Ask NT Wright Anything: Can We Read Jesus into Every Old Testament Story?

Episode Release Date: June 29, 2025
Host: Mike Bird
Guest: Tom Wright
Produced by: Premier Unbelievable

Introduction

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, host Mike Bird engages with renowned theologian Tom Wright to explore profound questions about Jesus, the Bible, and the life of faith. This episode delves into whether interpreting every Old Testament narrative as a foreshadowing of Jesus is appropriate, among other theological inquiries.

Listener Question 1: Is We Living in the New Heavens and New Earth Already?

Timestamp: [02:06] – [10:28]

Question from Will G. (Atlanta, USA):
Will poses a sophisticated question regarding the Olivet Discourse and its implications for eschatology. He asks whether, given that Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple (as seen in Matthew 24) and spoke of the creation of new heavens and a new earth, we might already be living in this "new" creation. Essentially, he wonders what prevents believers from claiming the current age as the fulfillment of these prophecies.

Tom Wright’s Response:

Tom acknowledges the depth of Will's question, noting that it touches on the "pressurist position," which suggests that the new age was inaugurated through Jesus' life, death, resurrection, ascension, and the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. He cautions against simplifying this to mean that the new heavens and new earth have fully arrived.

"The good news is... the new age in which heaven and earth will be one has not yet fully and finally arrived."
– Tom Wright [03:43]

He emphasizes the "now and not yet" aspect of inaugurated eschatology, where God's new creation has begun but is not yet complete. Wright points out that ongoing global issues—wars, natural disasters, and moral struggles—indicate that the complete transformation into the new heavens and new earth is still forthcoming.

"So this is the problem with inaugurated eschatology... the gap between that now which Christians already celebrate and the not yet now."
– Tom Wright [03:43]

Moreover, he highlights the transformative impact of the gospel on societal morals and values, as discussed in Tom Holland's Dominion, while also recognizing that much remains to be done.

Listener Question 2: Reading Jesus into Every Old Testament Story—Is It Overdone?

Timestamp: [10:28] – [20:17]

Question from Rob Den (Singapore):
Rob raises concerns about the prevalent trend in some churches to interpret every Old Testament story as a direct reference to Jesus—a method sometimes seen as "Christo-monastery." He wonders if this approach might overshadow the distinct personhood of God the Father and lead to an overly simplistic or "cheesy" reading of the scriptures.

Tom Wright’s Response:

Wright empathizes with Rob's concerns, sharing his own experiences in writing a children's Bible that seeks to balance the revelation of Jesus without overemphasizing it in every narrative. He references the biblical account of Jesus on the road to Emmaus, where disciples recognize Jesus through a broader understanding of Scripture rather than seeing Him in every single detail.

"We must avoid the trivialization of many allegorical schemes while allowing the full, rich, multilayered narrative to play its own role."
– Tom Wright [12:33]

He criticizes approaches that reduce complex narratives to mere foreshadowings of Jesus, arguing that this can diminish the historical and theological richness of the Old Testament. Wright advocates for reading the Old Testament as a cohesive historical and narrative work that naturally finds fulfillment in Jesus without forcing every element to point directly to Him.

"Read it as a historical narrative as it intends to be... finding a fulfillment in Jesus, which then actually broadens out into the fulfillment, which is, broadly speaking, the work of the Holy Spirit in the world as a whole."
– Tom Wright [12:33]

Additionally, Wright touches upon historical interpretations by early Church Fathers like Origen, who allegorized scriptures to reveal Christ but warns against modern tendencies to over-allegorize, which can lead to a distorted understanding of the biblical text.

Listener Question 3: Was Jesus John the Baptist Resurrected?

Timestamp: [22:22] – [28:34]

Questions from Brad Garrison and Jesse Lusko:
Brad and Jesse inquire about Mark 6:14-16, where rumors arise that Jesus might be John the Baptist resurrected. They seek clarification on whether historical figures like Herod Antipas genuinely believed in the resurrection of John the Baptist or if this reflects broader first-century resurrection beliefs.

Tom Wright’s Response:

Wright explains that the mainstream Jewish belief in the first century focused on a general resurrection at the end of time, rather than individual resurrections. He suggests that Herod Antipas likely interpreted the rumors as divine judgment or punishment for his execution of John the Baptist rather than believing Jesus was literally John resurrected.

"I don't think we should expect to learn serious first-century Jewish theology from Herod Antipas, of all people."
– Tom Wright [24:11]

He dismisses the notion that Herod or the general populace believed Jesus was John returned to life, emphasizing that such speculations are more about Herod's guilt and fear than about contemporary theological beliefs in resurrection.

"It's kind of wild speculation, supposing this was what was going on... But I don't think we should allow that to knock us off the main strand of Judean teaching."
– Tom Wright [24:11]

Wright also shares an anecdote to illustrate skepticism towards such claims, highlighting that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence and that these rumors were likely superficial reactions to Herod's remorse rather than genuine theological statements.

Conclusion

In this episode, Mike Bird and Tom Wright navigate complex theological questions, offering nuanced perspectives on eschatology and biblical interpretation. They emphasize the importance of understanding the "now and not yet" in Christian hope and caution against overly simplistic readings of the Old Testament that may undermine its historical and theological depth. Additionally, they address misunderstandings about resurrection beliefs in the first century, providing clarity grounded in historical and scriptural analysis.

Notable Quotes:

• Tom Wright [03:43]: "So this is the problem with inaugurated eschatology... the gap between that now which Christians already celebrate and the not yet now."

• Tom Wright [12:33]: "We must avoid the trivialization of many allegorical schemes while allowing the full, rich, multilayered narrative to play its own role."

• Tom Wright [24:11]: "It's kind of wild speculation, supposing this was what was going on... But I don't think we should allow that to knock us off the main strand of Judean teaching."

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