About the Book

Once again, Bishop N.T. Wright’s eye-opening journey through key biblical passages promises to radically alter the work of the church and the direction of our lives. In the tradition of his award-winning Surprised by Hope, Wright turns readers to the surprisingly neglected question of how Christians ought to live in the here and now. After You Believe argues that people are so preoccupied with getting into heaven that they forget that much of the New Testament is about daily life - even the passages about heaven. By examining the virtues that are the goals of the Christian life, Wright helps readers find new purpose and clarity for today.

N. T. Wright is Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and one of world’s leading Bible scholars. He has been featured on ABC News, Dateline, and Fresh Air. He taught New Testament studies for twenty years at Cambridge, McGill and Oxford Universities. He is the award-winning author of Surprised by Hope, Simply Christian, The Challenge of Jesus, The Meaning of Jesus (co-authored with Marcus Borg), and the much heralded multi-volume series Christian Origins and the Question of God.

“With characteristic verve and luminous clarity Tom Wright now brings his learning and insight to bear on the complex field of ethics. He slices through both old and new conundrums by using - and renewing - the ancient key of virtue and the transformed character. Here is deep Christian wisdom for a bewildered age.”

- John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford

Critical Praise

“Bishop Wright, with his usual wisdom and erudition, shows how an account of the virtues is not only compatible but required by the New Testament understanding of what it means to be a Christian. This important book hopefully will be read by theologian and non-theologian alike.” — Stanley Hauerwas, Duke Divinity School

“A follow-up to Wright’s Simply Christian and Surprised by Hope, this solid volume will appeal to Christians who appreciate biblical interpretation that hews to tradition but incorporates an emphasis on contemporary social justice as an element of Christian virtue.” — Publishers Weekly

“In his new book, Wright,…one of the most prolific and influential theologians of the 20th Century,…posits that the development of virtue -- by the church and in broader society -- could help lead the Western world out of the sea of despondency in which it currently finds itself languishing.” — Religion News Service

“[N.T. Wright is a] master at straight-forward, street-level writing about what makes our religious lives truly matter in the world. …Wright’s...powerful new book... is a clarion call to mature Christians to take seriously some of Jesus’ messages we’ve long ignored.” — Read the Spirit

“A book that carefully examines Christian character, Christian virtues and the Christian life . . . needs serious attention.” — The Louisville Courier-Journal

“An excellent book . . . Wright’s fine theological reflections here shed much light.” — Englewood Review of Books

“For those who feel the church has lost its way, Wright offers a roadmap to help guide its followers home.” — U.S. Catholic

“Beautifully written, rich with insights and lined with thought-provoking material .. . . Sometimes compared to a modern-day C.S. Lewis, N. T. Wright is an author not to be missed.... Highly recommended.” — Faithful Reader

“One of the world’s best published Scripture scholars and an Anglican bishop, N. T. Wright’s latest book blends biblical competence and pastoral experience. This is a book for a general audience with evangelical leanings about how a Christian goes about developing virtue, character or habits of thinking, feeling and acting.” — America—The National Catholic Weekly

“After You Believe by N. T. Wright offers yet another clarion call for believers and their communities to see that their actions in everyday life are evidence of the faith within.” — Spirituality and Practice

“Often we get stuck between two extremes: an antinomian (’against law’) spontaneity, and a rule-focused legalism. Instead, argues Wright… we need to develop virtuous character. …Just about everything in After You Believe [is] a fresh way of exploring many familiar truths.” — Christianity Today

“One reason so many people read Tom Wright today is because he can write prose that is flat-out captivating. . . . Vintage Wright.” — Christianity Today.com

“In his latest book, After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters, Wright challenges the church—and broader society in general—to return to virtue and the development of character.” — Sojourners

“Making disciples is about the long-term development of Christian character. There is no quick fix discipleship. It is the development of Christlike behavior as second nature. This book spells out the New Testament basis and its application to Western culture.” — Christianity Magazine

“Those who tend toward legalistic views will find little comfort. It is a book worth considering.” — Renewed in Spirit

“As in all Wright books… you need to build your virtue muscle, sit down, exercise your free will and make a decision to read the whole thing… twice.” — Worship Leader Magazine

“[A] very rich book.... Readers of After You Believe will admire Wright’s close reading of Scripture, his clear prose, and his evident love for his Christian faith.” — Commonweal

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Product Details

• ISBN: 9780061730542
• ISBN 10: 0061730548
• Imprint: HarperOne
• On Sale: 03/13/2012
• Trimsize: 5.310 in (w) x 8.000 in (h) x 0.720 in (d)
• Pages: 320
• List Price: $17.99
• BISAC1 : RELIGION / Biblical Studies / Bible Study Guides
• BISAC2 : RELIGION / Christian Life / General
• BISAC3 : RELIGION / Christian Life / Spiritual Growth
• BISAC4 : RELIGION / Christian Theology / General