The Meal Jesus Gave Us

Rating:
Summary: Simple little primer
Review: I was hoping for something more biting and profound, as so much of Wright can often be. That's not his intention here. Just a simple little primer on the Lord's Supper. Gracefully written, devotional. Theologically correct (from a mainstream Anglican perspective -- pretty much in agreement with Calvinist folks), but not beholden to his tradition for tradition's sake.

For all his immense learning, his practical focus, and his rhetorical powers, he can still be a little "wooly" at times. For example, on pp. 60f. he gives about as simple and clear explanation of the Marburg debates and their aftermath as you will read anywhere - yet he quickly becomes murkier when explaining his own take on the issues. After seeming to favor Cranmer and Calvin and Oecolampadius over both Zwingli and Luther, he sidesteps the whole discussion. He prefers, he says, to think in terms of "time" rather than "space." From there the simple elegance of his discussion breaks down a little and the reader is left a little puzzled.

Anyway, overall a very nice little book -- accessable to a general audience.

For a thinking layman, I would follow this up with Peter Leithart's Blessed are the Hungry, or Keith Mathison's book on Calvin's view of the Supper.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent tool for Christian ministry!
Review: Though N. T. Wright is one of the brightest and best theologians and biblical scholars that our modern world is blessed to have, he has a way of communicating which is helpful for even the most un-learned layman. In this volume, Wright communicates the basic history of the Eucharist, and suggests the ways in which this meal still impacts Christians today.

This is an excellent tool for pastors and priests who wish to introduce this new and sacred meal to recent converts, confirmation classes, or people who wish to get a "refresher" course on Holy Communion.

Rating:
Summary: Basic
Review: Wright gives a very basic account of the meaning and purpose of the Lord's Supper. I bought it expecting him to elaborate on the material in some of his other books regarding the meaning of the Lord's Supper. However, this books is definitely intended for a non-scholarly audience. If you want a basic explanation of the original meaning of the Lord's Supper and aren't concerned about the why's and wherefore's, this could be a good book for you. He also gives suggestions about how the Lord's Supper should be celebrated today, based on his understanding of its original meaning.

If you want a more sophisticated discussion of the Lord's Supper, try Jesus and the Victory of God by Wright, where it is one of many topics.