New Books Network Christopher J. H. Wright, "The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible's Grand Narrative" (InterVarsity Press, 2025)
Jan 8, 2026
Christopher J. H. Wright, a prominent biblical theologian and global ambassador for the Langham Partnership, dives deep into the role of God's mission in the Bible. He discusses how understanding God's character and calling can reshape our interpretation of Scripture. Wright emphasizes the distinction between the church's mission and God's mission, and how this informs our approach to evangelism, justice, and care. He revisits themes of election and universality, discussing how Jesus fulfills God's promise to bless all nations.
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Roots Shaped By Mission And Scholarship
- Christopher grew up in Belfast as the child of missionaries and studied classics then theology at Cambridge.
- He taught in India and served in missionary training, which shaped his missional focus.
Sparked By A Disappointing Gap
- Wright decided to write this book after finding that major mission texts barely treated the Old Testament.
- A moment of disappointment with David Bosch's Transforming Mission sparked his project to explore Old Testament mission theology.
Practice Gospel-Centered Holistic Mission
- Clarify that holistic mission integrates evangelism with justice, compassion, and service rooted in the gospel.
- Explicitly distinguish gospel-centered mission from narrow evangelistic or purely social programs.
