Lecture - N.T. Wright - How Paul Invented Christian Theology

Lecture by N.T. Wright "How Paul Invented Christian Theology"

Given 7pm - 9pm on Friday March 21, 2014 at The Lanier Theological Library Chapel in Houston, Texas. It is part of the Lanier Library Lecture Series. A series devoted to bringing world class lectures to benefit the community of all those who might be interested.

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N. T. Wright approaches the Apostle Paul as the world's first, and greatest, Christian theologian. Much of his lifetime study has had Paul, his life and writings, as the focus. He has offered detailed insights into Paul's life and times for over 30 years, beginning with his dissertation on Pauline Theology and Romans and continuing through his recently released, two-volume Paul and the Faithfulness of God. In between those writings, Wright has produced over 60 books, many of which have dealt with Paul, and another one is soon to be released, Paul and His Recent Interpreters.

Bio info:

N. T. Wright was born on December 1, 1948 in Morpeth, Northumberland, England. He is a retired Anglican bishop and a leading New Testament scholar. Wright was the Bishop of Durham in the Church of England from 2003 until his retirement in 2010. He is currently Research Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at St. Mary's College, University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

In a 2003 interview he said that he could never remember a time when he was not aware of the presence and love of God. He recalled an occasion at age four or five when "sitting by
myself at Morpeth and being completely overcome, coming to tears, by the fact that God loved me so much he died for me. Everything that has happened to me since has produced wave upon wave of the same."

In addition to his Doctor of Divinity degree from Oxford University, he has also been awarded honorary doctoral degrees from Durham University in 2007, the John Leland Center for Theological Studies in 2008, the University of St. Andrews in 2009, Heythrop College, University of London in 2010, and the Ecumenical Institute of
Theology at St. Mary's Seminary & University in 2012.

Among modern New Testament scholars, Wright is an important proponent of traditional views on theological matters including Christ's bodily resurrection and second coming. Further he has expressed strenuous opposition both to the ordination of openly gay persons and the blessing of same-sex partnerships and
marriages. On the other hand, he has criticized the idea of a literal rapture, coauthored a book with his friend Marcus Borg, a widely known voice of liberal Christianity, and is associated with the Open Evangelical movement and New Perspective on Paul, both of which are controversial in many conservative theological circles.

He has published over 50 books and spoken often on radio and television. His latest books include Paul and the Faithfulness of God, Paul and His Recent Interpreters (forthcoming), How God Became King, and The Case for the Psalms: Why They Are
Essential. One of his most important popular series is his New Testament for Everyone that includes 18 volumes.

[denissutherland]

Galatians 6 : 7 - 9 " Don't deceive yourselves ; no one can make a fool of God ; whatever a man sows this he will also reap. He who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap Life eternal."

[yyWong]

This is one of the BEST lectures by Bishop Wright's ! 

[angelamcclune]

Our lives are to be like Jesus's even in our death. His death on the cross is to be our model. We do not get to choose the manner of our death but we accept it and in so doing--He our risen Lord, helps us bear our pain and suffering. Your teaching is very good ❤

[acortes]

Brilliant, master theologian!  Paul's message of Christ truly comes alive through N.T. Wright's lectures!

[barringtonthompsonbedascba]

Listening to Bishop Wright has been a blessing to my life. Such rich intellect to take to the pulpit as I mature in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[kayakeraltamaha]

Paul said Moses veiled the Old Testament, that was only UNveiled by the "Spirit of the Lord" (2Cor 3:12-18 KJV). Certainly, that's a "Comforter", the Holy Spirit of Truth, kinda thing. The proverbial mark of Cain being exemplary. Jesus' Divine Paternity was challenged in John 8:12+, responding that according to Mosaic Law (Deu 17:6; 19:15), "two witnesses", Jesus and His Father, testify to His Divine Paternity (John 8:17, 18).

Jesus' testimony was something He "saw with" His Father (John 8:38). God's testimony was a "truth" Jesus "heard from God", something Abraham never heard (John 8:40). Both of those OT testimonies are veiled in the OT. Two entities (Jesus, and Father/God), in two testimonies (John 8:38, 40), by "two witnesses" (John 8:17, 18)… according to Mosaic Law (Deu 17:6; 19:15)… that “converted” (v. 15, Mat 13:10-17) Jesus’ ‘believers’, into His “disciples indeed” (John 8:31, 32). Something seen, and something heard... eyes to see, and ears to hear (Mat 13:10-17). Recall the Great Commission. Speaking of "disciples indeed", Acts 11:KJV,

25. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26. And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Paul, fluent in the OT, evidently taught the explicit and succinct details of those two testimonies (John 8:38, 40), that authenticated Jesus' Divine Paternity: "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch". So, the original Christians were Jesus' "disciples indeed"; and, Paul even stayed with one before the scales fell from his eyes (Ananias, Acts 9). I've asked a half-dozen PhD theologians in a familiar accredited university, about that scenario. The sad state of affairs is only one even realized there WERE two testimonies authenticating Jesus' Divine Paternity (John 8:38, 40). And, he humbly responded that he'd been pondering those testimonies for about eight years, to no avail.

