Puzzled by Dispensationalism: is our suffering redemptive? The rapture, new creation & becoming “Divine”

Ask NT Wright Anything

Premier Unbelievable

History, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.8 • 2.3K Ratings

🗓️ 23 February 2026

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle three profound theological questions that sit right at the heart of Christian hope.Is our suffering somehow “redemptive”? What does Paul mean when he says he is “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions”? Tom explains how our suffering participates in Christ’s mission — without adding to the finished work of the cross.Next, they explore the rapture. Is 1 Thessalonians 4 really about believers escaping earth? Or is it about welcoming the returning King as heaven and earth come together?Finally, what does it mean to become “partakers of the divine nature”? Do Christians somehow become divine? Tom unpacks the ancient idea of theosis and shows how the New Testament speaks of transformation without collapsing the distinction between Creator and creature.Suffering. Resurrection. New creation.SOCIAL LINKS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefeFacebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donateGot a question for Tom? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠askntwright.com⁠⁠⁠Start going deeper in the Bible with a free trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠logos.com/NT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 If you’re enjoying this exclusive series, leave us a comment or share what you’re learning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:22.9	it's right here. Prime Video, click or tap the banner to find out more. Well, hello and welcome to
0:32.4	another episode of Ask Ante, Write Anything, the program where we try to answer your questions about Jesus,
0:39.8	the Bible and the life of faith. I'm Mike Bird from Lilly College, joined by...
0:45.3	I'm Tom Wright from Wickliff Hall in Oxford.
0:48.3	Tom, today we've got some great questions about topics like redemptive suffering, rapture escapism, and do we become divine?
1:00.3	You know, what does it mean to be partakers of the divine nature?
1:03.9	So we've all got that in store today.
1:06.2	First up, though, our question is from Kim Flight, from Hokitika, New Zealand. This is a question about
1:14.4	drink offerings. And Kim asked this, what is the significance of the drink offering? In Philippians,
1:22.4	Paul says in there, he is ready to be poured out like a drink offering, knowing the partnership of his
1:28.6	sufferings with Christ.
1:30.2	In 2 Timothy, he talks about being offered up.
1:33.1	And in Colossians 124, he talks about making up in his body what is lacking something
1:40.3	in Christ.
1:42.0	And Kim wants to know, Tom, is there something in our own suffering that can be redemptive?
	...

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