Evil and the Justice of God

Merit Award, 2007 Christianity Today Theology/Ethics BookWith every earthquake and war, understanding the nature of evil and our response to it becomes more urgent. Evil is no longer the concern just of ministers and theologians but also of politicians and the media. We hear of child abuse, ethnic cleansing, AIDS, torture and terrorism, and rightfully we are shocked. But, N. T. Wright says, we should not be surprised. For too long we have naively believed in the modern idea of human progress. In contrast, postmodern thinkers have rightly argued that evil is real, powerful and important, but they give no real clue as to what we should do about it. In fact, evil is more serious than either our culture or our theology has supposed. How then might Jesus' death be the culmination of the Old Testament solution to evil but on a wider and deeper scale than most imagine? Can we possibly envision a world in which we are delivered from evil? How might we work toward such a future through prayer and justice in the present? These are the powerful and pressing themes that N. T. Wright addresses in this book that is at once timely and timeless.

"[A] book with countless brilliant things in it."--The Christian Century, August 21, 2007, "[A] very practical and thought-provoking composition that addresses the challenges and inherent connection between evil and the justice of God within both a postmodern Western context and a Judeo-Christian context."--Fitzroy Willis in The Pneuma Review, Spring 2008, "[A]n important and refreshing treatment of the problem of evil. . . . [A] gem for any pastor or theologically interested lay person."--David Loy, Concordia Journal, July 2008, "[D]eserves careful reading by all who are in any way seeking to understand the modern day challenges of evil. . . . I recommend this book. Its ultimate concern shines through to be pastoral and practical rather than merely satisfying philosophically."--Rodney Stent, The Lamplighter, November 2008, "[This book] is an excellent and readable work. The author does not pretend to answer all the philosophical questions that surround this issue, but he does offer some solid insights and encouragement."--MN, Church Libraries, Spring 2007

N. T. Wright, formerly bishop of Durham in England, is research professor of New Testament and early Christianity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He is the author of dozens of books, including Simply Jesus, Justification, The Challenge of Jesus, Small Faith--Great God and Simply Christian.