Product Description

A comprehension of Paul's understanding of the law and justification has been a perennial problem for historians and theologians. In light of new studies on early Judaism, an international group of esteemed New Testament scholars evaluates the paradoxes of Paul in this second volume of Justification and Variegated Nomism. Contributors include Martin Hengel, Douglas J. Moo, Timothy George, and Stephen Westerholm.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #402776 in Books
• Published on: 2004-11-01
• Released on: 2004-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 560 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780801027413
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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About the Author
D. A. Carson, research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, is the author or editor of over forty books. Peter T. O'Brien is senior research fellow at Moore Theological College where he teaches New Testament and missions. Mark A. Seifrid is professor of New Testament interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Customer Reviews

Clear Assertion of Salvation By Grace Apart from the Law
The two-part series title, "Justification and Variegated Nomism" means the various views (variegated) of the relationship of the Law (nomos) to justification (being declared righteous before God).

Volume I of this series clearly evidenced that there was no one Jewish position regarding the relationship of law keeping to justification during the Second Temple era, thus disproving the assumed uniformity of "Covenantal Nomism."

This volume, "The Paradoxes of Paul" address the issue, "Did Paul really believe that one entered the covenant by grace (accepting Christ as opposed to Jewish birth) but then maintained his status in the covenant by keeping the Law?" The clear answer of this volume is "no." We enter by grace and we are kept in the covenant by grace.

A team of mostly evangelical scholars proves that "the works of the Law" refer not merely to the boundary markers of Judaism (circumcision, etc.), but even to keeping the 10 Commandments. When Paul talks about salvation "apart from the works of the Law," he is saying more than, "apart from becoming a Jew." He is saying that the Law is good, but when one uses it in an attempt to be justified, the Law cannot deliver. We are saved by grace through faith; God justifies the "ungodly," not the law keeper.

The authors, all respected scholars, take us back to the clear teaching of Scripture. If we look at Paul without a pre-existing template, they argue, we find that law keeping has no (positive) bearing on salvation because no one can keep the law. Paul concludes us all "under sin." Although obeying God evidences our forensic justification, it does not accomplish it.

As Moises Silva points out, "Indeed, faith is by definition the abandonment of our works and efforts so that we might rely solely on divine grace..."

The various essays take us through the theological portion of Romans and Galatians with a few stops in Philippians 3.

Besides addressing the issue of salvation by grace through faith in contrast to salvation by grace and works, the authors also address the nature of the atonement, the very real wrath of God that is directed toward mankind, and both the continuity and discontinuity in Paul (before and after his conversion). They also address whether he really was converted or just received a specialized calling.

With great scholars, like Mark Seifrid, Douglas Moo, Peter O'Brien, and D.A. Carson (among others), these essays are well done and devastating, I would suppose, to Covenantal Nomists.

On the negative side, because each chapter is an individual essay, there is quite a bit of repetition within this work.

Also worth mentioning is that this work is not intended for the layman. One could probably get by without Greek, but the reader needs at least a modest theological background, I would think, to follow these arguments.

Variegated Nomism in a new light
It is refreshing to have such a selection of scholarship addressing different aspects of the new perspective and it si good to have these in one volume, rather than having to obtain several volumes. The breadth of those contributing to the volume add to its interest and its value. This volume will remain as an important reference work for scholars in this field for some time to come

Could leave the New Perspective in a Heap on the Canvas
After slogging through volume one of this two volume series I realized that I could have read the summary chapter of volume one and gained enough insight to start this gem (instead I slogged, and slogged). This volume, predicated on the first, lands a quick, hard right onto the chins of the New Perspective crowd. It will take some time for the NPP folks to answer all the arguments against doing away with justified righteousness without works and the understanding that Judaism contained some elements of meritorius adherence to the Law. Do read some New Perspective authors, but make sure to include this and Seyoon Kim's volume on the Old Skool views that still have weight.