Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament: A Book Review
This paper offers a critical review of Christopher J.H. Wright's Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament (1992), a work arguing that the Old Testament is indispensable to understanding the life, identity, and mission of Jesus Christ. The review summarizes Wright's three-part argument: that the Old Testament established the covenantal tradition Jesus fulfilled, that successive covenants with Abraham, David, and others were unified in purpose, and that Jesus himself drew heavily on Old Testament scripture throughout his ministry. The paper then critically evaluates Wright's strengths—particularly his emphasis on biblical continuity and Jewish-Christian shared heritage—before identifying a key theological ambiguity regarding Christ's innate divinity. Comparisons to Michael Rydelnik's related work are also noted.
- Introduction: Wright's book and its central argument introduced
- Summary of Wright's Argument: Three-part overview of Old Testament covenants and Jesus
- Critical Interaction: Strengths of Wright's evangelical and textual approach
- Theological Ambiguity and Comparative Literature: Flaw regarding Christ's innate divinity and Rydelnik comparison
- Conclusion: Validity of Wright's premise and Jewish-Christian unity
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What makes this paper effective
- The review moves logically from neutral summary to critical evaluation, giving readers a clear orientation before introducing analytical judgment.
- Direct quotations from Wright and from a secondary reviewer (Bryan Catherman) are used to ground critical claims in textual evidence rather than mere opinion.
- The paper situates Wright's theological perspective fairly, acknowledging the evangelist intent behind the book before identifying its ambiguities.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates structured critical reviewing: it separates descriptive summary from evaluative critique, uses a secondary scholarly source (Rydelnik) for comparative context, and identifies a specific theological tension in Wright's argument—his emphasis on Old Testament formation of Christ's character versus the doctrine of innate divinity—without overstating the flaw.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with brief biographical context for Wright before moving into a three-part summary that mirrors the book's own structure (covenantal foundation, unified covenant purpose, Jesus's personal engagement with scripture). A "Critical Interaction" section addresses strengths and weaknesses in sequence, and a short conclusion reflects on the book's broader implications for Jewish-Christian unity. Endnotes and a bibliography follow Chicago-style formatting.
Introduction
In contemporary times, many modern and postmodern Christian churches and denominations focus almost exclusively on deconstructing passages in the New Testament to reinforce the value of Jesus and his effect on Christianity. As such, there has been a dearth of emphasis on the Old Testament and its role in not only facilitating the New Testament, but also in influencing the life and position of Jesus as the Messiah. Christopher Wright, who holds a doctoral degree from Cambridge in Old Testament ethics and has authored a number of books related to the Old Testament's place in Christianity, has written another book that attempts to rectify this oversight. Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament focuses on the continuity between both testaments of the Bible to demonstrate their collective impact on Jesus. The Christ did not operate in a vacuum; to the contrary, he was part of a lengthy lineage of prophets and individuals with whom God established covenants to assert his will, his land, and his religion. The author attempts to emphasize the value of the Old Testament in influencing Jesus and Christianity as it is known today.
Bibliography
Catherman, Bryan. "A Critical Review of Knowing Jesus Through The Old Testament by Christopher J.H. Wright." The Salty Believer. 2013.
Rydelnik, Michael. "What Does the Hebrew Bible Say About the Coming Messiah?" In The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith, ed. Ted Cabal, 1351–1352. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007.
Wright, Christopher J.H. Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1992.
End Notes
1 Christopher J.H. Wright, Knowing Jesus Through The Old Testament (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1992), IX.
2 Wright, Knowing Jesus, 108.
3 Galatians 3:29.
4 Wright, Knowing Jesus, IX.
5 Bryan Catherman, "A Critical Review of Knowing Jesus Through The Old Testament by Christopher J.H. Wright," The Salty Believer, 2013.
6 Michael Rydelnik, "What Does the Hebrew Bible Say About the Coming Messiah?," 1351.
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