# Are people basically 'good' or 'evil'? Who was the 'beloved' disciple? And is the Sermon on the Mount legalism?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ask-nt-wright-anything-911084/are-people-basically-good-or-evil-who-was-the-beloved-disciple-and-is-the-sermon-on-the-mount-legalism
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ask-nt-wright-anything-911084/are-people-basically-good-or-evil-who-was-the-beloved-disciple-and-is-the-sermon-on-the-mount-legalism.md
Podcast: [Ask NT Wright Anything](https://stenobird.com/podcast/ask-nt-wright-anything-911084)
Published: 2026-08-31T04:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR3303556530.mp3
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR3303556530.mp3
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Duration seconds: 2158

## Resource

Are people basically good, or fundamentally sinful? Did Jesus teach salvation by works in the Sermon on the Mount? In this episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore what the Bible really says about human nature, arguing that our primary identity is not simply "good" or "bad" but people created for God's vocation. They also examine one of the New Testament's enduring mysteries, the identity of the "beloved disciple" in John's Gospel, and ask whether we can know who he really was. Finally, Tom tackles a common misunderstanding of the Sermon on the Mount, explaining why Jesus' teaching is not legalism but a vision of what life looks like when God's kingdom breaks into the world.Support & Subscribe👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡❓Got a question for Tom? Go to askntwright.com👉 Refer a friend to become a subscriber → They can get 10% off by clicking hereFollow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievableFacebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievableTik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievableX: https://x.com/UnbelievableFE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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