Lecture (lecture only) - 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.

I am indebted to the generosity of the library to allow me to share these videos of theirs. Please support themm by visiting their website for more information and resources:

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.

[cornholio]

Paul created Jesus the "GOD" instead of the real Jesus who was Jesus the Messiah/messenger of GOD

[deezynar]

Just what, exactly, did Paul say that Jesus didn't already cover to some degree?  I guess I'm a bit defensive about this because some people try to make it sound like Paul taught some wildly different things than Jesus did.  He did not.

[ComradeAgopian]

My thanks for the upload of this video . N.T.Wright is to me everything a scholar should be .

[Johnathan]

Everyone wants to compare paul's Epistles to the gospels and say he changed it when paul's letters are the earliest writings we have lol I'm a Christian and I'm trying to learn the real church history because people say it contradicts the gospels but the Epistles were written almost 40 years before most of the gospels so truly which of those are more reliable then truly?

[kierperryman]

I enjoyed Wright’s challenge to discern the contemporary context of Paul’s letters in terms of monotheism, eschatology and election. I became a follower of Jesus after
hearing Martin Luther’s views of justification by grace through faith. For me,
as a non-Jew, the teaching of justification didn’t come through a worldview of
Jewish requirements. I did, however, have a lot of Christian religious
practices because I grew up attending a Roman Catholic church. For me, the
message still applied in a similar way, to make me understand the gospel of God’s
grace and forgiveness offered to all. I know it’s not exact, but I do see a lot
of parallels between the first century determination to insist on Jewish
requirements for salvation and twenty-first century reliance on traditional Christian
requirements. I appreciate Wright’s emphasis on the need, then and now, of a
revelation that all need God’s grace and cannot earn salvation by any works or
behaviour but by faith in Jesus Christ’s work.

[lepidoptera]

Paul was a great inventor, indeed. ;-)

[noelenliva]

49:15 - This is the first time I've heard a world famous Theologian call Calvinism a form of gnosticism

[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.

[andreawimer]

Those so called "symbols" are God's laws which Jesus told us time and time again TO keep.