IntroductionIn Christopher JH Wright's book, Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament, the author argues that the very existence of Jesus Christ in the New Testament is described in the Old Will. Wright writes, “The deeper you understand the Old Testament, the closer you will come to the heart of Jesus” (ix). Wright explains that many Christians love Jesus, but don't know much about the scriptures he reads. This is the intention of the author of the book, to bring readers to a deep understanding of the Old Testament and a better understanding of Jesus. The purpose of this review is to summarize and critique Wright's work while presenting the book's strengths and weaknesses. Wright has a deep love for the Old Testament Scriptures and wishes to describe it to his readers. Wright studied Old Testament economic ethics for his doctorate in Cambridge, England. His book, God's People in God's Country, grew out of his doctoral work. His passion for the Old Testament is demonstrated by two other works that focus on God the Father and the Holy Spirit in light of the Old Testament. Summary Wright states that understanding Jesus begins with Matthew 1:18. It is the preceding 17 verses that most do not consider because it is just a list of names. These names, Wright says, are part of a much larger story and without recognizing these names one cannot fully understand Jesus (1). The story is that of the Old Testament and the genealogy links the Old and New Testaments. Wright says, “The Old Testament tells the story that Jesus completes” (2). Wright continues to break down the genealogy and goes back to Abraham to proclaim that through Abraham all nations of the earth will be blessed (4). The...... middle of paper ...... of Jesus while trying to convey his true identity (142-158). Less space could have been given regarding the names of Jesus while still reflecting the point Wright was trying to convey. Even though the topic is covered more than necessary, the author, as Long says, presents the information in an interesting way. ConclusionWright takes his readers through the Old Testament so that they can have a better understanding of Jesus. He presents the information in an engaging manner, but Wright can sometimes overdo his focus. Pastors and laypeople can benefit from reading Wright's book because it brings people closer to Jesus by deepening their understanding of the Old Testament. This review has highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the author's book to give readers insight into Wright's theological perspective on the Old Testament in light of the New Testament..