Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church

The award-winning author and premier New Testament scholar tackles the idea of what happens after we die and shows how most Christians get it wrong and the difference it makes. n nIn this groundbreaking book--available in paperback for the first time--renowned Bible scholar, Anglican bishop, and bestselling author N. T. Wright argues that Christians have not distorted the Bible's message about heaven and what happens after we die.n nFor years, Christians have been asking, If you died tonight, do you know where you would go? It turns out that many believers have been giving the wrong answer. It is not heaven.n nWright outlines the present confusion about a Christian's future hope and shows how it is deeply intertwined with how we live today. Wright asserts that Christianity's most distinctive idea is bodily resurrection, and provides a magisterial defense for a literal resurrection of Jesus. Wright then explores our expectation of new heavens and a new earth, revealing what happens to the dead until then and what will happen with the second coming of Jesus. For many, including many Christians, it will come as a great surprise to learn that heaven comes to earth instead of us going to heaven.n nWright convincingly argues that what we believe about life after death directly affects what we believe about life before death. For if God intends to renew the whole creation--and if this has already begun in Jesus's resurrection--the church cannot stop at saving souls but must anticipate the eventual renewal by working for God's kingdom in the wider world, bringing healing and hope in the present life.n