Category Archives: New Perspective

The New Perspective: Justification, Part 4 (objections)

The faithfulness of Christ Nothing is more helpful to my own study than readers who disagree or raise hard questions. Such questions allow me to consider points I wouldn’t have thought of on my own. Alan Rouse argues, I think … Continue reading

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The New Perspective: Justification, Part 3 (we finally get to justification)

Justification is, of course, a major New Testament theme, especially in Romans and Galatians. Wright insists on redefining the term contrary to 500 years of Reformation history. He sees “justification” as coming from the terminology of the law court. When … Continue reading

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The New Perspective: Justification, Part 2 (the Atonement)

As previously noted, Wright’s understanding of justification is perhaps his most controversial teaching, as it runs ever so contrary to Reformation doctrine. Remarkably, Wright, an Anglican bishop, challenges 500 years of Protestant teaching (but then, Luther and Calvin challenged over … Continue reading

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The New Perspective: Justification, Part 1 (Substitutionary Atonement and Imputed Righteousness)

This is perhaps the part of Wright’s New Perspective that is most controversial (which is saying a lot!) Wright believes that Paul’s central concept of “justification” has been misunderstood in a subtle but profoundly important way. Even since Luther, the … Continue reading

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The New Perspective: Final Judgment According to Works

If ever a post title was calculated to draw attention, this is the one! I mean, nothing is better established in Reformation theology than sola fide, that is, “faith only.” Going back 500 years to Luther and Calvin, the very … Continue reading

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The New Perspective: The Righteousness of God

Paul frequently writes of the “righteousness of God,” especially in Romans. The New International Version obscures this phrase, sometimes translating “righteousness from God” or the like. But the KJV and some of the other translations get it right. Of course, … Continue reading

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The New Perspective: The Gospel

I’ve argued several times before that the Churches of Christ have misunderstood the meaning of “gospel” as used in the New Testament. We have a tendency to use “gospel” to refer to just about any Biblical truth. My own view … Continue reading

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The New Perspective: The Church and Politics

The so-called New Perspective espoused by Wright is much broader than the question of salvation. One fascinating element is the implication of this theology for the political side of Christianity. “Political side of Christianity”? Is there such a thing? Well, … Continue reading

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The New Perspective: Introduction & Galatians

Serious students of Paul have likely run into the so-called “new perspective” on Paul. This began with E. P. Sanders and has been taken up by others, particularly N. T. Wright. There are various shades of interpretation among different scholars, … Continue reading

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