Ask NT Wright Anything

How do we make sense of some of the Bible's most difficult passages?
In this episode, Tom Wright and Mike Bird discuss Jesus and divine judgment, the role of the Holy Spirit throughout Scripture, and the troubling problem of violence in the Old Testament.
These are not easy questions, but they are questions many Christians wrestle with. Tom explores them through the lenses of Scripture, history, and the story of God's covenant purposes.
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Did the Church leave books out of the Bible? Are Roman Catholics truly saved? And should Christians support rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem?
In this episode, Tom Wright and Mike Bird address three major questions about Scripture, salvation, and biblical prophecy.
Tom explains how the biblical canon developed, why books like Enoch and Jubilees matter historically, and why Christians can have confidence in the core books of Scripture.
They also discuss the doctrine of justification by faith and whether disagreements between Protestants and Catholics should lead Christians to question one another's salvation.
Finally, they tackle...

In today's podcast Ask NT Wright Anything, Mike Bird and Tom Wright tackle listeners’ questions on marriage, biblical interpretation and Tom’s future writing projects. Tom explains why, in Simply Jesus, he describes the union of man and woman as a signpost to the coming together of heaven and earth, drawing on Genesis, John 2, Ephesians 5 and Revelation 21. He also reflects on how marriage points beyond itself to God’s ultimate new creation. Mike and Tom then explore how Christians can develop a genuinely biblical lens while recognising the cultural assumptions that shape every reader. Finally, Tom shares updates on possible...

What does Genesis really mean when it says a woman’s “desire will be for your husband and he shall rule over you"? Should Christians still tithe today? And are Oneness Pentecostals outside historic Christianity?
In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle three major theological questions shaping modern Christianity.
Together they explore Genesis 3:16 and whether the fall introduced distorted power dynamics into marriage. Next, the conversation turns to tithing: was the Old Testament tithe a permanent command for Christians, or part of Israel’s covenant life? Tom discusses the role of gene...

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Mike Bird and Tom Wright tackle three big listener questions that sit at the crossroads of biblical interpretation and pastoral care.
First, they explore what Jesus meant when he said the gospel must be preached to “the ends of the earth” in Matthew 24:14, and how that relates to Acts 1:8, Paul’s mission to Spain, and the fall of Jerusalem. Is global evangelisation a trigger for the Second Coming, or have we misunderstood Jesus’ words?
Next, they address the painful experience of not feeling spiritually transformed. Drawing on Romans, Galatians, and 2 Corinthians, To...

Another three thorny questions tackled with clarity and depth by Tom Wright and Mike Bird this week. Grab a coffee and prepare for vintage NT Wright. First, they explore the difference between biblical theology and systematic theology, asking when each is most useful and why keeping close to the biblical text really matters. Next, Tom unpacks the much-debated “I” the "Wretched Man" in Romans 7, explaining why Paul is not simply describing the ordinary Christian life but telling a bigger story about Israel, Torah and the problem of sin. Finally, they tackle Calvinism, predestination, the five points of TULIP and the...

Is building God’s kingdom basically the same thing as secular humanism? Should Christians pray directly to the Holy Spirit? And how do you relearn biblical Greek after years away from it?
In this episode, Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore the deep difference between Christian hope and secular progress, giving practical advice for recovering New Testament Greek, and explain how the Trinity shapes Christian prayer.
A thoughtful conversation about theology, language, and the presence of God.
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In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Mike Bird and Tom Wright tackle three very different but deeply connected questions about faithfulness in a confused age today. First, they address the growing entanglement of MAGA politics, nationalism and parts of white evangelical culture, asking how Christians can resist ideological capture and recover the way of Jesus. They then respond pastorally to a listener wrestling with chronic illness, suffering and the search for meaning, offering compassion, prayer and a cross-shaped vision of purpose. Finally, they explore how to teach a more biblical hope in church: not escapist ideas of so...

