The New Perspective on Justification: A Brief Introduction to the Discussion, by Dr. Steve West

The New Perspective on Justification: A Brief Introduction to the Discussion

by Dr. Steve West

 

Editor’s Note: Steve West is a long-time friend who works with us here at Books At a Glance. Some years back he wrote this brief summary introduction to the discussions surrounding the “new perspective” on Paul and the doctrine of justification. We thought this would be of interest to our readers. 

 

Introduction

The subtitle of this booklet really does convey my intention.  This is neither “A Brief Defense” of the new perspective, nor is it “A Brief Critique.” Both defenses and critiques of the new perspective are not in short supply these days (although brevity certainly is!).  There does seem to be a significant lack, however, in entry points into the discussion.  This is not the last word, but it is hopefully a useful first word, which will provide a point of departure for more careful study.

When someone begins to study an unfamiliar topic, it is a principle of research that they are supposed to start with a general work, and move from there to more specific works.  For example, an encyclopedia article provides an overview of a topic, while a scholarly journal article provides an in-depth discussion on technical matters.  If you have never studied a given topic before, the journal article is not the place to start because it presupposes that you already have a basic grasp of the topic.  It may contain many excellent insights, but until you understand the fundamentals of your subject, you will probably not understand or appreciate the insights the article contains.  Studying general works first, and progressing to more specific and technical works as you grow in your understanding is the way to most effectively learn.

In my judgment, the vast majority of literature about the new perspective is technical and heavy.  This is very, very understandable, given the issues and level of debate.  However, the new perspective is not remaining purely in the scholarly domain where such writing and argumentation is expected.  I personally know pastors and missionaries who are very receptive to this new view of justification.  In a discussion after church one morning, it also came to my attention that there are people in my congregation who are reading Don Carson, John Piper, and N. T. Wright about justification.  The discussion about the new perspective is not only at the scholar’s lectern; it is not only in the pulpit; it is also in the pew.

As a pastor, I want the congregation to read the best theology by the best scholars.  Over time, however, I have come to suspect that most people in the congregation are not going to spend several weeks pouring over both volumes of Justification and Variegated Nomism, the works of N. T. Wright, Dunn’s journal articles, and all the rest.  The literature is immense, technical, and expensive.  Piper and Wright have now offered up more popular level works, but they are still hardly an easy read for those who are completely unfamiliar with the topic.  This goes for pastors as well.  The pressures and constraints of pastoral ministry are well known, and it is sheer fantasy to imagine that pastors have the liberty to buy, read, and digest all the literature they want on all the issues they want.  What is needed, in my opinion, is a relatively short and concise entry point to the discussion, and I hope that this booklet serves that purpose.

There are advantages and disadvantages to any approach.  One of the weaknesses in a small work like this is that the supporting argumentation will be short-changed.  Conclusions will be noted, but most of the reasoning will be passed over in silence.  Or, one or two key points may be noted, but it needs to be understood that these points are also the subject of supporting arguments.  The reader needs to be aware that there are long chains of data and reasoning underlying the general positions cited, but such reasoning clearly cannot be identified (let alone analyzed) in a short introductory piece.

The greatest risk in a project like this is caricature, but that is one thing I am trying very hard to avoid.  Even when positions are over-simplified, I hope it is not to the point of complete distortion.  Anyone engaging in further study will tidy up the lack of nuance. . . .

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