Product Description

How, according to the teachings of Paul, does the individual receive salvation? That is the focal question behind this book. Gaffin argues against some recent scholars that it is both a meaningful and an appropriate question to ask. So what does the application of salvation to sinners involve for Paul? Does he distinguish between salvation accomplished (historia salutis) and salvation applied (ordo salutis) and, if so, how? And how important is the latter for him? What exactly is the place of justification in his theology? Gaffin argues that, “No matter how close justification is to the heart of Paul’s gospel, in our salvation, as he sees it, there is... a reality, that is deeper, more fundamental, more decisive, more crucial Christ and our union with him, the crucified and resurrected, the exalted Christ. Union with Christ by faith—that is the essence of Paul’s ordo salutis.”

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #890329 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Review
'Gaffin brings together a lifetime of reflection on Paul's letters Ýin ... this encouraging study.' -- Dr. David Peterson

About the Author
Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. is professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary.

Customer Reviews

Very good
This is a very good book - one of the best books on soteriology I've read. It would be a good companion volume to John Murray's Redemption: Accomplished and Applied (Murray was also one of Gaffin's teachers), which is an in-depth study of the atonement and the application of salvation to believers from start to finish.

Gaffin's focus is slightly different, and a needed balance to Murray. After carefully defining and distinguishing the terms historia salutis (the history of salvation - salvation accomplished in history) and ordo salutis (the order of salvation - salvation applied in experience) Gaffin sets Paul's soteriological concerns within the context of his summary statements of the gospel and the gospel's nature as solution to the plight of human sin. Gaffin next tethers his comments to "union with Christ" as the center of Paul's soteriology, and then develops Paul's anthropology and eschatology, then reading Paul's soteriology in those contexts, so that salvation is viewed within an already/not yet framework. Then Gaffin starts connecting the dots between sanctification and eschatology, justification and eschatology, etc. in very helpful exegetical theological reflections.

Along the way, Gaffin occasionally interacts with the New Perspective on Paul, usually critically. His primary dialogue partner is N. T. Wright, with whom Gaffin delivered the series of lectures which eventually became this book, at Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church a couple of years ago. I am not persuaded that Gaffin fully understands all the nuances of Wright's theology, but some of his criticisms of Wright are probably valid. Very helpful is Gaffin's defense of the imputation of Christ's righteousness as the basis for a believer's justification and his refusal to polarize the individual dimensions of salvation from corporate and cosmic dimensions.

Most helpful to me is how Gaffin masterfully shows the centrality of union with Christ in his death and resurrection and the eschatological impact of those key gospel events on the believer's salvation. Gaffin draws heavily on the work of Herman Ridderbos and has made me want to explore Ridderbos for myself. Mostly, Gaffin makes me want to read Paul more closely and discover the richness of Paul's theological perspectives on Christ's glorious accomplishment in redemption.

Thought-provoking
Gaffin packed a great deal of profound theology into this slim book. His response to Wright is measured and constructive. His balancing comments on the individual aspects to soteriology, his work on the ordo salutis, his arguments for the imputation of Christ's righteousness, and his thesis that union with Christ lies at the center of Paul's theology are all thought-provoking. This book stimulates fresh meditation of the Pauline Scriptures.

Helpful Book
Gaffin is in the Reformed tradition following Calvin/Vos/Ridderbos. I have heard him lumped in with the new perspective, but this book should clarify that. He is not. He deals with many of texts in a short amount of space. He focuses on union with Christ while affirming imputation. This is a must read in light of all the debates on pauline theology.