Jesus Under Every Rock? Rethinking Christ-Centered Reading & Preaching (Chris Wright) Ep #209

Jul 17, 2025

Dr. Christopher J. H. Wright, a renowned Old Testament scholar and Global Ambassador for the Langham Partnership, explores the nuances of reading the Old Testament with a Christ-focused lens. He discusses the dangers of oversimplifying scripture by trying to find Jesus in every verse, arguing for richer interpretations that respect historical context. Wright highlights the importance of global voices in theological education and the transformative power of preaching, especially in regions with low literacy, echoing a call for the Western church to learn from its global counterparts.

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INSIGHT

Two Extremes in Reading OT

Christians often struggle between ignoring the Old Testament or forcing Jesus into every verse.
Both extremes miss the rich context and original message of the Old Testament.

INSIGHT

Dangers of Over-Christocentric Reading

Forcing Jesus into every Old Testament text risks losing its plot and original meaning.
This distortion silences the distinct voice and context intended by the Old Testament authors.

INSIGHT

Christotelic vs. Christocentric Reading

Jesus is the destination of the biblical narrative, not hidden under every verse.
The Old Testament texts form the scenery along the journey leading to Christ's fulfillment.

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Should Christians look for Jesus in every verse of the Old Testament—or are we missing the point when we do?

In this wide-ranging and practical conversation, Dr. Christopher J. H. Wright, Langham Partnership’s Global Ambassador and one of the world’s leading Old Testament scholars, joins Dru Johnson to explore the difference between Christocentric and Christotelic readings of Scripture. Wright reflects on common instincts Christians have—either skipping the Old Testament or trying to make every text about Jesus—and explains what we lose when we fail to respect the voice and context of the original authors.

Wright argues for a more faithful reading that respects the historical drama of God’s covenantal journey with Israel, leading to but not eclipsed by Christ. He explains how Luke 24 affirms that the Scriptures point to Jesus, but that doesn’t mean every verse must be “about” him. Instead, Scripture forms a unified story with Jesus as its destination, not its hiding place.

The conversation ends with a powerful case for why the global church, especially in the majority world, has crucial theological insights to offer—and why Western Christians should be ready to learn.

For more from Chris Wright:

https://christopherjhwright.com/

For more about Langham Partnership:

https://us.langham.org/

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Chapters:

00:00 Understanding the Old Testament's Relevance
02:01 Challenges in Interpreting the Old Testament
05:26 The Importance of Context in Biblical Interpretation
08:09 The Role of Jesus in Old Testament Texts
11:00 Exegetical Approaches to the Old Testament
14:08 The Historical Unfolding of God's Promises
21:06 The Transition from Law to Grace
22:32 The Journey of Scripture Towards Christ
24:57 Understanding the Role of the Gospels and Acts
27:00 The Nature of Biblical Narrative
29:01 Langham Partnership: Resourcing Global Churches
32:37 The Importance of Preaching in the Majority World
36:00 Listening to Global Voices in Theology