Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright
Week 13: Part III, Chapter 12 — Rethinking Holiness
Read Part III, Chapter 12 of Surprised by Hope. Key passages: Romans 6; 1 Corinthians 6:12–20; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:13–16.
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If the body will be raised and the earth will be renewed, then holiness is not about escaping the physical world — it is about being the kind of person who belongs in the new creation.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Wright argues that the resurrection of the body has direct implications for ethics and holiness. If the body will be raised and transformed — not discarded — then our bodily lives matter enormously to God right now. How does this motivation for holiness differ from the 'rules-based' approach to ethics many of us grew up with?
2.Wright draws on 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 — 'your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit' — to argue that bodily holiness is a participation in the new creation, not just a matter of avoiding sin. What does this reframe do to your understanding of disciplines like fasting, sexual ethics, or care for physical health?
3.Wright talks about holiness as 'becoming what you already are' — living in line with your identity as someone in whom the Spirit dwells and who is already, by grace, part of the new creation. How does Romans 6's logic ('you have died to sin; therefore do not let sin reign') embody this 'indicative-imperative' structure?
a.What is the difference between trying to become holy in order to be accepted, versus living out the holiness you have already been given?
b.Where in your own life do you find this 'indicative-imperative' logic most difficult to apply?
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