Justification, Ecclesiology and the New Perspective
Posted by Tim Chester on 19 February 2008
In this NTI paper, which was first published in the journal Themelios in 2005, Tim Chester outlines the theology of the New Perspective before evaluating its strengths and weaknesses.
No. 12
Justification, Ecclesiology and the New Perspective
Tim Chester (March 2008)
‘It is true that there is not much evidence of a subjective experience of existential anguish in Paul. It is clear, however, that Paul views guilt as an objective reality leading to judgement and death (Rom. 1–3). The guilt of sin plays a central role in defining the problem for which Christ (and the justification which comes through faith in him) is the answer… To say that we get in by grace and stay in by grace plus works still gives works an instrumental place within salvation… According to Wright … justification follows reconciliation with God. In Romans 5:1, however, Paul’s logic is quite explicit: justification is the precondition for reconciliation with God… Wright is more ambiguous on this than some of his critics recognise … Yet he also says: ‘present justification declares on the basis of faith, what future justification will affirm publicly on the basis of the entire life’. Wright surely knows the issues too well for this to be an unconsidered statement… The New Perspective is right to say that Galatians is about the identity of the Christian community. It is … however, wrong to see this as antithetical to a soteriological view of justification. It is, instead, the practical out-working of a soteriological view of justification.’
Please feel free to leave a comment on this paper …
A primer on the justification debate « Tim Chester said
[...] For my own take on the topic see my article ‘Justification, Ecclesiology and the New Perspective’ which was published in Themelios and which is available online here. [...]