Beyond Justification

Jon Depue

ISBN 10: 1532678983 / ISBN 13: 9781532678981

Published by Cascade Books, 2024

About this Item

nach der Bestellung gedruckt Neuware - Printed after ordering - Paul proclaims in 90 percent of what he wrote that we have been set free, resurrected, and transformed through Christ at the behest of a loving God. This gospel proclamation can be found wherever he speaks of being ''in Christ.'' But this gospel and its account of salvation have been captured by ''another gospel,'' which also lays claim to being Paul's account of salvation. And this gospel is retributive, conditional, and ultimately damaging. ''Justification theory,'' as we call this false account, lays claim to just under 10 percent of what Paul wrote. The presence of both these gospels within Paul's interpretation causes numerous acute problems. To name just a few, they create an image of Paul as someone who is fundamentally confused, frequently harsh, and unavoidably anti-Jewish. If we reread Paul's justification texts, however, paying more attention to the original historical circumstances within which they were composed, then they turn out to say something subtly but significantly different. Paul's justification texts can be interpreted carefully, faithfully, and consistently, in terms of his usual gospel--our transformation in Christ. Thus Justification theory is never activated. Paul's true gospel is thereby liberated from its long captivity to a false alternative. We can now see a kinder, gentler, and more consistent apostle.

Seller Inventory # 9781532678981

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Beyond Justification
• Publisher: Cascade Books
• Publication Date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1532678983
• ISBN 13: 9781532678981
• Binding: Taschenbuch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 229W x 152H x 20D millimeters 229 millimeters width by 152 millimeters height by 20 millimeters depth
• Weight: 528 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Paul proclaims in 90 percent of what he wrote that we have been set free, resurrected, and transformed through Christ at the behest of a loving God. This gospel proclamation can be found wherever he speaks of being “in Christ.” But this gospel and its account of salvation has been captured by “another gospel,” which also lays claim to being Paul’s account of salvation. And this gospel is retributive, conditional, and ultimately damaging. “Justification Theory,” as we call this false account, lays claim to just under 10 percent of what Paul wrote. The presence of both these gospels within Paul’s interpretation causes numerous acute problems. He is, to name just a few, fundamentally confused, frequently harsh, and unavoidably anti-Jewish. If we reread Paul’s justification texts, however, paying more attention to the original historical circumstances within which they were composed, then they turn out to say something subtly but significantly different. Paul’s justification texts can be interpreted carefully, faithfully, and consistently, in terms of his usual gospel—our transformation in Christ. Thus Justification Theory is never activated. Paul’s true gospel is thereby liberated from its long captivity to a false alternative. We can now see a kinder, gentler, and more consistent, apostle.

About the Authors

Douglas A. Campbell is a professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School. He has published six books on Paul including The Deliverance of God (2009), Paul: An Apostle's Journey (2018), and Pauline Dogmatics (2020). He co-directs two prison engagement programs at Duke.

Jon DePue is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and has served churches as director of Christian education for several years. He currently works as a learning community support specialist for Indianapolis Public Schools.