Ask NT Wright Anything

Episode: Tom, Should We Work Out? Why Is The Bible Authoritative?
Host: Mike Bird
Guest: NT Wright
Date: September 21, 2025

Overview

This episode centers on listener questions related to the Christian view of the physical body, the concept of biblical authority and inspiration, and the subject of the “unforgivable sin.” Mike Bird hosts from Ridley College (Australia), with Tom (NT) Wright joining from Oxford (UK). The topics traverse practical spirituality, biblical theology, and pastoral concerns, providing both scriptural and historical perspectives. The conversation is lively, personal, and filled with nuanced explanation.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Should Christians Work Out and Care for Their Bodies?

[04:09–11:05]

• Question Posed by Luke from Sydney:
  In an age of abundance, body positivity, and competing pressures from vanity and neglect, what does Scripture say about looking after our bodies? Should Christians work out or lift weights “for Jesus”?

• Tom Wright’s Response:

  • Theological Foundation:

    • The body is not a prison for the soul (rejecting Platonic views), but is God’s gift and the means by which we serve Him and others.
    • “Paul says, present your bodies as a living sacrifice. The body in Paul's exposition of the faith is the God given means by which we serve one another and by which we serve God's purposes in the world.” (04:39)
    • Scriptures cited: Romans 12 ("present your bodies"), 1 Corinthians 6 ("glorify God in your body"), 1 Timothy 4 ("physical exercise has a limited usefulness, but godliness is useful in every way").

  • Balance & Context:

    • There’s a need for balance: physical health matters, but godliness is ultimately more important.
    • Not everyone’s circumstances are identical—age, health, ability matter.
    • “Sometimes yes and sometimes no. I wish I was a bit fitter than I am currently, but that's partly because of my knee operation 18 months ago, et cetera, et cetera.” (08:38)
    • Notes early church practices like twice-weekly fasting as examples of bodily discipline for spiritual purposes.

  • Cultural Observations:

    • We’ve moved from negativity about the body to a “body positivity” that can make honest conversation difficult; but care for the body is still necessary.

• Personal Anecdote:

  • Tom played rugby in school and university, noting the challenges of maintaining fitness with age (09:13–10:27).
    • “I probably played rugby three times a week through the school terms, and I loved it. It was great.” (09:23)
    • Mike and Tom liken their podcasting teamwork to their old rugby positions—passing ideas back-and-forth (10:45–11:05).

2. Why Is the Bible Authoritative?

[11:05–21:33]

• Question Posed by Noah from Sydney:
  How can all the New Testament documents be viewed as authoritative, especially considering that not all authors were among Jesus’ original disciples?

• Tom Wright’s Response:

  • Authority of Scripture—Historical Perspective:

    • The emphasis on “the authority of the Bible” gained special prominence in the Reformation as an alternative to papal authority.
    • “In the 16th century and subsequently, authority of Scripture was taking the place of the authority of the Pope....” (13:00)

  • Biblical Perspective:

    • Jesus states, “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me,” not to the books His followers would write (Matthew 28).
    • “When we then use the phrase authority of Scripture, we have to say that is a shorthand way of saying God's authority exercised through Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit working through these books.” (15:10)

  • Nature of Authority:

    • Authority is not just “reference book answers”; it’s dynamic and means the shaping, guiding, and transforming of the church’s life and mission.
    • Early church recognized witnesses close to Jesus (apostles or their associates) as possessing this special authority.

  • Canon Formation:

    • The New Testament as canon wasn’t settled immediately—early Christians valued some later writings, but apostolic witness was the key criterion.
    • “They wished that the shepherd of Hermas could be in... the canon. But they knew that the shepherd of Hermas wasn't written by an apostle.” (17:15–17:30)

• Mike Bird Adds:

  • Protestant doctrine didn’t claim the Bible was magical or self-empowered; the Spirit is the true agent mediating authority.
  • “I put the doctrine of Scripture not at the front of a theology... I put it as a subsection under the Holy Spirit.” (19:16)

• Further Reflections:

  • Tom observes that overemphasis on “biblicism” can provoke a negative reaction, but Scripture remains “non-negotiable.”
  • “The Bible is pretty well non-negotiable. So that anyone who says, as tragically some have said, oh well, the church wrote the Bible, so the church can now rewrite the Bible. That's just playing around. That's not serious.” (21:08)

3. Can Christians Commit the Unforgivable Sin?

[23:45–29:52]

• Question Posed by Michael from Japan:
  What is the “unforgivable sin” Jesus mentions in Mark 3:20–30? Is it possible for believers to commit it today? What about taking the Lord’s name in vain?

• Tom Wright’s Response:

  • Pastoral Assurance:

    • “If you're worried about having committed the unforgivable sin, that is an absolute sure sign that you haven't.” (25:17)
    • Those who have truly committed it have “written off all the questions about God” and aren’t interested in repentance or forgiveness.

  • Scriptural Context:

    • The warning arose when certain scribes said Jesus’ deliverance ministry was powered by Satan.
      • “If somebody... looks at something which is in fact the work of the Spirit and says, actually that's the work of the devil...they have shut and locked the very door by which rescue could have come to them.” (27:38)
    • Compared to the teaching that withholding forgiveness closes oneself to receiving forgiveness (Matthew 18).

  • Not an Arbitrary Rule:

    • “It's not simply an arbitrary punishment for breaking an arbitrary rule. It's kind of ontologically true: if you don't forgive, then you are not open.” (28:34)

  • On Taking the Lord’s Name in Vain:

    • Related, but distinct—calls for seriousness and reverence, especially in speaking of spiritual matters.

• Mike Bird’s Addendum:

  • The scribes’ sin was not accidental or careless—it was a calculated, willful rejection of the Spirit’s work.
    • “They looked at the work of God, the work of the Spirit in Jesus, and they damned it all to hell. They put it at the feet of, of a Philistine God called Beelzebul.” (29:56)
  • Reassures anxious listeners with reference to the honest complaints and questions voiced in the Psalms and Lamentations. If you’re concerned, you haven’t committed this sin.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Body:

  • “The body is God's gift and it is the means by which we are to serve God.” – NT Wright (04:39)
  • “Do I need to work out? I think it depends entirely on who you are and where you are and what you're doing.” – NT Wright (08:27)

• On Biblical Authority:

  • “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me. He doesn't say, all authority in heaven and earth is given to the books you chaps are going to go and write.” – NT Wright (14:16)
  • “The Bible is pretty well non negotiable.” – NT Wright (21:08)

• On the Unforgivable Sin:

  • “If you're worried about having committed the unforgivable sin, that is an absolute sure sign that you haven't.” – NT Wright (25:17)
  • “There is a wideness in God's mercy, but there is a point where mercy ends and judgment begins.” – Mike Bird (30:06)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Content Segment | |-----------|----------------| | 04:09–11:05 | On Physical Fitness, the Body, and Faith | | 11:05–21:33 | On Scriptural Authority and Inspiration | | 23:45–29:52 | On the Unforgivable Sin and Blasphemy |

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a warm, occasionally humorous, and deeply pastoral tone. Both speakers blend scholarly insight with personal anecdotes and practical application, making the discussion accessible, engaging, and reassuring for a general Christian audience.

For more listener questions, visit askntwright.com or peruse the podcast’s back catalog. Listeners are encouraged to submit their own queries on faith, theology, and Christian living for future episodes.