Ask NT Wright Anything

Is Christian nationalism compatible with the teachings of Jesus? Is the Bible purely divine, or also human? And how should Christians understand atonement and explain it to children? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle the controversial topic of Christian nationalism, reflect on the complex relationship between Jesus and the Bible, and unpack what penal subst...

Does God still love Israel today? Should Christians work in the defense industry? Who were the “sons of God” in Genesis 6? And should modern Christians practice Passover or foot washing? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird unpack deep questions about God’s enduring love for Israel, the ethical challenges of working in defense and military industries, the mysterious ...

What is biblical holiness? Can a heart be so hardened that it’s beyond saving? Does the Holy Spirit still give personal promises today? And what does it mean to be truly 'filled' with the Spirit? Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle four deep listener questions about the nature of holiness, the mystery of a hardened heart, how the Holy Spirit speaks today, and the meaning of being filled with the Spiri...

What did Jesus really mean in the Olivet Discourse? How should we read the Old Testament in light of the New? And what can Herod’s strange reaction to Jesus teach us about resurrection and eschatology? Today on Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Michael Bird unpack the theological depth of Jesus’ teachings on the end times, the ongoing tension between inaugurated and future eschatology, and th...

What does the bodily resurrection really mean for Christian faith? How do we live out true discipleship? And how should we talk about God in relation to gender? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore the resurrection of Jesus as the cornerstone of Christian belief, pointing to new creation and God's justice. They discuss the daily realities of discipleship, emp...

What does it mean to live faithfully in a politically divided world? How should Christians respond to immigration and power? And what do Paul’s views on time tell us about the return of Christ? Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore the tensions between faith and politics, the timing of God’s promises in Paul’s theology, and the challenges of religious clarity in a pluralistic world. They reflect on Jes...

What is the 'divine council' in the Bible? Who receives a 'resurrection body'? And how can Christians be sure of their salvation? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle some of the most fascinating and personal questions in Christian theology. They discuss the mysterious concept of a divine council, what is it and how it fits within biblical monotheism, and what...

Is abortion ever ethically justifiable? Could Lucifer ever be forgiven? And how do Romans 8 and Galatians 4 shape our understanding of grace, law, and inclusion? What an episode! This week on the Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird address challenging theological and ethical questions. They discuss the Christian approach to abortion, emphasizing compassion, nuance, and the sanctity of...

How should Christians think about suicide and heaven, baptism and christenings, and the biblical teaching of the Trinity? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright unpacks your questions on some of the most sensitive and foundational questions of the Christian faith. Together, Tom and Mike reflect on the pain and complexity of suicide, affirming the reach of God’s grace even in our dar...

How should Christians think about transgender identity and faith? What does it mean to deconstruct and reconstruct belief in today’s world? And how do we understand Jesus’ prophecy about the end times? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird engage with deeply personal and theologically rich questions. They explore how the grace of God meets us amid identity struggles,...

Cremation, grace & Resurrection:. This week Tom tackles what does grace really mean in the Bible? Does cremation affect the Christian hope of resurrection? And how should we understand Jesus’ relationship to the Old Testament law? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore the deep connections between 'hesed' in the Old Testament and 'charis' in the New, offering a...

Tom Wright and Mike Bird delve into the Jewish identity of Jesus in this week's episode of the Ask NT Wright Anything podcast. They respond to a listener's question about Paul's instructions in 1 Corinthians 11 and reflect on the moral dilemmas faced by Dietrich Bonhoeffer during the Nazi regime. With depth and clarity, they explore how seeing Jesus within his Jewish context enriches our understan...

What is church membership really for? Why does the bodily resurrection matter so much to Christian faith? And how should Christians respond to the suffering in Gaza? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore the theological roots of church membership, unpack the meaning of worship as a response to grace, and reflect on the hope of resurrection. They also discuss h...

You’re here because you love hearing Tom Wright’s insights on Ask NT Wright Anything. In this special Easter Monday episode—available free on our new subscriber-only feed—Mike Bird and Tom Wright go beyond the empty tomb to explore the bold, world-shaping implications of the resurrection. What does Easter really mean for the mission of the Church today? Is resurrection just about life after death—...

Welcome to a special Easter edition of Ask NT Wright Anything, where we dig into the historical and theological foundations of the resurrection of Jesus. New Testament scholar Mike Bird joins Tom Wright to raise some tough questions - like why, historically speaking, resurrection is such a radical claim, and whether it can be anything more than a statement of faith. Tom responds by exploring how e...

Is contraception a theological issue? Can we trust the Gospels as historical documents? How should the church respond to political idolatry? And what really happened on the cross? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle pressing questions about modern faith and ancient texts. They explore the evolving Christian views on contraception, the historical reliability o...

Does God love us personally or just humanity as a whole? How do we experience His love in a broken church? How do marriage and parental blessings fit into faith? Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore God’s love, the challenges of church community, and how we grow closer to Him. They also discuss the role of parental guidance in marriage and the balance between cultural expectations and personal choices...

Did Adam and Eve doom humanity? NT Wright and Mike Bird on questions of sin and human nature In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle the complexities of salvation, the meaning behind Revelation’s vivid imagery, the consequences of sin, and the struggles of transitioning to mainstream Christianity. They explore God’s mercy, human responsibility, and the importance...

Did Jesus really descend into hell? What does ecumenism mean for Christian unity? Can non-Messianic Jews be saved? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle these complex theological questions, exploring the early church’s interpretation of Jesus’ descent, the importance of Christian unity, and the role of Jewish identity in salvation history. They also discuss the...

Are near-death experiences real? Do they give us a glimpse of the afterlife, or should we approach them with caution? What does it mean to live faithfully as a Christian? And who really has the authority to forgive sin— the individual believer, the priest or the church? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, NT Wright and Mike Bird explore these listener questions, tackling the theology of nea...

Tom and Mike tackle deep theological questions about resurrection, faith, works, and biblical interpretation, in today's episode of Ask NT Wright Anything. Does Psalm 16 really point to resurrection? Tom unpacks its complex layers of meaning and how first-century Jews understood scripture. We also tackle the thorny question of faith vs. works—what does the New Testament actually teach? Are faith a...

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom and Mike dive into two foundational topics: the resurrection and the role of apostles in the early church. What did first-century Jews believe about resurrection? Tom responds to William Lane Craig’s argument that individual resurrections weren’t expected before the End Times. He unpacks how Jesus’ resurrection differs from all others, marking the beg...

Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore the biblical concept of the soul, challenging Greek-influenced ideas of dualism and emphasising the New Testament’s focus on bodily resurrection. Does the Bible really teach that we have an immortal soul, or is that a later philosophical addition? They also dive into the genealogies of Jesus in Matthew and Luke, unpacking their differences, theological significance...

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle the controversial question: Was Paul a false apostle? Some argue his message contradicts Jesus, but what does Scripture say? 💡 Key topics this week: Answering historical skepticism toward Paul Paul's apostolic authority, and how his gospel aligns with Jesus’ teachings Plus, Tom discusses Sola Scriptura’s evolution and the ...

Was Jesus really the Son of God? Bart Ehrman says no—Tom Wright responds. In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom and Mike Bird tackle Jesus' divinity, the Eucharist, the Ten Commandments, and the Sabbath. 💡 Key topics this week: Did Jesus claim to be the Son of God? Tom Wright challenges Ehrman’s argument. The Eucharist—why it matters for Christian worship. The Ten Commandments—do they st...