Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright
Week 2: Part I, Chapter 1 — All Kinds of Resurrection
Read Part I, Chapter 1 of Surprised by Hope. Key passages: Daniel 12:1–3; Ezekiel 37; Isaiah 26:19.
Previewing Week 2 of Surprised by Hope
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 17-week guide when you’re ready.
Wright begins with a survey of what 'resurrection' meant across different cultures and religions — and why the early Christian claim was so startling and specific.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Wright surveys belief about life after death in the ancient pagan world, arguing that 'resurrection' was not a general term for 'life after death' but a very specific claim about bodies being re-embodied. What is the significance of this distinction?
2.In the ancient world, many Greeks and Romans believed the soul escaped the body at death — which was good news, not bad. How does this contrast with the Hebrew and Jewish view of the body, and why does it matter for understanding the resurrection?
3.Wright traces the development of resurrection belief within Second Temple Judaism, noting that it was not a universal Jewish belief (the Sadducees rejected it). Why do you think resurrection was a contested idea even within Judaism, and what does that tell us about what the early Christians were claiming?
a.What role did martyrdom and the hope for justice play in fueling Jewish resurrection belief?
b.How does Ezekiel 37 (the valley of dry bones) function as a symbolic prophecy of national restoration, and how did it eventually feed into bodily resurrection hope?