Ask NT Wright Anything – Episode Summary

Podcast: Ask NT Wright Anything
Host: Mike Bird (Premier Unbelievable)
Guest: Tom (NT) Wright
Episode Title: Gender Hierarchy, Habakuk 2:4, What bits of the Bible did Paul write? Did Paul write the Pastoral Epistles?
Date: October 19, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Mike Bird and NT Wright tackle a trio of challenging and perennial listener questions: the meaning and use of “submission” in the New Testament’s teaching on gender and authority, the interpretation of “faith” in Habakkuk 2:4 (as cited by Paul), and the contested authorship of the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy and Titus). With clarity, candor, and characteristic good humor, Tom Wright provides biblical, historical, and linguistic insights, while Mike Bird challenges, contextualizes, and supplements the discussion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gender Hierarchy and the Meaning of “Submit”

[04:50 – 09:22]

• Listener’s Question: Joanna Vass from Athens, Georgia, asks about the Greek word for “submit” in passages supporting gender hierarchy. She wants to know if it’s always the same word and whether it strictly means yielding to authority.
• Greek Lexicon: Tom explains that hupotassō (ὑποτάσσω/ὑποτάσσειν) is the common Greek term translated as “submit.”

  “That the word hupotassin or hupotasso, ‘I submit,’ is the one that comes regularly here. We have it particularly at the beginning of the section Ephesians 5:21.” (Tom Wright, 04:50)

• Interpretive Context: In Ephesians 5:21, “submit” is a participle in Greek, anchored to earlier instructions about Spirit-filled living (Eph 5:18). Submission isn’t a standalone instruction but a participle in a series of community behaviors: speaking, giving thanks, and mutual submission (05:28).
• Reframing “Authority”: The meaning of “submit” is radically redefined by Christ’s model of self-giving love, not by hierarchical power.

  “The whole thing is within the larger context of mutual submission in the body of Christ… the kind of love which he’s talking about here… is the utter self-giving love of Jesus going to the cross.” (Tom Wright, 06:02, 06:32)

• Jesus and Authority: Tom references Mark 10, where Jesus rejects worldly authority models (coercion, bullying) in favor of servant-leadership.

  “That is a way of saying that Jesus’ death on the cross defines what authority is like... We're not gonna do it that way, we're gonna do it the other way. The one who would be great among you must be your servant…” (Tom Wright, 08:09)

• Pauline Ethics: Paul’s ethics stress mutual submission, kindness, forgiveness—not hierarchical control.

  “These are the keynotes of his ethics. Kindness and mutual submission.” (Tom Wright, 07:18)

• Notable Advice: Mike adds that word study tools (like Logos Bible Software) are helpful for digging into Greek usage and meaning across Scripture passages (09:22).

Key Quotes:

• “We shouldn't be narrowed down and boxed in to, ‘oh, this word means precisely this.’ That's important, but it's not the whole thing. We should look at it in terms of the larger overall New Testament perspective.”
  —Tom Wright [09:15]

2. Habakkuk 2:4: Faith of the Believer or Faithfulness of God?

[11:35 – 17:51]

• Listener’s Question: Andrew Long from Bristol asks whether “faith” in Habakkuk 2:4 (quoted by Paul in Romans 1 and Hebrews) refers to the believer’s faith or God’s faithfulness.
• Textual Difficulties: Tom outlines the textual variant—Hebrew says “his faith/faithfulness,” while the Greek Septuagint says “my faith/faithfulness.” Paul quotes the passage ambiguously, making it hard to discern his exact intent (13:24).
• Semantic Breadth: The Hebrew (emunah) and Greek (pistis) terms cover faith, trust, and faithfulness—not strictly “faith” as in mental assent or belief.
• Paul’s Use in Romans:

  “God's righteousness is his faithfulness to the covenant. The covenant was with Israel, but through Israel, for the world.” (Tom Wright, 14:29)

• Paul’s Argument: Tom explains that in Romans, Paul is laying out a big story:
  • God’s covenant faithfulness to Abraham and Israel is expressed through the faithfulness of Jesus, the Messiah.
  • Believers share in the benefits of this by responding in faith, which is enabled and anchored in God’s faithfulness (15:54 – 16:42).

  “Trust in God's faithfulness. But your trust becomes your faithfulness, which somehow is anchored in and into God's faithfulness. Paul seems to be saying exactly the same thing.” (Tom Wright, 17:03)

• Habakkuk’s Context: Habakkuk was written amid chaos and suffering, urging trust in God’s fidelity—even when life is tumultuous.

Key Quotes:

• “God is not phased. When ethnic Israel fails... what is then required is a faithful Israelite. Which is precisely what, according to Romans 3:21, God has provided in Jesus the Messiah.”
  —Tom Wright [15:32]
• “You're believing, you're receiving this gift in faith is the sign that you are part of that covenant, that your sins are forgiven, that you are a child of Abraham.”
  —Tom Wright [17:43]
• Mike summarizes how this theme of God's righteousness and faithful people recurs throughout Romans:

  “That becomes a template for the whole book... such a key theme.” (Mike Bird, 17:59)

3. Did Paul Write the Pastoral Epistles?

[21:35 – 31:41]

• Listener’s Question: Kerry Bryant from Chattanooga, TN, notes that many scholars doubt the Pauline authorship of the Pastoral Epistles (esp. 1 Timothy) and wants Tom’s view—and how it impacts the authority of Scripture.
• Personal Reading Experience: Tom shares (as a daily reader of the Greek NT) that 1 Timothy feels “different”—but cautions that style alone isn’t decisive.