What happened to the “lost tribes” of Israel, and do they matter today?
In this episode, Tom Wright explores the mystery of Israel’s northern tribes, the meaning of exile, and how the New Testament reframes restoration.
They also dive into the debate around penal substitution, asking whether it truly reflects the biblical story. Finally, Mike and Tom tackle a practical question: which Old Testament should Christians read: the Hebrew Bible or the Septuagint? We hope you find today's episode a deep and clarifying episode on Scripture, history, and theology.
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What does the Bible really mean by “soul” and “spirit”? Are they the same thing, or something very different?
In this episode, Tom Wright unpacks key biblical words like psuchē, pneuma, and ekklesia, showing how modern misunderstandings can distort Christian theology.
They also tackle a profound question: Does God “repent”? How do we reconcile passages where God seems to change his mind with the idea that God is unchanging?
This episode is all about getting back to Scripture and avoiding the confusion that comes from some biblical terms and words.
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Recorded in the Anglican calendar's Holy Week this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Michael Bird and Tom Wright begin with Easter traditions, from Bach’s St Matthew Passion to smashing chocolate Humpty Dumpty eggs. Then they tackle three rich questions. 
First: did Paul “convert” from Judaism to Christianity, or did his encounter with Jesus radically reframe his identity as a child of Abraham and member of God’s covenant people? 
Next: did Jesus make mistakes? Tom reflects on Hebrews, Gethsemane, and the Syrophoenician woman to explore what it means that Jesus “learned obedience” without implying sin or error. 
And...

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright responds to listener questions about attending churches across denominational lines, the meaning of key biblical terms, and puzzling moments in the life of the Apostle Paul.
Tom explores whether Protestants can attend Catholic churches, reflecting on how Christian unity should be lived out despite real theological differences. He also explains why some Bible translations use “Judeans” instead of “Jews,” and why this matters for understanding the New Testament without importing modern assumptions.
Finally, Tom tackles a challenging question about Paul: why did he circumcise Timothy but refuse to circu...

In this deeply pastoral episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle some of the most sensitive and difficult questions Christians face.
How should believers respond when heartfelt prayers seem unanswered, especially in the tragedy of miscarriage and pregnancy loss? Tom reflects on grief, prayer, and the mysterious work of the Spirit in the midst of suffering.
The conversation then turns to the Eucharist: what really happens in Holy Communion? Is it merely symbolic, or does something deeper occur when the church shares the bread and wine?
Finally, Tom and Mike...

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright answers listener questions about John’s Gospel, worship music, and the relationship between Jesus and Paul.
Tom explains how the miracle at Cana reveals Jesus’ glory and points forward to the cross. He also reflects on the theology embedded in Christian hymnody and why some lyrics may need updating. Finally, he addresses the long-standing claim that Paul distorted Jesus’ message and shows how Paul’s mission actually grows directly out of Jesus’ kingdom movement.
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In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore three significant questions facing the church today:
• Can Christians remain in a church that disagrees about women in leadership?
• How can the global church move toward deeper unity across traditions?
• Did the Apostle Paul wrongly expect Jesus to return within his lifetime?
Tom reflects on the revolutionary role of women in the early church, the biblical vision of unity in Ephesians, and why Paul’s language about the Lord’s return has often been misunderstood.
Rather than predicting the end of the wor...

Today on Ask NT Wright Anything, N.T. Wright and Mike Bird tackle three major theological questions: Can Christians lose their salvation? What did Jesus actually mean when he spoke about hell? Is hyper-Calvinism a distortion of biblical teaching?
Tom explores how the New Testament holds together both assurance and warning, why many modern ideas about hell owe more to medieval imagery than the Bible, and why philosophical systems about predestination often miss the central narrative of Scripture.
Instead of abstract speculation about who is “in” or “out,” Tom argues that the Bible consistently tells the story of God cho...

