With the approach of Reformation Day (October 31) I thought it timely to mention some resources to counter a serious challenge to the Protestant Reformers’ way of looking at Paul’ epistles, specifically, the way of viewing Paul’s doctrine of Justification by Faith Alone. This new way of viewing Justification is referred to as the New Perspective on Paul (NPP). It can be called New Perspectives since more than just one new view is promoted. The NPP is not a monolith; however, there are certain features common among writers advocating a fresh reading of Paul.
According to NPP writers
- We need to read Paul’s epistles unfettered by the Reformation’s view since the reformers misread him.
- The Protestant Reformers read the doctrinal controversies of the 16th Century back into the 1st Century Judaism of Paul’s day and missed his point.
- Any reading of Paul must deal with the Judaism that Paul was familiar with, referred to as Second Temple Judaism.
- Studying the primary historical sources shows that Second Temple Judaism was not a legalistic religion, but one that emphasized God’s grace in the election of His people.
- Though elected by grace, God’s people were still required to maintain their position in the covenant by obedience to the law.
- Justification has to do with God’s covenant faithfulness and who is in the covenant, not with how a guilty sinner can find acceptance with God.
If you have any familiarity with classical music, you can think of the NPP as variations on a theme. Many writers have different takes on reading Paul, but they all seem agreed that the Reformation view of Justification by Faith should be discarded. Since this doctrine was the centerpiece of the Reformation, the call for abandonment has serious implications. Were the Reformers wrong? Did they cause an unnecessary division in the Church? What should Protestants today think of the Ecumenical Movement? (It actually helps clarify the issues a little since the current pope recently drew a line in the sand with his declaration that Protestant churches are not true churches.) And what should we do with the command to “preach the gospel to every creature”? In light of the NPP’s claims, what should our message be?
I’ve been listening to some informative lectures by D.A. Carson on my mp3 player this week. He is very helpful in understanding the New Perspective. Andy Naselli provides links to many
Jason recently provided a couple of posts on the NPP which I recommend you check out. They can be found here and here. He points out many good resources, some of which
I’d like to recommend a book published last year by Banner of Truth—The Gospel of Free Acceptance in Christ: An Assessment of the Reformation and New Perspectives on Paul by Cornelis P. Venema. This book gives a good overview of the different perspectives on Paul and the issues at stake without being overly technical. I read this book earlier this year as a newcomer to the NPP, and it helped me gain a better understanding of the academic changes and challenges of the last 30 years. Venema also wrote Getting the Gospel Right, a smaller book that treats the same subject on a more popular level. I haven’t read this one yet, but it should prove useful in helping church members understand what’s going on in Pauline studies. Click on the link and read Westminster Bookstore’s brief review of this book.
As we observe the 490th anniversary of the nailing of Luther’s 95 theses, we need to remember that what was at stake nearly 500 years ago is still at stake today: the Gospel.
Amen! Thanks for this helpful article. I think it's a great irony that many even in "Reformed" circles are forsaking the very thing recovered in the Reformation to go after a medieval misunderstanding.
ReplyDeleteDoug Smith