Jesus is Lord and Caesar Is Not

I hope that I don't concern anyone by the fact that this is my second review of an N.T. Wright book in the last month or so. I know that when I see other people referencing his work on a regular basis I begin to become slightly suspicious, due to his errors on the subject of justification. However, while we must show discernment while navigating Wright's thought because of this error, there is certainly no need to dismiss his work, seeing that it is invaluable in many other ways.

The Millennium Myth was written in 1999 to counter the numerous Millennium theories that thought 2000 would bring with it the end of the world or otherwise apocalyptic events. However, the message of the book has lost no relevance six years after the turn of the century. Wright starts out by explaining the origin of our modern calendar. He notes that while many political and revolutionary movements have attempted to introduce new dating systems centered around the institution of their party or leader. During the French Revolution, there was an attempt to create a new calendar with the beginning of the Revolution as the starting point. When Dionysius, a monk from Scythia, introduced a new dating system around AD 500, he was employing a similar method. The difference in his system is that instead of inaugurating the new age around the rule of Caesar and the Roman power of the Roman empire, (the ruling political power at the time) Dionysius centered his system of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. By doing this, Dionysius was proclaiming that the power of Caesar is not what sets the world's agenda. Instead, it is the rule of the true Lord, Jesus Christ, who's power and victory were made known through his death that really matters.

Wright goes on to dispel some of the popular myths, usually spread by Dispensational thought, surrounding the millennium, focusing specifically on distinguishing the true meaning of the apocalypse or Revelation from the ideas of "earthquakes, cosmic collapses, giant meteorites, [and] interplanetary warfare." He also gives excellent summaries of Enlightenment and Postmodern thought and how they affect our world. Through the whole book runs this idea that "Jesus is Lord and Caesar isn't." Because of this truth, we are not doomed to the hopeless (and often accurate) conclusions of postmodernism. We now have "hope for the postmodern world," knowing that the Lordship of Christ gives us a new context in which to offer a solution to the poor and hurting in the world. The power of governments and presidents can never offer what Jesus has purchased for the world through his death. Rulers cannot offer the remission of sins - Jesus can. Head's of state cannot offer peace to a troubled conscience - Jesus can. This declaration gives us more than enough reason to offer up joyous praise and thanksgiving throughout this millennium and for all the millennium to come.