The delighted study of the text
"I have to say that for me there has been no more stimulating exercise, for the mind, the heart, the imagination and the spirit, than trying to think Paul's thoughts after him and constantly to be stirred up to fresh glimpses of God's ways and purposes with the world and with us strange human creatures. The church and the academy both urgently need a new generation of teachers and preachers who will give themselves totally to the delighted study of the text and allow themselves to be taken wherever it leads"-- N.T. Wright, Paul: Fresh Perspectives (London: SPCK, 2005), p. x
posted by Chris Tilling @ 10:40 PM
11 comments
11 Comments:
Totally off topic but I am intrigued by the cover art. It seems strangely dissonant with the the supposed content of the book (even if it seems trendy these days to use some classical art on book covers).
I can't work out if that is meant to be Paul (given he is often portrayed in art as a bald man except that the spectacles were invented around renaissance times, so another case of viewing the past through present day lenses) or a tongue in cheek depiction of NT Wright in maybe 20 years time!!!!
--s
Funnily enough, I was wondering the same! OK, typical of Apostle-Paul-art is the presence of i) a seriously bald head, ii) a long beard and iii) a sword. But given the spectacles, modern paper and the, I think, medieval sword, one wonders if this is deliberately trying to be anachronistic.
However, in the preface, Tom does go on about being old, and that young blood is needed in Pauline academic work, and so maybe you are right that its Wright.
In sum, here are the obvious options:
1) The Apostle Paul depicted with deliberately anachronistic elements so as to portray him as relevant for and speaking to all times
2) Wright himself 20 years on
3) his mum
4) Santa Claus reading little Jimmy's wish list
Votes please ...
I'll go with (4) Santa Claus.
Im thinking (3) but will have to go with (2)
I'm going for version (5). I know.. difficult aren't I.
(5) An old man trying to make sense of either i) Ikea instructions or ii) A manual on how to work a computer
I get the horrible feeling that we wont manage a majority vote, especially with responses like 'I'm going for version 5'...
GO WITH (5)
It's not about a majority vote, or democracy, it's about how loud and forcefully you shout!
GO WITH (5)....or DIE
(threats also help..this is true persuavive arguing)
You frigging anti-post-colonialist, Dio Chrysostom following, empire loving Nazi!
Right, now that's off my chest, lets get back on with the votes...
*single tear falls down face. Feelings shatter like a glass falling from a very high building onto a concrete street. Wonders if the description of me being anti-post-colonialist, Dio Chrysostom following, empire loving Nazi! is true. Knows it isn't..feel righteous anger building...*
GO FOR (5)
errr....but if not I like (3)
Come on guys. Its clearly his mum.
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