  “1 Timothy just feels different. And that's a very subjective reaction.” (Tom Wright, 22:20)

• Stylometric Evidence: Cites Antony Kenny’s computer analysis, which found too little data for reliable stylometric distinction, but overall stylistic consistency for Pauline authorship (24:04).
• Motivations of Critics: Tom suspects some skepticism arises from discomfort with the content (e.g., statements on women or widows), rather than genuine literary analysis.

  “Part of the problem is they don't like what's in first Timothy, particularly the stuff about women in Chapter two.” (Tom Wright, 24:44)

• Purpose of the Letters: Remarks that practical instructions about widows, church order, etc., reflect Paul’s deep concern for vibrant, cross-cultural Christian community (25:35).

  “Paul's real concern was for actual communities that are trying to live out this extraordinary experiment of living as family across ethnic and cultural boundaries. If you're going to do that, you're going to have to get into admin.” (Tom Wright, 25:35)

• On Inspiration and Editing: Tom pushes back against a “typewriter theory” of inspiration (divine dictation without human input), suggesting Scripture often arises through complex processes, including editing and compilation.

  “I think God inspired Scripture in all sorts of ways, and if that means including editors and arrangers, so be it. Editing and arranging is a perfectly fine thing to do.” (Tom Wright, 27:02)

• Open Possibility: Some parts of the Pastoral Epistles (or other NT books) could be compiled or amended by later editors. This doesn’t diminish their inspiration or place in Christian Scripture.

  “Rather than saying, oh, it's a forgery, you can't believe a word it says, no, in the mercy of God, we have these texts... they do fit broadly with the picture of Paul that we've got.” (Tom Wright, 27:46)

• Mike Bird’s Input: Reminds listeners that Paul frequently wrote with collaborators and that variation is natural in an author’s style and context. The Pastoral Epistles could be a combination of genuine Pauline material and later editorial work.

Key Quotes:

• “We have the book that God intended us to have... The means by which we have it is not a function of a particular typewriter theory of inspiration... It's much more complicated and interesting actually than that and human than that.”
  —Tom Wright [31:04]
• “Some fragments... of Paul's letters that have been torn or kind of damaged at some point have been compiled and filled out by an editor like Luke or someone in a second, third generation of Paul's legacy. I think that's all possible.”
  —Mike Bird [29:15]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [06:41] Tom Wright:
  “The kind of love which he's talking about here... is the utter self giving love of Jesus going to the cross.”
• [08:24] Tom Wright:
  “We're not gonna do it that way... The one who would be great among you must be your servant. The one who wants to be first must be slave of all, because the Son of man didn't come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
• [24:58] Tom Wright:
  “Paul's real concern was for actual communities... trying to live out this extraordinary experiment of living as family across ethnic and cultural boundaries. If you're going to do that, you're going to have to get into admin.”
• [31:02] Tom Wright:
  “We have the book that God intended us to have...The means by which we have it is not a function of a particular typewriter theory of inspiration…”

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [04:50] — Gender hierarchy and meaning of “submit”
• [09:22] — Practical advice for Bible word study
• [11:35] — Habakkuk 2:4: faith or faithfulness?
• [13:24] — Hebrew and Septuagint textual differences
• [14:29] — Paul’s covenant argument in Romans
• [17:59] — Recurring theme in Romans
• [21:35] — Authorship of Pastoral Epistles raised
• [22:20] — Tom’s subjective reading experience of 1 Timothy
• [24:04] — Stylometric and stylistic challenges
• [25:35] — Pastoral concerns and widows in 1 Timothy
• [27:02] — On inspiration and editorial processes
• [29:15] — Mike discusses editorial theories
• [31:02] — Tom’s theology of Scripture

Tone & Style

The episode remains conversational, scholarly, and pastorally sensitive. Tom Wright speaks with humility and clarity, often circling back to the practical implications for faith and church life. Mike Bird blends playful banter, incisive follow-ups, and practical tips for listeners.

For Further Exploration

• Book Mentioned:
  • The Vision of Ephesians (Tom Wright)
  • New Testament in its World (Bird & Wright)
  • Does It Matter Who Wrote the Bible? (ed. David Capes)
• Tool: Logos Bible Software recommended for biblical word studies.

Conclusion

Tom and Mike encourage a nuanced reading of Scripture—alert to context, history, language, and the messy, human, Spirit-filled process that gave us our Bible. Whether wrestling with questions of gender, faith, or authorship, they urge openness, honesty, and faith in God’s providence over the texts Christians cherish.

Next episode teaser: Questions on “greater works” than Jesus, the Filioque clause, and the cost of discipleship—don’t miss it.

End of Summary