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Book Description
Tom Wright's rearticulation of the New Testament theology of the gospel and justification by faith has exerted significant influence amongst scholars and the wider Christian public. John Piper offers a fruitful engagement with, and critique of, Wright's position.
"This book is a model of how theological disagreements should be handled, and the reader is reminded time and again to what extent the gospel itself stands or falls on this issue. In comparing the works of Tom Wright to the text of the apostle Paul's letters Dr. Piper lifts us above the controversies of the moment and shows us again how the glorious mercy of God was revealed to us in Jesus Christ. It is essential reading for every pastor and theological student and will be a major contribution to our understanding of what the great apostle really said."
Gerald Bray, Research Professor of Theology, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama, and Director of Research for the Latimer Trust, Cambridge
From the Back Cover
"The so-called 'New Perspective on Paul' has stirred up enormous controversy. ... Certain parts of John Piper's book have quietly broken new ground ... The issues are not secondary, and, pastor that he is, John Piper will not allow believers to put their trust in anyone or anything other than the crucified and resurrected Savior."
D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois
"Piper writes with the concern of a pastor, the passion of a preacher, the precision of a scholar, and the courtesy of a gentleman as he critiques N. T. Wright's grand scheme of justification. Piper both highlights exegetical weaknesses in Wright's system and demonstrates the success of reading Paul using traditional categories. All who read Wright should read Piper."
Peter J. Williams, Warden, Tyndale House, Cambridge
"This book is not a rehearsal of old dogmas, nor a polemical rant, but it is a fresh articulation of the gospel that Paul preached, and it is written with a conviction and verve that will inspire preachers to faithfully set forth the whole counsel of God to their flock."
Michael F. Bird, New Testament Lecturer, Highland Theological College, Scotland
"John Piper's challenging yet courteous book takes issue with Bishop Tom Wright's major theses regarding Paul's teaching on justification. ... This is a serious critique of one of the foremost representatives of the New Perspective on Paul and deserves to be read by all who want to understand more fully and rejoice in God's righteousness in Christ and his justifying the ungodly."
Peter T. O'Brien, Senior Research Fellow, Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In the past I've been greatly helped by books by John Piper, but I don't think the publication of this book exactly marks his finest hour.
It may be that Tom Wright has 'got it wrong' in places. It may be that a book of this nature needed to be written. Unfortunately I just don't think John Piper was the proper person to write it.
While I certainly don't doubt Piper's good intentions or sincerity, on almost every page I was made painfully aware that he was no match for the depth and breadth of Wright's learning. Sometimes he just seems to misunderstand what Wright is saying.
MUCH more worryingly, as if aware that he can't begin to match Wright's amazing grasp of the 1st Century world and its writings, Piper goes so far as to suggest that we don't NEED to know all that ancient stuff - that what was good enough for Martin Luther & co should be good enough for us, without all that tedious and confusing messing about with Dead Sea Scrolls, etc.
Frankly, this shocked me to the core, and I think less of Piper because of it.
Apart from the implication that the reformers were all in complete agreement (which they certainly weren't!), Piper's attitude would have simply appalled most of them - He is, in effect, appealing to tradition, while at the same time saying that we don't NEED to know exactly how New Testament terms were used in their 1st Century context. This is the very attitude his treasured reformers were themselves struggling to overcome!
Personally, I'm still not 100% convinced by all of Wright's arguments (though I'll confess myself about 85% convinced!). But I don't think Piper's book really adds anything to the discussion, except perhaps to demonstrate the dangers of being so locked into one theological/philosophical outlook that one simply can't understand any alternatives.
It may be that Tom Wright has 'got it wrong' in places. It may be that a book of this nature needed to be written. Unfortunately I just don't think John Piper was the proper person to write it.
While I certainly don't doubt Piper's good intentions or sincerity, on almost every page I was made painfully aware that he was no match for the depth and breadth of Wright's learning. Sometimes he just seems to misunderstand what Wright is saying.
MUCH more worryingly, as if aware that he can't begin to match Wright's amazing grasp of the 1st Century world and its writings, Piper goes so far as to suggest that we don't NEED to know all that ancient stuff - that what was good enough for Martin Luther & co should be good enough for us, without all that tedious and confusing messing about with Dead Sea Scrolls, etc.
Frankly, this shocked me to the core, and I think less of Piper because of it.
Apart from the implication that the reformers were all in complete agreement (which they certainly weren't!), Piper's attitude would have simply appalled most of them - He is, in effect, appealing to tradition, while at the same time saying that we don't NEED to know exactly how New Testament terms were used in their 1st Century context. This is the very attitude his treasured reformers were themselves struggling to overcome!
