Ask NT Wright Anything

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....

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 rathe...

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...

Mike Bird and Tom Wright take on three weighty listener questions that dive deep into the Bible’s mystery, mercy, and meaning in this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, They begin by exploring the mystery of who wrote the Letter to the Hebrews, unpacking why the early church left the author anonymous and how that shapes our reading today. Next, they move to a deeply sensitive and much-debated topi...

Today on the Ask NT Wright Anything Podcast, Mike Bird and Tom Wright tackle three challenging listener questions that get to the heart of Christian theology and biblical imagination. Should we pray for Satan? Tom unpacks how centuries of Christian mythology have distorted biblical ideas of “the Satan” (the accuser), explaining why evil has no rightful place in God’s good creation,and what it real...

​What did Jesus mean when he said his followers would do “greater works” than him? Does the ancient Filioque Clause (“and the Son”) still divide the church today? And what does it really mean to love God more than your family? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle three deep and very human questions -  about miracles, the Trinity, and discipleship. Tom reminds...

Does the Bible teach gender hierarchy? What did Paul mean by quoting Habakkuk — “the righteous shall live by faith”? And did Paul actually write all the pastoral epistles? Today on Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom and Mike answer your questions about gender, faith, and authorship in the New Testament. They unpack the Greek word for “submit” in Ephesians, showing how Paul emphasizes mutual submission in...

What do bishops really do, and where does church authority come from? How do you find a faithful church community in a polarised world? And does universalism change how we think about salvation and damnation? Tom Wright and Mike Bird are looking at questions of leadership, community, and theology in today's episode of Ask NT Wright Anything. They trace the history of bishops and overseers, showing...

What does Ephesians teach us about God’s purpose for the church? Can we truly trust Scripture if it was passed down through oral tradition? And what role do public confessions of faith play in salvation? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird dig into Tom’s new Book, The Vision of Ephesians, to explore Paul’s vision behind the text, the meaning of Sola Scriptura, and t...

What did Jesus mean by “the end of the age”? Does the New Testament teach salvation by faith alone, or do works matter too? And what will happen to the earth in God’s new creation? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle big questions on eschatology, faith, and new creation. They unpack Jesus’ teachings about the temple and the “end of the age,” explain why faith...

Mike Bird and Tom Wright take on three wide-ranging listener questions. First: should Christians work out? Tom reflects on how physical health connects with the life of the soul, and whether Scripture points toward a holistic vision of body and spirit. Next: why is the Bible authoritative? Is it the church’s decision, the content of its teaching, or the work of the Spirit? Tom unpacks how authorit...

Mike Bird and Tom Wright dive into another round of thoughtful listener questions. First: how do you go about choosing a church? Tom lays out wise principles for discerning a community rooted in the gospel, shaped by worship, and committed to mission. Next: catechisms. From centuries-old confessions to modern teaching tools, Tom shares which one has shaped him most and why. Finally: a weighty ques...

Mike Bird and Tom Wright take on three big listener questions. First: how do we actually cooperate with the Spirit in God’s plan for new creation? Tom reflects on what it means to anticipate heaven and earth being joined, and how our present faithfulness participates in that future hope. Next: ordination and church leadership. Are we in danger of over-structuring the body of Christ? Drawing from t...

Mike Bird and Tom Wright tackle three big listener questions. First: did Jesus know he was God—and if so, in what sense? Tom explores how Jesus reframes what we mean by “God,” drawing on the Gospels and Philippians 2. Next: contemplative practices. From the Jesus Prayer to the Daily Office, Tom offers gracious guidance on praying in ways that keep Jesus at the centre while avoiding rigid one-size-...

Why do churches split over theology? What does the Bible really say about covenants and dispensations? Why do some Christians skip sacraments altogether? And can you lose your salvation? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle church divisions, explain the differences between covenant theology and dispensationalism, and explore the Salvation Army’s unusual stance...

What is the Bible really — and who decided which books belong in it? Can we trust the Gospels if they don’t always agree? And when should tradition shape how we read scripture, and when should we challenge it? In this Big Bible Episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird dig into big, timeless questions about the canon of scripture, how inspiration works, and why apparent contradic...

What qualities should the Archbishop of Canterbury really have? How can spiritual practices help us deal with anxiety? And what does the Bible say about corrupted powers in our world? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird unpack what it means to lead the Anglican Church, the role of the Archbishop as a unifier, and why true leadership needs spiritual depth, not just m...

Is biblical faith just “belief”? What does salvation really mean in the Old and New Testaments? And was Jesus talking about the end of the world or Jerusalem’s fall in the Olivet Discourse? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird unpack the difference between faith and mere belief, showing how true biblical faith means trust, faithfulness, and allegiance to Jesus as Kin...

Will we ever see an OT Wright translation to match NT Wright's New Testament for Everyone? Tom explains why an Old Testament version isn’t on the cards—but offers a witty alternative involving his son! The conversation moves on to remarriage, exploring whether we’ll still relate to our spouses in the same way in the new creation, and how Jesus’ words in the Gospels shape our understanding of life...

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...