A voice of authority on Christian origins - but does he shout too loudly ? - Rated 
This is a magisterial introduction to Wright's projected multi-volume series on Christian origins (volumes two and three are already out). Perhaps over-long in its concern to establish the nature of history (or Wright's version at least - a position known as `critical realism'), and of the `story' being told, it's nonetheless clear, once the author gets into his stride, that he has a really solid grasp of the `back story' of Jesus, and in particular the inter-testamental literature. Whether rehearsing the nature and diversity of the religious groupings, the political terrain, or the apocalyptic tenor of thought in late Judaism, Wright's knowledge of the sources is compendious, his judgments on their significance mostly judicious.
But - and it's a significant but - the whole edifice is so soundly constructed that it looks too watertight, too neat, to be true. And Wright's schema seems to become a somewhat `totalitarian' one, used to dismiss all claims that `ground' other points of view, whether subjugated ancient texts like the Gospel of Thomas, or alternative modern `readings' of Jesus. Was early Christianity really this monolithic, this `together' ?
New Testament Scholarship at its best - Rated 
If you have not read any of Bishop N. T. Wright's matterial before you will be very surprised by how readable it is given its penetrating analysis, eloquence and bredth of scholarship. This wonderful book is one of those books one wishes to have read much sooner. If only I had read this book as an undergraduate! If you are an undergraduate Theology student, or a person with a keen interest in the New Testament I would urge you to read this book and reflect on what it has to say. It is an excellent resource, and well worth buying.
NTPG - Rated
Having joined the journey a few years ago, I discovered that the train had left the station some years back and had already gathered a good head of steam.
This book, and in fact the series to date, has been a personally enlightening discovery for me. To find someone doing such a thourough job to hand me a clear picture of life, thinking and history at the time of the new testament was nothing short of amazing. As Wright pieces together not only the times, but ways to understand those times and make good sense of the data, I find myself with the tools needed to know and discover the Jesus that I had previously only experienced intangibly.
The beginning on such a massive task feels much like starting out to write a tale as grand as the Lord of the Rings. But this is one hughed in different tones and devices. The story goes on by clear and balanced scrutiney rather than narrative and description. But is none the less compelling to read.
As someone unused to such academic books, I devoured this and couldn't wait for more. Which thankfully there was, and plenty of.
New Testament People of God - Rated
This is an excellent book. It is not a light read, but as neither a historian nor a theologian, I found this book perfectly approachable. As the first book in a series I approached it as a 'necessary evil' towards the rest of the series, but I was very quickly hooked. If you have serious questions about the new testament period this is the place to come. NT Wright seems to neatly plot a course between those who are not prepared to think and those who are not prepared to believe. I believe that this series will make its mark on the church.
Breaks through the malaise and impasse of biblical studies - Rated
N.T. Wright has written an excellent historical approach to the scriptures, based on Old and New Testaments and many other ancient texts available at the time of Jesus or shortly thereafter. The historical foundation of Wright's work grounds the reader in the reality of Jesus as he was, and not as he has often been portrayed by an overly critical academic community or an overly sentimental religious community. Wright is a rigorous historian through and through who finds in history a real Jesus who made a real difference in his world, and hence continues to make a difference in the modern one. An excellent work. Groundbreaking.
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