Scholar N.T. Wright questions reality of key Biblical figures

Notable Anglican scholar Tom “N.T.” Wright shared several Biblically unorthodox theological stances during a podcast earlier this month, voicing doubt over the existence of famous Biblical figures. Wright’s comments questioning the historic accuracy of the Biblical figures came during an April 5 episode of his podcast, Ask NT Wright Anything. Premier Insight described the 77-year-old as one the world’s leading New Testament scholars.

Who did Wright discuss?

Adam and Eve: Wright did not deny the existence of Adam and Eve but referred to them as an original pair of human-like creatures. They could even be called proto-humans for many generations, perhaps for thousands of years, he said. If there was an original Adam and Eve, it's likely that God called them for a special purpose to bring the chaotic works under God’s sovereign stewardship, he added.

Job: Wright suggested that Job could have been a folk hero rather than a real person, describing the Book of Job as a morality tale with a specific message. There’s nothing in the book of Job that forces us to say there really was a man like this, he said. Wright likened the chapter’s writing to a Shakespeare play, in that the playwright included both fictional and non-fictional characters in his plays. Richard III actually existed, but Shakespeare invented words to put in his mouth to make a specific point, he explained.

Jonah: Wright similarly suggested that the story of Jonah and the Whale may also have been a folk tale, despite acknowledging that Matthew and Luke’s accounts included Jesus referencing the Old Testament story. Jesus seemed to reference Jonah as a historic figure, but he may have been referencing Jonah like a folk-tale, similar to someone referencing MacBeth or Hamlet in modern-day culture, according to the 77-year-old theologian.

Moses: Wright did not doubt the existence of Moses, but argued that scriptural writers embellished his character. It would be hard to invent a character like Moses, but writers’ description of him as meek is likely true, he noted. But why would writers include that if they were constructing this picture of a great leader? Because it’s historical memory, Wright said.

Who is N.T. Wright? N.T. Wright is a New Testament scholar who has authored more than 80 books. He served as Bishop of Durham from 2003 to 2010. He has taught at Cambridge, McGill, St. Andrews and Oxford Universities.

Wright has been criticized by some conservative leaders for what they see as his divergence from Biblical orthodoxy. R. Albert Mohler Jr., the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Boyce College and editor of WORLD Opinions, last April accused Wright of attempting to redefine the doctrine of justification and of reordering Biblical theology. Mohler also criticized Wright’s eschatological teachings and called him a proponent of the so-called New Perspective on Paul, which argues that traditional Protestant theology fundamentally misunderstands the Apostle Paul’s letters.