1) We are reminded by Scripture about the importance of sound doctrine
1 Tim 4:16; Romans 16:17
2) This “new perspective” affects how we understand the Book of Romans and the doctrine of justification in particular.
B. Caveats…
a) This is a simplistic summary of a very complex subject (that I am only learning more about…)
b) There are actually many “new perspectives” on Paul, and they don’t agree entirely with each other; this summary tries to highlight the ideas they tend to have in common.
C. Question that NPP tries to answer: What did first-century Judaism truly look like?
Underlying Assumption: It wasn’t what the Reformation tradition of Christianity claims it was.
D. Three of NPP’s Best-Known Spokesmen
1. E.P. Sanders – claims that 1st Century Judaism was NOT a legalistic religion. Jews believe that they were saved by grace when God brought them into a covenant relationship with Himself. However, the Jews did believe they needed to MAINTAIN this covenant status by keeping the Law.
2. James Dunn - not only believed that 1st Century Judaism was a grace-based religion, but also that Paul did not even oppose it. According to Dunn, Paul only took issue with the Jews’ belief that salvation was only for them.
3. N. T. (Tom) Wright – the most influential person holding this view. His main contribution is his view that Paul’s main concern was NOT how wicked people could be accepted and then transformed by a righteous God, but convincing Jews that believing Gentiles were also part of God’s people.
E. SUMMARY CHART comparing Reformed view with NPP View
F. Things Noteworthy about the NPP
1. It emphasizes the covenant as the basis for Jewish life and thought.
2. It does have a point in stating that 1st Century Judaism did not hold to a formal belief of earning favour with God through “works-righteousness”.
3. It reminds us that the unity and community of God’s people are important truths. (Paul definitely gives attention to these in Rom 12:3-8, 1 Cor 1:10-17; 6:1-11; 11:17-34; 12-14; Galatians 3:28, Ephesians 2:11-3:10, 4:1-16; Phil.1:27-28; Col 3:12-17; 1 Thes 4:9-12; 5:12-15; 2 Thes. 1:3-4; and 1 Tim. 5)
4. It does remind us to be careful lest we interpret Scripture too much through one particular theological grid.
G. Things Overlooked By the NPP
1. Many rabbinic writings and sermons from 1st C. Judaism reveal a practice of legalistic works-righteousness going on at that time.
2. Legalism was also present through the existence of many sectarian Jewish groups.
3. The Jews’ belief that they had to maintain their relationship with God through obeying the Law ultimately revealed that salvation, for them, was a combination of faith + works.
H. More Serious Problems with the NPP
1. Its definition of “righteousness” cannot be reconciled with Paul’s clear teaching that the righteousness granted to believers is:
a) ultimately addressing each individual's sin problem (Rom 3:10; Rom 4:4-8);
b) a righteousness that is not their own, but comes from outside of them (Rom 4:4-8; Eph. 2:8-9; Php 3:9),
c) that which Christ earned for us (Rom 5:18-21; 2 Co 5:21)
2. It is hard to avoid the conclusion that, at the end of the day, the NPP dismisses the doctrine of Christ’s righteousness being credited to our account. While NPP advocates may still maintain that Christ paid the penalty for our sin as our substitute, we as Christians ultimately have no assurance of acceptance by a perfect, holy God if we embrace the NPP’s views of justification and righteousness. This is because we are only left with our own righteousness to present to God, and is this any kind of good news?? (ponder Ps 143:2; Ecc 7:20; Isa. 64:6 and Rom 3:10-18)
Bibliography
Carson, D. A. and Moo, Douglas. (2005) An Introduction to the New Testament, Second Edition. Zondervan, pp. 375-385.
Linden, David H. (2002) The New Perspective of N.T. Wright on the Doctrine of Justification.
Riddlebarger, Kim. (1996) Reformed Confessionalism and the New Perspective on Paul.
Wright, N.T.(1997) What Saint Paul Really Said. Eerdmans.
