Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church

In this groundbreaking bookavailable in paperback for the first timerenowned Bible scholar, Anglican bishop, and bestselling author N. T. Wright argues that Christians have not distorted the Bibles message about heaven and what happens after we die. For years, Christians have been asking, "If you died tonight, do you know where you would go?" It turns out that many believers have been giving the wrong answer. It is not heaven. Wright outlines the present confusion about a Christians future hope and shows how it is deeply intertwined with how we live today. Wright asserts that Christianitys most distinctive idea is bodily resurrection, and provides a magisterial defense for a literal resurrection of Jesus. Wright then explores our expectation of "new heavens and a new earth," revealing what happens to the dead until then and what will happen with the "second coming" of Jesus. For many, including many Christians, it will come as a great surprise to learn that heaven comes to earth instead of us going to heaven. Wright convincingly argues that what we believe about life after death directly affects what we believe about life before death. For if God intends to renew the whole creationand if this has already begun in Jesuss resurrectionthe church cannot stop at "saving souls" but must anticipate the eventual renewal by working for Gods kingdom in the wider world, bringing healing and hope in the present life.