N.T. Wright, a leading New Testament scholar and Anglican bishop, provides exhaustive examination of ancient beliefs about life after death and the historical evidence for Jesus's resurrection. The book surveys what ancient Greeks, Romans, Jews, and early Christians believed about death and what might follow it, showing that resurrection, the return of the body to life, was a specifically Jewish and then Christian concept distinct from other ancient views. Wright examines every relevant New Testament text, analyzing how early Christians understood and proclaimed resurrection. He argues that the historical evidence, particularly the empty tomb and the post-resurrection appearances, is best explained by an actual resurrection rather than alternative theories involving hallucination, theft, or legend. Wright engages sympathetically but critically with skeptical scholarship, showing command of the academic literature while maintaining his own position. The book is massive and technical in places but accessible to determined lay readers. Wright's argument proceeds carefully, establishing conclusions that build on each other to support his ultimate claim that something happened to Jesus's body that cannot be explained by natural causes. The book represents the most comprehensive scholarly defense of resurrection as historical event available, challenging the assumptions that make resurrection seem impossible before examining the evidence.