Perhaps those two unveiled testimonies (John 8:38, 40) are too hard for 21st century theologians. All disciples are indeed, Christians. But, Christians are evidently not all disciples, nowadays. Somewhat plagiarizing, "truth" is greater than the sum of all knowledge... And, what makes those testimonies hard, is their unveiling totally shifts the framework of the Bible… Folk will find themselves being Mat 8:19, 20 followers of Jesus… because there are no churches that teach what Paul evidently taught at Antioch. What are the explicit and succinct details, of those two testimonies (John 8:38, 40)?

Kayaker, neologian.

[timothyappleseed]

Unity:
Purpose is the fruit of life. Community is the soil that we plant our purpose in.

[olavoribeiro]

Thank you so much for making this lecture available!!! Food for thought!

[LaurieWhite-TheShorterWord]

Wonderful! This lecture gives what to me was an in-depth look into Wright's thinking on Paul and on justification. And it isn't just a lecture, it's a sermon in which you really get to see some of the depth of Wright's faith and love for the Lord and his appreciation for Paul and what he did. 

[robertlanders]

Pray unceasingly is the key to unlocking the Holy Spirit teaching us the truth of the scriptures and referencing the Jewish traditions as it relates to the scriptures is a great help as he shared in this video. That has been my experience to learning the scriptures. Good video. Thanks.

[hermenutic]

I have to thank Mr. Wright for sharing his insights.

[alexabrahamd]

Blessed to hear such a great message on St Paul. I was waiting to hear such Informative message on St Paul.
Most of my Q has been answered

[pleasanthealthyuseful]

Thanksgiving. IT IS the most useful and fresh and so needed. THANKS.

[roberts]

For as many that are led by the spirit of GOD they are the SONs of GOD.

[jamestempleton]

I think the point he has been making in his lecture is the view of Paul and so to tell by looking through his eyes I can see and understand his point of view about it.

[matthewjames]

Definately one of my favourite New Testament scholars. Tooshay Dr Wright

[clarekuehn]

Thank you so much!
Theology is the queen of the sciences. ❤

[jrjuridico]

From the comprehensive study of the scriptures, placing the content of the New Testament within its historical context, it is clearly revealed to us that the conversion of Paul (Shaul) consists in that he is an Israelite Jew from the tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee, a disciple of Gamaliel, who believed that Yahshua is the Messiah of the Hebrew people, prophecied by the word of God within the same Hebrew tradition. Because of having believed in Yahshua, Shaúl (Paul) is baptized in the baptism of Yohanan (John, who is a respected Jew considered a prophet by the people of Israel) for repentance of sins. God instructed the people of Israel about these sins that they had to repent and turn away from through the Torah (law of Moses). Shaúl (Paul) was chosen by Yahweh, God of the Hebrew patriarchs to know his will and was sent by Yahshua to minister to both the Gentiles and the kings and children of Israel, for which he received the Holy Spirit through the imposition from the hands of Ananias (who is also a Jew). Here we can clearly notice that it is not a question of a conversion to "Christianity" or to Catholicism, considered as a new church or religion separated from the people of Israel and the Hebrew tradition. (Acts 22: 6 to 21), but rather this conversion implies the abandonment of the religious beliefs dictated by rabbinic Judaism to deliver their Faith to the Messiah of the people of Israel announced by the Hebrew prophets, within the same Israelite tradition.
The truth that the scriptures reveal to us is that Paul never denied his origin or his Jewish faith, what he abandoned was his stubbornness to deny that Yahshua is really the savior expected by the people of Israel and recognized him as Messiah. He never claimed to be "Christian." The great value of Paul's ministry is that, while fully preserving his Jewish identity (Pharisee of Pharisees, disciple of Gamaliel, connoisseur of the Torah), he showed a genuine interest, dedication and love to share his faith and the gospel of the Messiah of people of Israel with all the Gentiles outside their tradition, fully convinced that Yahshua is the resurrected son of God, and made a great effort to introduce the gospel to all nations, facing the rejection of the Hebrew orthodoxy that refused to recognize Yahshua. He rejects the hellenization of the Jews avoiding paganizing the tradition, but neither does he tries to convert all gentiles into orthodox Jews, however he insists that the law (the Torah) and the prophets must be known. He never teaches two different gospels, he teaches only one based on the teachings of the Messiah of Israel. The prophets tell us of the vision that the gentiles will abandon idolatry and come to worship the God of Israel. The idea propagated by the fathers of the Greco-Roman church that the mission of Paul the Jew was to start a new religion is as absurd as thinking that Yahshua came to found a new religion. The "church based religion" is an invention of the "church fathers" that came after the disciples of Yahshua were gone, based on the missinterpretation of Paul´s epistoles. If there is something that Christian theologians master with great skill, it is the use of Greek techniques of rhetoric.
Personal testimony that Paul made in his defense before Rome, according to the word we read in Acts 25: 7-8 “When he arrived, the Jews who had come from Jerusalem surrounded him, presenting against him many and serious accusations, the which they couldn't prove; Paul alleging in his defense: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in anything. " Words that are ratified in Chapter 28:17 “And it came to pass that three days later, Paul summoned the chief of the Jews; to whom, after they were together, he said: I, male brothers, having done nothing against the people, nor against the customs of our fathers, have been delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans; " the same in Philippians 3: 6 as to the justice that is in the Torah, I have been blameless. So there are only two possibilities: either Paul lied by stating on different occasions in his epistles that he never did anything against the Torah and its traditions, or those who are lying are Christian theologians who claim that Paul invented christian theology.

