NT Wright & Tom Holland • How St Paul changed the world (Full Show)

Justin Brierley is joined by leading New Testament scholar NT (Tom) Wright and popular historical writer Tom Holland to discuss how the apostle Paul changed the world as described in Wright’s recent book Paul: A Biography.

An agnostic in terms of his religious commitments, Tom Holland has nevertheless described the way that the birth of Christianity has shaped much of what we value in Western society in terms of human rights, culture and rule of law. He engages with NT Wright on the way that Paul and the early Christian movement stood in stark contrast to the prevailing Roman culture of its day.

[hermajesty]

It's such a delight watching Tom Wright reacting to all that Holland is saying - he's clearly just so happy to be able to converse with someone who has the same deep appreciation for the proper study of history that he does, not to mention someone who really understands the revolutionary impact that Paul's writings had on the world. His reaction at 13:55 to Holland calling Paul a depth charge is probably my favourite response!

[sharijohnson]

As an American born raised and served as a missionary of holiness, sanctification sector of Evangicalism I appreciation this much more intelligent, scolarly reasonable point of view. Having left Christianity because of the abuse and cruelty of my youth, this discussion opens a door that has been slowly opening as I hear these broader, more reasonable perspective of Christianity.

[wlcsp]

I could listen to these guys for another 10 hours. Excellent discussion.

[ryPish]

Hi, Paul VanderKlay sent me here!
And I must say this was a really interesting conversation.

[edh.]

We do owe it to Paul ... and to Christianity ... but ultimately to Christ.

[mackdmara]

Current culture is almost always choosing one of three Ancient Societies to romanticize, Egypt, Greece, & Rome. What happens when you romanticize something? You air brush out all those things you hated & highlight the best points. It is the opposite of finding the reality of it.

The reality of all of them is barbaric compared to modern times. Paul was dealing with people you & I would constantly be offended by, & he shows such great ethic, given by Christ. In a world where being different would get you stoned, crucified, beheaded, flayed alive, etc., it is all the more impressive.

Great talk.

[MariuszWodarczyk]

I hope Tom Holland will have a true Homecoming one day :)

[aeiouaeiou]

These are profoundly interesting conversations to me as someone newly interested in Christianity after being raised secular. Thank you so much.

[yelenaangeleski]

NT Wright is such an absolute teddybear! 🙂

As the atheist German philosopher Habermas put it a couple of decades ago, all our morality derives from the Hebrew prophets and the New Testament. Everything else is postmodern chatter.

[davidhawley]

Tom is exactly right: the incarnation is a singularity, more than if aliens had landed on the state legislatures of every country, more than the wildest imaginations of people from the dawn of time.

[mamajo]

Wow that was so incredible listening to!!! I’ve found a new interest in history after growing up quite ignorant of it. And as a Christian I’m finding out how crucial it is to know your history in order to have an appropriate perspective of the Bible and Christianity as a whole.

[josephmungai]

all his life is fulfilled, and all his life is
Wow. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[PilgrimMission]

Tom Holland apparently is not a Christian but seems to understand better than most Christians what the cross actually means.

[silvaterese]

Meeting of two sharp, intellectual minds. A rare treat. Thank you.

[Lirmann]

Tom Holland is brilliant and I really appreciate his work as a historian. A lot to learn there. However, his notion that “victimhood is the point of the crucifixion” is absolutely flawed. The point of the crucifixion is not death (hence victimhood), but the resurrection (hence embracing your cross, whatever that is - not playing victim - always acting with kindness focusing the afterlife). The victimhood culture is utterly materialistic and all about gains in this life, which have become increasingly undeserved on an individual level (as all has to do with the group that one belongs). Nothing more opposite to the symbolism crucifixion. Having said that, the devil is indeed very skilled in distorting everything, even goodness.

[frostfox]

I sat in the library in Victoria BC reading “Paul”. I’ve been reading for the past week very slowly because I want to grasp what I’m reading. I have learned so much. Thank you. Alan

[jsonhealer]

listening 3 years later to two great minds. The entire conversation is powerful. NT wright was awakened and wanted to get in on the conversation. 14:24 - 17 mins is so engaging, exciting, loaded with so much truth.

[JoseChung]

Justin 1 hour does an injustice to these topics.

[edgarrenenartatez]

"In almost every way I am Christian." Says the agnostic Tom Holland. Wow!

[roseannapresley]

I love the two “Toms” and I love Paul, too. Fascinating intellectual discussion! Understanding Christianity strictly by the human mind — bypassing the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth’s unveiling of the eyes — would probably be an impossible feat. Aren’t the eyes of the world blinded to this type of deep understanding?