Summary of N. T. Wright's The Day the Revolution Began

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview:

#1 The death of Jesus, and the claim that it launched a revolution, was a pivotal moment in human history. It marked the end of one era and the start of another. Christians today do not see it this way, however, and most people outside the church do not see it that way either.

#2 The early Christian writers used some stunning expressions of delight and gratitude when they mentioned Jesus’s death. But by themselves, without paying attention to the larger elements in the picture, these expressions can lead us into a private or even selfish way of seeing things.

#3 The cross is a Christian symbol that represents the suffering and defeat of Jesus Christ, but for Christians it also represents the end of death and the hope of new beginnings for every human being.

#4 The British Museum received a cross made by the Eritrean and Somali refugees who were on board the boat that was wrecked off the Italian island of Lampedusa in 2013. The museum’s director, Neil McGregor, said that the cross symbolized the suffering that this small wooden object would represent.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Jul 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9798822544338

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Insights on N. T. Wright's The Day the Revolution Began

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The death of Jesus, and the claim that it launched a revolution, was a pivotal moment in human history. It marked the end of one era and the start of another. Christians today do not see it this way, however, and most people outside the church do not see it that way either.

#2

The early Christian writers used some stunning expressions of delight and gratitude when they mentioned Jesus’s death. But by themselves, without paying attention to the larger elements in the picture, these expressions can lead us into a private or even selfish way of seeing things.

#3

The cross is a Christian symbol that represents the suffering and defeat of Jesus Christ, but for Christians it also represents the end of death and the hope of new beginnings for every human being.

#4

The British Museum received a cross made by the Eritrean and Somali refugees who were on board the boat that was wrecked off the Italian island of Lampedusa in 2013. The museum’s director, Neil McGregor, said that the cross symbolized the suffering that this small wooden object would represent.

#5

The cross is a simple symbol, but it still manages to carry enormous evocative power. It seems to transcend any single explanation, and it goes way beyond the boundaries of Christian faith.

#6

The cross has a powerful impact that goes beyond any attempt to rationalize it away. It is like the beauty of a sunset or the power of falling in love. Trying to explain why it is so powerful seems beside the point.

#7

The question Why. is important, but we ask it because we observe the reality. Millions around the world take part in the simple but profound ceremony of sharing bread and wine that Jesus himself instituted less than twenty-four hours before his death.

#8

The love of God and the death of Jesus are what it’s all about. But how does it work. Can we not rest in awe and wonder, as in the third verse of another classic hymn, How Great Thou Art.

#9

The question, Why did Jesus die. has many answers. It can be answered historically by explaining why Pontius Pilate, egged on by the chief priests, decided to send Jesus to his death. It can be answered theologically by explaining what God was hoping to achieve by Jesus’s death and why that was the appropriate method of achieving it.

#10

The cross is a scandal to Jews and a folly to Gentiles, but it is the central feature of the world for Christians. It is the key to everything, and it should not be downplayed or mocked.

#11

The cross of Jesus is the center of the Christian faith, and understanding it is crucial to understanding Christianity. Theological puzzles exist, but they should not be confused with the real thing.

#12

The church as a whole is vulnerable to the twists and turns of different schemes of interpretation, which can lead into various kinds of spiritual and practical dead ends. To avoid this, the church must constantly examine its beliefs and practices to make sure they are rooted in love rather than in knowledge.

#13

The early church fathers spoke often about the cross, but never defined it. They simply stated that Jesus died for our sins, and that is all they said. They did not elaborate on how he died, only that he did.

#14

The cross is the prelude to the resurrection, whereas the Eastern churches never seem to have found it necessary to