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle three fascinating theological questions: What actually happens at the Second Coming? Were Moses and Elijah resurrected at the Transfiguration? How should Christians understand the “unseen realm” of angels and spiritual beings?
Tom explains why many popular readings of “rapture” passages misunderstand Jesus’ teaching, clarifies the biblical meaning of Christ’s return, and explores how resurrection differs from “going to heaven.” He also addresses the mystery of the Transfiguration and reflects on Michael Heiser’s work on angels and divine beings.
Tom unpacks Daniel 7, 1 Corinthians 15, Phi...

How did Judas really die, by hanging or by falling and bursting open? Does the Bible contain contradictions? And what does it really mean to “set your mind on things above”?
In this episode of Ask N.T. Wright Anything, Tom Wright, and Mike Bird tackle three challenging questions:

Tom explores what biblical authority actually means, why “inerrancy” can sometimes miss the point, and how the New...

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle three profound theological questions that sit right at the heart of Christian hope.
Is our suffering somehow “redemptive”? What does Paul mean when he says he is “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions”? Tom explains how our suffering participates in Christ’s mission — without adding to the finished work of the cross.
Next, they explore the rapture. Is 1 Thessalonians 4 really about believers escaping earth? Or is it about welcoming the returning King as heaven and earth come together?
Finally, what does it me...

What do you get from Church that you cant get from another community? Does the church actually offer a unique spiritual protection? And how should Christians navigate salvation, infant baptism, and bad teaching across different denominations?

Today on Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle some of the tricky questions facing the church today. They look at why Christian community matters for spiritual health, how salvation is understood across denominations, and how bad teaching can arise, even among well-educated leaders. Along the way, they emphasize accountability, discernment, and the church’s calling to be a plac...

Can Christians work within unjust governments? What actually changes with the New Covenant? And what does the future hold for Anglicanism amid global shifts and internal tensions?

Today on the podcast, Tom Wright and Mike Bird are answering your questions on faith, politics, and church life.

How should Christians think about power and conscience? How did Jesus approach to political authority? How do the Old and New Covenants relate to one another, and why does Anglican liturgy continue to shape Christian faith across cultures? The conversation also addresses the challenges facing the Anglican Co...

Does your everyday work really matter to God? Why did Jesus have to be fully human and fully divine? And how should Christians live faithfully while waiting for Jesus’ return?

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore how ordinary life fits into God’s extraordinary purposes.
They discuss how all kinds of work, from manual labor to data analysis, can participate in building God’s kingdom, why the incarnation is essential to Christian salvation, and how patience, hope, and faithful action shape the Christian response to the long wait for Ch...

Who can be saved? What about those who have never heard the gospel? Do Christians earn rewards in heaven and what does God’s wrath really mean at the cross?
Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle some of the most challenging and emotionally charged questions in Christian theology. They explore whether Salvation is limited by geography or history, how God’s justice and mercy relate to those outside the Christian story, and why the New Testament speaks about “rewards in heaven” without turning faith into a transactional system. The conversation also digs into the meaning of God’s wrath at th...

Was Christianity bad for the world? How should we talk honestly about the Crusades, colonialism, slavery, sectarian wars — and the church’s failures — without pretending the record is clean? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird respond to three big questions: Is Christianity bad? Tom argues we must acknowledge the church’s worst moments without defensiveness, while also recognizing how Christian moral vision reshaped the conscience of the wider world. 
Also on today's episode listener's ask whether the “coming of the Son of Man” in Matthew 24 is about Jesus returning, or Jesus being enthron...

Why does the Old Testament sometimes appear to treat women unfairly in cases of adultery? What was the purpose of the Nazirite vow, and why would anyone choose it? And what does it really mean to say that Christ is “present” in the Eucharist?
Today, N.T. Wright and Mike Bird dive in on Ask NT Wright Anything to answer your three challenging and deeply human questions about law, holiness, and sacrament. Tom explores how Israel’s legal codes functioned within their ancient social world, how Jesus radically reframes judgment and mercy, and why Christians no longer apply Old Test...