[bodysuit]

Being anti Paul at one point, I love Paul very much because of Mr. Wrights work in explaining it all better

[matthewpaulson]

Some people dont like to read and compare the teachings of Jesus and the Apostle Paul who quoted the OT one hundred times in his writings.

People who say that Jesus and the Apostle Paul have two different theological views have never analyzed the New Testament. The Apostle Paul gave his life promoting the teachings of Jesus. Here are thirty doctrines of Jesus which are exactly same was the Apostle Paul:

#1
Jesus taught and argued with Jews (Matthew 23:1-22)
Paul taught and argued with Jews (Acts 17:11-12)

#2
...Jesus taught to obey Governing authorities (Matthew 22:21)
Paul taught to obey governing authorities (Romans 13:1)

#3
Salvation is of the Jews (John 4:22)
The Jews are God’s people (Romans 11:1)

#4
Jesus taught you must be born again (John 3:3)
Paul taught you must be a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).

#5
Jesus said to let your good works (Matthew 5:16)
Paul says that rich in good works (1 Tim 6:17-19)

#6
Jesus taught that he would lay down His life (John 10:17)
Paul taught we are saved by the life of Jesus (Roman 5:10)

#7
Jesus taught that all have sinned (John 3:19)
Paul taught that all have sinned (Romans 3:23)

#8
Jesus taught God's will is stronger than man's will (John 15:15).
Paul taught God's will is greater than man's will (Romans 9).

#9
Jesus taught against false prophets (Matthew 7:15)
Paul taught against false prophets (2 Cor 11:13)

#10
Jesus taught that He is God (John 14:9, John 10:31, John 8:58
Paul taught that Jesus is God, (Romans 9:5)

#11
Jesus taught to love your enemies, (Luke 6:27-28)
Paul taught to love all people including enemies, (2 Cor 10:4)

#12
Jesus taught prayer in secret places (Matthew 6:6)
Paul taught prayer away from public places, (Acts 16:13)

#13
Jesus taught prayer and fasting is powerful (Matthew 17:21)
Paul taught prayer and fasting is powerful, (1 Cor 7:5)

#14
Jesus taught to pray always (Luke 21:36)
Paul taught to pray always (2 Thess 1:11)

#15
Jesus taught to put out the immoral sinner from the church.(Matthew 15)
Paul taught to put out the immoral sinner from the church (2Cor 5:5).

#16
Jesus claimed to be from heaven, (John 6:51)
Paul claimed that Jesus was from heaven (1Cor 15:47)

#17
Jesus the New Covenant (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20)
Paul taught the New Covenant (1Cor 11:25, 2 Cor 3:6)

#18
Jesus taught that the sheep (followers) will not perish (John 10:27-28)
Paul taught that there is no condemnation to those who are in Jesus Christ, (Rom. 8:1-2)

#19
Jesus taught salvation by believing in Jesus (John 6:29)
Paul taught salvation by believing in Jesus (1Cor 1:21)

#20
Jesus said He sets us free (John 8:36)
Paul said that Jesus sets us free (Romans 6:18)

#21
Jesus taught the Torah taught about Him (John 5:38-39, John 17:12, Luke 24:44)
Paul taught the Torah taught of Jesus (2 Timothy 3:16, Romans 3:31, Romans 11:26).

#22
Jesus give life (John 10:10)
Paul taught that Jesus gives life (1Cor 15:45)

#23
Paul said: "Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses." (2 Corithians 13:1)
Jesus said: "In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true (John 8:17).

#24
Jesus taught He is a Man (John 8:40)
Paul taught Jesus is a Man (Gal 3:19-20; 1Tim 2:5)

#25
Jesus taught that He is LORD (Mark 2:28)
Paul taught that Jesus is LORD (I Cor 1:2)

#26
Jesus taught that God is inside of him (John 14:10)
Paul taught God was in Jesus (2 Cor 5:19)

#27
Jesus taught the was Good News was His death, burial (John 2:19-21, Luke 24:44 Mark 13:10)
Paul taught that death, burial and resurrection is the GOOD NEWS (1Cor 15:1-4)

#28
Jesus said the Good News of Jesus was sent to the WHOLE WORLD (Mark 13:10)
Paul said the Good News was to go to the WHOLE WORLD (Romans 10:18).

#29
Jesus said that His CHURCH will be established (Matthew 16:18)
Paul taught and established CHURCHES (1Cor 16:19, Acts 15:41)

#30
Jesus taught He is God (John 8:58).
Paul taught that Jesus is God (Roman's 9:5).

Conclusion: THE APOSTLE PAUL TAUGHT WHAT JESUS TAUGHT!!!!

Romans 9:1 The Apostle Paul said: “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost…”