’s kingdom, why the incarnation is essential to Christian salvation, and how patience, hope, and faithful action shape the Christian response to the long wait for Christ’s return. Today's episode challenges the idea that only “spiritual” activities matter and offers a vision of faith rooted in creation, resurrection, and daily obedience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who can be saved? What about those who have never heard the gospel? Do Christians earn rewards in heaven and what does God’s wrath really mean at the cross? Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle some of the most challenging and emotionally charged questions in Christian theology. They explore whether Salvation is limited by geography or history, how God’s justice and mercy relate to those outside the Christian story, and why the New Testament speaks about “rewards in heaven” without turning faith into a transactional system. The conversation also digs into the meaning of God’s wrath at the cross, showing why the cross must be understood as both victory over evil and substitution for humanity. This episode invites listeners to hold together faith, humility, mission, and mystery... without easy answers or simplistic formulas. Questions: 01:36 Who Can Be Saved? 11:30 Are There Rewards in Heaven? 19:55 God’s Wrath and the Cross Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Was Christianity bad for the world? How should we talk honestly about the Crusades, colonialism, slavery, sectarian wars — and the church’s failures — without pretending the record is clean? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird respond to three big questions: Is Christianity bad? Tom argues we must acknowledge the church’s worst moments without defensiveness, while also recognizing how Christian moral vision reshaped the conscience of the wider world. Also on today's episode listener's ask whether the “coming of the Son of Man” in Matthew 24 is about Jesus returning, or Jesus being enthroned? Tom points us to Daniel 7, showing why many “coming” passages are actually about vindication, authority, and enthronement rather than a literal end-of-the-world timetable.Finally Mike and Tom look at why isn’t Israel saved? Tom works through Romans 9–11, rejecting replacement theology and explaining Paul’s grief, the “remnant,” the grafting-in image, and the difficult phrase “all Israel will be saved.”  Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donateGot a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠Start going deeper in the Bible with a free trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠logos.com/NT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber like you - they can get 10% off by clicking here (Embed URL: https://askntwright.supportingcast.fm?sc_promo=ASK10)SOCIAL LINKS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefeFacebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why does the Old Testament sometimes appear to treat women unfairly in cases of adultery? What was the purpose of the Nazirite vow, and why would anyone choose it? And what does it really mean to say that Christ is “present” in the Eucharist?Today, N.T. Wright and Mike Bird dive in on Ask NT Wright Anything to answer your three challenging and deeply human questions about law, holiness, and sacrament. Tom explores how Israel’s legal codes functioned within their ancient social world, how Jesus radically reframes judgment and mercy, and why Christians no longer apply Old Testament penalties in the same way. He then reflects on the Nazirite vow as an ancient form of radical consecration, an Israelite counterpart to later monastic devotion. Throughout, Tom insists that Scripture must be read as a coherent story rather than isolated proof texts, and that Christian faith is shaped not by abstract theories but by lived practices: meals, vows, forgiveness, and embodied worship. SOCIAL LINKS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefeFacebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donateGot a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠Start going deeper in the Bible with a free trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠logos.com/NT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 If you’re enjoying this exclusive series, leave us a comment or share what you’re learning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do ordained ministers have “more” of the Holy Spirit than lay people? What exactly was John the Baptist doing when he baptised Jews before Jesus’ ministry began? And are the Thirty-Nine Articles still fit for purpose today?Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle three questions that sit at the heart of church life, theology, and Christian identity in today's episode of Ask NT Wright Anything.Tom explains why ordination is not about spiritual hierarchy but authorised service, why the Holy Spirit belongs fully to the whole people of God, and how clergy exist to equip, not outrank, the church. He then situates John the Baptist firmly within Israel’s story of exile and hope, showing how baptism functioned as a powerful symbol of repentance and new Exodus rather than an early version of Christian conversion. Finally, Tom reflects candidly on the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England: why they were written, what they were trying to hold together, and why many of their answers belong to 16th-century debates rather than today’s questions.Throughout the conversation, Tom calls the church back to Scripture as the supreme authority, urges humility toward our theological inheritance, and reminds us that reform is not rejection—but faithful listening across time. Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donateGot a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠Start going deeper in the Bible with a free trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠logos.com/NT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber like you - they can get 10% off by clicking here (Embed URL: https://askntwright.supportingcast.fm?sc_promo=ASK10)SOCIAL LINKS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefeFacebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Where is the Garden of Eden? What did Paul mean by our “earthly tent”? And does Genesis contain later edits, and if so, does that undermine Scripture?In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle three of the most frequently misunderstood biblical questions.Tom explains why Paul’s language in 2 Corinthians 5 isn’t Platonic escapism but robust resurrection hope; why the “tent” points both to the tabernacle and to our mortal bodies; and how the early Christians understood “what is kept in heaven” as something destined ultimately for earth.Next, they turn to the location of Eden, and Tom challenges the assumption that Genesis 2 must read like Google Maps. They explore how ancient narrative works, what editing does (and does not) mean for inspiration, and why Genesis 1–2 gives us two complementary windows into creation, not a modern-style chronology.If you’ve ever wondered whether Genesis has contradictions, whether Paul believed in an intermediate state, or whether Scripture’s “oddities” weaken its authority, this episode will steady the ground beneath your feet, and deepen your appreciation for the beauty, richness, and layered texture of the biblical story.Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donateGot a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠Start going deeper in the Bible with a free trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠logos.com/NT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber like you - they can get 10% off by clicking here (Embed URL: https://askntwright.supportingcast.fm?sc_promo=ASK10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Was Jesus really born in Bethlehem, or did the gospel writers “invent” the story to fit prophecy? Did a Roman census ever force people to travel back to their ancestral towns? And what about Herod’s massacre of the innocents – pure theology, or plausible history?In this special Advent episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird respond to challenges raised by historian Tom Holland (of The Rest Is History podcast) about the birth narratives of Jesus. Tom explains why ancient history is full of gaps, how new evidence has repeatedly vindicated biblical details once dismissed as “unhistorical,” and why we should be cautious about confidently declaring, “That could never have happened.”🎧 If you’ve ever wondered, “Did Luke get Christmas wrong?” or felt unsettled by historical objections to the nativity, this episode will help you think more clearly – without losing the wonder. Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donateGot a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠Start going deeper in the Bible with a free trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠logos.com/NT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber like you - they can get 10% off by clicking here (Embed URL: https://askntwright.supportingcast.fm?sc_promo=ASK10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

N.T. Wright and Mike Bird and reunited together in person in Premier’s new London studios for a big Ask NT Wright Anything episode. Tom tackles a huge listener question: has Christianity actually done more harm than good? From crusades, slavery and abuse scandals to hospitals, human rights and the end of infanticide, he explains how to face church failures honestly without ditching Jesus. They then dive into the “coming of the Son of Man” – is Jesus coming or going in Matthew, Daniel 7 and the Olivet Discourse? And finally, Tom unpacks Romans 9-11: who is the “Israel of God”, why isn’t all Israel saved yet, and how do we avoid antisemitism and replacement theology? Plus a sneak peek at an upcoming bonus episode on the church and the Jews.Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donateStart going deeper in the Bible with a free trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠logos.com/NT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber like you - they can get 10% off by clicking here (Embed URL: https://askntwright.supportingcast.fm?sc_promo=ASK10)SOCIAL LINKS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefeFacebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Demonic activity in the New Testament, the surprising rise of “high church” worship, and whether Christians should be keeping Saturday as the Sabbath…This week on Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom and Mike tackle three big and very different questions. First: Did Jesus’ arrival trigger a surge in demonic activity, and should Christians today expect to encounter the demonic? Tom draws on decades of pastoral experience (including licensed diocesan exorcists!) to explain how the New Testament frames dark spiritual powers and why neither fear nor fascination is the right Christian response.Next, they explore why so many young Christians are moving toward “high church” traditions—liturgy, sacrament, structure, and beauty, and how to discern wisely between Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Catholic, and low-church evangelical expressions.Finally, Tom unpacks the Sabbath controversy: If the Bible commands Sabbath on the seventh day, why do Christians worship on Sunday? What changed between the Old and New Testaments? And should we still keep a weekly day of rest in a Sabbatarian sense?Another rich episode (we hope!) full of biblical grounding, pastoral wisdom, and Tom’s signature clarity.02:24 Why does the New Testament show so much demonic activity?18:34 Why are so many young Christians turning to high church traditions?30:41 Should Christians keep Saturday as the Sabbath? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Title: Real Church, the Lord’s Prayer & New Age? — N.T. Wright's wisdom for todayThis week Tom and Mike tackle three listener questions: • What is real church community—can online church count? • Why do we add “For thine is the kingdom…” to the Lord’s Prayer? • Have New Age practices slipped into Christianity today?A brisk, insightful conversation on worship, scripture and spiritual discernment.Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donateGot a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠Start going deeper in the Bible with a free trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠logos.com/NT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber like you - they can get 10% off by clicking here (Embed URL: ⁠⁠https://askntwright.supportingcast.fm?sc_promo=ASK10⁠⁠) SOCIAL LINKS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefeFacebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Mike Bird and Tom Wright take on three big questions:First, a listener from Ohio asks how precise our beliefs must be to be “saved”. Tom reframes salvation away from “going to heaven when you die” towards God’s new creation and the defeat of death. They unpack Romans 10, baptism, assurance, and why faith is fundamentally entrusting yourself to Jesus rather than having a perfect theology.Next, they explore whether in Matthew 16 Peter himself is “the rock” or whether it’s his confession that Jesus is the Christ.Finally, they tackle why the virgin birth matters: Jewish expectations, Isaiah 7:14, pagan “divine birth” stories, and why the virgin birth points to God’s sheer grace, the initiative of the Trinity and Jesus’ true humanity shared with Mary.Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donateStart going deeper in the Bible with a free trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠logos.com/NT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber like you - they can get 10% off by clicking here (Embed URL: https://askntwright.supportingcast.fm?sc_promo=ASK10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Tom Wright and Mike Bird field three big listener questions that touch the heart of Christian hope and daily discipleship.First, they explore what happens when we die — where do our loved ones go before the final resurrection? Tom explains what Scripture actually says (and doesn’t say) about “souls,” “heaven,” and “waiting rooms for the dead,” and why our hope is not escape from earth but the renewal of creation itself.Next, they reflect on whether we will know everything in the new creation, and how knowledge, love, and transformation intertwine in God’s future.Finally, they turn to biblical budgeting, asking how Christians in affluent societies can honour God with their money without being ruled by it.It’s an episode that spans heaven and earth; we hope you'll find this a dive into theology, that's thoughtful, practical, and full of hope.Chapters:00:00 – Where Do Dead Souls Go?11:24 – Will We Be Perfect in the New Creation?22:57 – How Should Christians Budget Biblically?Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donateGot a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠Start going deeper in the Bible with a free trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠logos.com/NT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber like you - they can get 10% off by clicking here (Embed URL: https://askntwright.supportingcast.fm?sc_promo=ASK10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices