I’ve long been a fan of N.T. Wright. I’ve read most of his work and listened to hundreds—if not thousands—of hours of his lectures. As with any scholar, I appreciate much of his work while also disagreeing with him on a number of points. But this is the first time I feel compelled to say that he has stepped beyond the bounds of orthodoxy—not merely into heterodoxy, but into outright heresy.
In a recent video discussion featuring Mike Bird and N. T. Wright, Wright made the claim that someone can deny the bodily resurrection of Jesus and still be a Christian—though, in his words, a “muddled” one. As much as I appreciate Wright’s scholarly contributions and his deeply pastoral heart, this particular statement is deeply misleading and, frankly, theologically dangerous.
In the video, Wright introduces his comments about belief in the resurrection by referencing the context of his friend’s upbringing. He uses terms like “bully,” “fundamentalist,” and “Lutheran,” implying that his friend’s disbelief in the bodily resurrection stemmed from negative experiences with rigid, dogmatic environments. Frankly, this is troubling.
No, doctrine in and of itself doesn’t save—Jesus saves. But it is belief in the apostolic witness to the historical, risen Jesus as presented in the Spirit-inspired New Testament that leads to salvation. And yes—we absolutely should be dogmatic and unwavering when it comes to the essentials of the faith, particularly the resurrection (bullying, no. Dogmatic, yes). This isn’t a matter of denominational nuance; the New Testament makes it clear that the bodily resurrection of Christ is foundational to Christian belief.
The calling of a Christian leader is to bring clarity, not to excuse error based on someone’s past experiences. We all come from brokenness, but that doesn’t grant any of us a pass to redefine the boundaries of gospel truth. Reconciliation with God (atonement) is available only through the essentials as revealed in the New Testament, and the resurrection stands at the center.
Now, let’s turn to the resurrection itself.
The Bodily Resurrection Is Not Optional
To say it plainly: belief in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is essential for salvation. This is not a matter of theological nuance or denominational distinctiveness—it lies at the very heart of the gospel proclaimed by the apostles.
Paul writes in Romans 10:9,
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
This is not merely about believing in “life after death” or some vague continuation of Jesus’ presence in the hearts of his followers. The New Testament witness is unanimous: the same Jesus who was crucified was physically, bodily raised from the dead, leaving behind an empty tomb and appearing to many in his glorified yet material body (cf. Luke 24:39; John 20:27; Acts 1:3).
To deny this central fact is not just to be “muddled.” It is to reject the very foundation of Christian hope.
If Christ Has Not Been Raised…
Paul could not be clearer in 1 Corinthians 15:17:
“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”
Without the bodily resurrection:
- Sin remains undefeated.
- Death still holds sway.
- Christ is not vindicated as Lord.
- The promise of new creation collapses.
The resurrection is not an accessory to the gospel—it is its engine. It is the Father’s declaration that the work of the cross is complete, that the power of sin and death has been broken, and that the age of new creation has begun.
Apostolic Faith and Church Tradition
From the very beginning, the apostolic church confessed the bodily resurrection. The Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed both affirm belief in “the resurrection of the body” and “the third day he rose again.” These were not speculative doctrines—they were non-negotiables, rooted in eyewitness testimony and the Spirit’s work in the early church.
To deny the bodily resurrection is to separate oneself from the apostolic faith “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). It is not simply a secondary doctrinal issue. It goes to the core of what it means to confess Christ as Lord and Savior.
The crazy thing is that much of this I learned from Wright himself in The Resurrection of the Son of God!
The Tragedy of a Muddled Gospel
To suggest that one can knowingly reject the bodily resurrection and still be within the boundaries of saving faith is to flatten the gospel into a set of therapeutic sentiments or spiritual ideals. That is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Yes, people may be in process. They may struggle to understand. But the pastor and theologian’s task is to clarify, not excuse. Our calling is not to comfort people in confusion but to proclaim the truth that sets them free.
The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a “take it or leave it” doctrine. It is the decisive event in God’s redemptive plan. Without it, there is no gospel, no salvation, and no Christian hope.
Let us lovingly but firmly hold fast to the faith handed down to us through Scripture and the apostolic witness:
“Christ died for our sins… he was buried… and he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3–4).
This is the gospel. Anything less is not.
He is risen—bodily, gloriously, eternally. And because of that, we too shall rise.