Do ordained ministers have “more” of the Holy Spirit than lay people? What exactly was John the Baptist doing when he baptised Jews before Jesus’ ministry began? And are the Thirty-Nine Articles still fit for purpose today?
Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle three questions that sit at the heart of church life, theology, and Christian identity in today's episode of Ask NT Wright Anything.
Tom explains why ordination is not about spiritual hierarchy but authorised service, why the Holy Spirit belongs fully to the whole people of God, and how clergy exist to equip, not outrank, the chu...

Where is the Garden of Eden? What did Paul mean by our “earthly tent”? And does Genesis contain later edits, and if so, does that undermine Scripture?
In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle three of the most frequently misunderstood biblical questions.
Tom explains why Paul’s language in 2 Corinthians 5 isn’t Platonic escapism but robust resurrection hope; why the “tent” points both to the tabernacle and to our mortal bodies; and how the early Christians understood “what is kept in heaven” as something destined ultimately for earth.
Next, they turn to the l...

Was Jesus really born in Bethlehem, or did the gospel writers “invent” the story to fit prophecy? Did a Roman census ever force people to travel back to their ancestral towns? And what about Herod’s massacre of the innocents – pure theology, or plausible history?
In this special Advent episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird respond to challenges raised by historian Tom Holland (of The Rest Is History podcast) about the birth narratives of Jesus.
Tom explains why ancient history is full of gaps, how new evidence has repeatedly vindicated biblical details once dismis...

N.T. Wright and Mike Bird and reunited together in person in Premier’s new London studios for a big Ask NT Wright Anything episode.
Tom tackles a huge listener question: has Christianity actually done more harm than good? From crusades, slavery and abuse scandals to hospitals, human rights and the end of infanticide, he explains how to face church failures honestly without ditching Jesus.
They then dive into the “coming of the Son of Man” – is Jesus coming or going in Matthew, Daniel 7 and the Olivet Discourse?
And finally, Tom unpacks Romans 9-11: who is the “Isr...

Demonic activity in the New Testament, the surprising rise of “high church” worship, and whether Christians should be keeping Saturday as the Sabbath…
This week on Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom and Mike tackle three big and very different questions.
First: Did Jesus’ arrival trigger a surge in demonic activity, and should Christians today expect to encounter the demonic? Tom draws on decades of pastoral experience (including licensed diocesan exorcists!) to explain how the New Testament frames dark spiritual powers and why neither fear nor fascination is the right Christian response.
Next, they explore why so many young...

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.Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donateGot a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠Start going deeper in the Bible with a free trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠logos.com/NT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber like you - they can get 10% off by clicking here...

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 rather than having a perfect theology.
Next, they explore whether in Matthew 16 Peter himself is “the rock” or whether it’s his confession that Jesus is the Christ.
Finally, they ta...

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 earth but the renewal of creation itself.
Next, they reflect on whether we will know everything in the new creation, and how knowledge, love, and transformation intertwine in God’s future.
Finally...

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 topic — who goes to hell — where Tom challenges popular misconceptions about eternal punishment and invites listeners to rediscover the biblical vision of judgment, mercy, and renewal. Finally, they take on th...

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 really means when Scripture says Jesus “disarmed the powers.”
Next, the pair discuss Jesus’ words to the thief on the cross — “Today you will be with me in paradise.” What does “paradise” actually mean in the Bible...

​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 listeners that real faith is costly, but never silent: ”The God who made the world has come forward to meet us in the person of his Son.” Whether you’re wrestling with t...

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 Christ, not domination. They then explore the rich meaning of Habakkuk 2:4, where “faith” can point both to God’s faithfulness and human trust. Finally, they address the debate over the pastoral epistles — stylistic differences, possible edit...

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 how church authority developed over time, and reflect on the challenge of finding a church home when politics and faith collide. Finally, they dive into the debate over universalism, unpacking how language a...

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 the reliability of the Bible’s transmission in a culture shaped by memory rather than print. 
They also reflect on the resurrection story in Matthew, unpa...

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 and works are inseparable in the New Testament, and reflect on Paul’s vision of a world renewed when heaven and earth come together. Along the way, they...