*** DEBUG START ***
*** DEBUG END ***

Bishop Wright and substitutionary atonement

by
07 August 2015

iStock

From the Revd Barry Morrison

Sir, — Bishop Tom Wright has many outstanding qualities, but it is a pity that he describes God punishing Jesus in our place as “a shrunken, misshapen version of the gospel” in his book Simply Good News (Books, 3 July).

We need both the wider understandings that he develops and Isaiah 53.5’s “he was pierced for our transgressions . . . crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

Paul does not quote this particular verse, but he does include no fewer than 29 quotations from Isaiah in his speeches and letters.

BARRY MORRISON
11 Lytham Park
Oundle PE8 4FB

Browse Church and Charity jobs on the Church Times jobsite

Letters to the editor

Letters for publication should be sent to letters@churchtimes.co.uk.

Letters should be exclusive to the Church Times, and include a full postal address. Your name and address will appear below your letter unless requested otherwise.

Forthcoming Events

 

Festival of Preaching: Preaching Truth to Power

13 September 2025

Join us at London's Southwark Cathedral for this one-day event — a transformative gathering of bold voices, prophetic vision, and Spirit-led conviction..

tickets available

 

Finding inspiration in the Psalms : a Church Times one day festival

2 October 2025

Join us in York for this one-day event exploring the gift of the Psalms through poetry, art, liturgy and music.

tickets available

  

Visit our Events page for upcoming and past events 

The Church Times Archive

Read reports from issues stretching back to 1863, search for your parish or see if any of the clergy you know get a mention.

FREE for Church Times subscribers.

Explore the archive

Welcome to the Church Times

 

To explore the Church Times website fully, please sign in or subscribe.

Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month. (You will need to register.)