The Future of Justification: A Response to John Piper's Treatment of the New Perspective on Paul

John H. Armstrong: The Future of Justification: A Response to John Piper's Treatment of the New Perspective on Paul by Don Garlington

Dr. John Piper’s new book, as its subtitle indicates, is a rejoinder to N. T. Wright’s take on justification in the letters of Paul. The volume consists of eleven chapters and six appendices, all endeavouring to lay bare what Piper considers to be the shortcomings of Wright’s understanding of justification and related matters. In his Acknowledgements (11), Piper informs us of his intentions and expectations in a quotation from Solomon Stoddard: “The general tendency of this book is to show that our claim to pardon and sin and acceptance with God is not founded an any thing wrought in us, or acted by us, but only on the righteousness of Christ.” By thus framing the issue, Piper’s book functions as a broadside against any and all attempts, especially those of Wright, to introduce things “wrought in us” or “acted by us” into the Pauline preaching of justification by faith, thereby detracting from “the righteousness of Christ only.” A certain amount of hype has attended the advent of this publication, particularly the “warning” that any other than Piper’s outlook on Paul is playing fast-and-loose with the apostle’s teaching. According to Piper’s web page, “Piper is sounding a crucial warning in this book, reminding all Christians to exercise great caution regarding ‘fresh’ interpretations of the Bible and to hold fast to the biblical view of justification” (http://www.desiringgod.org / Store/Books / 728_The_Future_of_Justification). In the Conclusion (184), Piper clarifies that the book’s title is intended to draw attention to where the doctrine of justification may be going, as well to “the critical importance of God’s future act of judgment when our justification will be confirmed.” ...

Comments

[John]

Please find a completely different understanding of "paul" and the religion that he founded via this reference.

1. www.dabase.org/exochrist.htm

Re John Piper altogether the question arises as to whose interpretation of the scriptures.
On what basis does he claim to possess the "one true" interpretation.

There are now, and always have been, many "christianities". You could say their are a billion "christianties", one for each now living Christian

For instance the Christianity of a Coptic Christian living in Ethopia without any contact with Western Protestantism would be completely different to that of Piper.

And so too with ALL Christians prior to the appearance of Protestantism.

[Michael W. Kruse]

Thanks for your thoughts John. However, there is no depature in the teaching of Paul compared to Jesus. Jesus teaching was delivered into a Jewish Middle Eastern setting and we heavily grounded in metaphorical theology. Paul's letters were written to the Greco-Roman world which was more didactic, rational, and linear. In addition to the New Perspective stuff I'd invite you to check out Kenneth Bailey's "Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes." Jesus was not about a "universal Teaching of ego-transcending love of the Spiritual and Transcendental Divine."