We are discussing Tom Wright’s new book , a book that responds to John Piper’s criticism of Wright and the New Perspective (Justification: God’s Plan & Paul’s Vision ). In the prologue to the book, Wright sketches out what is to happen in this book. “Piper,” Wright observes, “is one of an increasing number who, supposing the great Reformation tradition of reading and preaching Paul to be under attack, has leapt to its defense, and every passing week brings a... Read more
I don’t see Michael Gorman’s outstanding work on Paul cited enough; and therefore not enough are interacting with him. I say this because Gorman has become one of the most fruitful, irenic, and astute theologians of Paul in the contemporary scene. Somehow he seems to have found a Third Way beyond current impasses, and his most recent book, Inhabiting the Cruciform God: Kenosis, Justification, and Theosis in Paul’s Narrative Soteriology , shows why. This book ties together Paul’s ideas about... Read more
Our little grandson, Aksel, loves my fasting book — and I know he reads because he’s wearing a Powell’s bookstore T-shirt. Read more
For more than 30 years I have bought books, entered them onto a master list of books in my library, filled out 3×5 cards (which I quit doing a few years back), read them and shelved them. But all of this has become electronic. Some are storing things in cyberspace. Just today a friend of mine asked me about Library Thing. I had never heard of it that I could recall. Should I know about it? What do folks think... Read more
What does “works” mean to James? James 2:14-17 shows the sorts of things he has in mind. 14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the... Read more
In a post a couple of weeks ago (here) we opened a discussion on Kent Sparks’ thought-provoking, and somewhat controversial book God’s Word in Human Words (GWHW). Over the next several posts we will delve into this book more deeply. In the first chapter Sparks lays some groundwork on epistemology and hermeneutics before digging into biblical criticism and effective and ineffective responses to the challenges of biblical scholarship in the rest of the book. Epistemology is the branch of philosophy... Read more
Andrew Marin has earned the right to be heard about gays and the Church. Why? His book, Love Is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation With the Gay Community , tells the story of what I am now calling the “power of with.” Andrew invites us to get beyond the “for” vs. “against” debate to the power of learning to love those with whom we may disagree. Do we know the struggle? How important is it to us to learn about... Read more
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There is nothing difficult to understand in some passages in James. The problem with James is that (1) he sometimes chafes against our theology and (2) he sometimes chafes even more against our theology. In other words, he says this his way and we’d sometimes prefer him to say things our way. One thing is clear: James is clear and he sounds like Jesus more often than not. Notice these words from James 2:14-17: 14 What good is it, my brothers,... Read more
We begin today a new series about the new perspective, and we will be discussing Tom Wright’s new book , a book that responds to John Piper’s criticism of Wright and the New Perspective (Justification: God’s Plan & Paul’s Vision ). Today I want to begin with two preliminary comments, and I’m open to corrections if my sketch below is not entirely accurate. How do you understand the “new perspective on Paul”? What do you think is its primary contribution?... Read more
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