Session 6: Transformed by
the Renewal of the Mind (pp. 135-179)
1. How does Wright summarize St. Paul’s vision of Christian
virtue? Do you have any ideas about what that might look like in our daily
lives?
2. Summarize Wright’s interpretation of Colossians 3:2. According to Colossians, what are the
virtues that we are called to “put on”?
3. Why is Abraham so important for Paul? How might Abraham
be a model for us as we strive to have our minds renewed and think in a different
way?
4. According to Wright, what is Paul’s view of the
conscience? How or why might conscience be or become unreliable?
5. According to Wright, Paul’s whole vision of Christian
virtue is about being remade in God’s image or, in other words, becoming truly
human. (pg. 168). How does Paul and/or Wright think that we can achieve this?
How do you think it might be achieved?
6. What do you make of Ephesians 4:13-5:20? Do you agree
with Wright that “Paul” is offering “habits of heart and mind, ways of learning
how to think Christianly about the ultimate future and about the pathway toward
it – the pathway which is, as it were, a daily resurrection”?
7. For Paul, what is the role of suffering in the
development of Christian character?
Here is a brief summary of our discussion:
ReplyDelete- There was a sense that with this chapter we are now getting somewhere
- We talked about how Wright comes at this topic in a rather sterile way - that he opts for a not very spiritual approach.
- We talked about the conscience as not so much a thought process but as "going with my gut" or "this doesn't feel right."
- We talked about things that are right are those things that we both think AND feel are right.
- We agreed that Wright in pushing against the "touchy-feely" that is so common in the church and in society has overcompensated and become too clinical.
- We talked about how the development of virtue needs to be done in community where we are helped and reinforced. We go to church to be reminded of what we already know.
- We wondered if Wright doesn't shoehorn "Paul" to support his thesis.
- We still puzzled over Wright's objections to thinking of Jesus as a role model. If golfers study and imitate Tiger Woods they won't ever match his ability but aren't they likely to golf better?
- We also still wondered about one of Wright's key points: that Christian virtue is unprecedented. Is this really true? It would be interesting to look at other sources.