Personally, I'm still not 100% convinced by all of Wright's arguments (though I'll confess myself about 85% convinced!). But I don't think Piper's book really adds anything to the discussion, except perhaps to demonstrate the dangers of being so locked into one theological/philosophical outlook that one simply can't understand any alternatives.
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Wright is an exciting theologian with many helpful insights but is his new perspective on Paul good news for our understanding of justification by faith? Is justification more to do with being part of the covenant community than individual salvation? Is the righteousness of Christ imputed to the believer now? Were the reformers wrong in their understanding of justification? Did the Jews of Jesus time really understand that salvation was by grace alone? Was the problem at Galatia one of mere ethnocentrism? read this book for Piper's critique of Wright's answers. But be warned. This is not an easy read. it is technical theological stuff. A more popular version might be needed if the impact of Wright's perspective grows. Wright is a bishop's egg. very good in parts but one wonders where his teaching might lead. I share Piper's concerns if Wright is followed down some of his paths. However what is great about this book is that it is an irenic, civil, Christian polemic. the two men have interacted in correspondence. Christians will differ in interpretation of the scripture, but let them do so graciously like Piper does.
24 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Piper sets the perfect tone for any theological debate right at the start
of this book - he points to his nearness to glory and explains he has no
desire to score cheap points off anyone, to misrepresent what they say, or
to use any tricks to make his argument seem stronger than it is ... and,
in my opinion, he admirably achieves it.
Piper interacts carefully with N.T. Wright's views on justification.
It seems that Wright replied with a 10,000 word essay to an earlier draft
of this book, and Piper responded by increasing and modifying his
treatment. As far as I can tell, having read most of Wright's works that
Piper quotes, Piper has done a good and fair job of representing Wright's
views.
Is this book important? Yes. Wright is typically presented as one of the
three principle developers of the so-called "New Perspective on Paul",
along with E.P. Sanders and James D.G. Dunn, and the New Perspective is
currently influential in many theological departments. This means that
in time, its ideas will have been taught to many who come to lead the
Church. The significance of this is increased by the radically different
understanding of justification and the gospel that Wright and the other
New Perspective scholars have compared with, for example, the Reformers.
Wright at different times has both emphasised the distance between his
own views and the Reformers, and minimised the significance of these
differences. Piper admirably (and generously) grapples with the
complexities and subtleties of Wright's various writings, critiquing
them from the Bible, and contrasting them with traditional Reformed
interpretations.
In some ways, this is a frustrating book to read. However, this does not
reflect poorly on Piper, but rather on the relatively unsystematic
way Wright has written on justification. Piper points out the
flaws in Wright's wilder statements, and then moves on to "give him
the benefit of the doubt" by treating his position as if it were actually
that in his more sober (qualified) statements. This is what leads
a earlier reviewer to conclude that the only issue at stake in this
debate is the imputation of Christ's active obedience. Piper does
effectively reach this conclusion at one point, but only after
tackling many of Wright's more extreme statements, and then
ignoring them and interpreting him in the most conservative way
possible. It is not true that this is all that this "New Perspective
on Paul" debate is about.
In conclusion, this is a good critique of a critical thinker on a
profoundly important subject that is only going to become more
important in the years ahead. A must read for all New Testament scholars,
ministers and church officers.
of this book - he points to his nearness to glory and explains he has no
desire to score cheap points off anyone, to misrepresent what they say, or
to use any tricks to make his argument seem stronger than it is ... and,
in my opinion, he admirably achieves it.
Piper interacts carefully with N.T. Wright's views on justification.
It seems that Wright replied with a 10,000 word essay to an earlier draft
of this book, and Piper responded by increasing and modifying his
treatment. As far as I can tell, having read most of Wright's works that
Piper quotes, Piper has done a good and fair job of representing Wright's
views.
Is this book important? Yes. Wright is typically presented as one of the
three principle developers of the so-called "New Perspective on Paul",
along with E.P. Sanders and James D.G. Dunn, and the New Perspective is
currently influential in many theological departments. This means that
in time, its ideas will have been taught to many who come to lead the
Church. The significance of this is increased by the radically different
understanding of justification and the gospel that Wright and the other
New Perspective scholars have compared with, for example, the Reformers.
Wright at different times has both emphasised the distance between his
own views and the Reformers, and minimised the significance of these
differences. Piper admirably (and generously) grapples with the
complexities and subtleties of Wright's various writings, critiquing
them from the Bible, and contrasting them with traditional Reformed
interpretations.
In some ways, this is a frustrating book to read. However, this does not
reflect poorly on Piper, but rather on the relatively unsystematic
way Wright has written on justification. Piper points out the
flaws in Wright's wilder statements, and then moves on to "give him
the benefit of the doubt" by treating his position as if it were actually
that in his more sober (qualified) statements. This is what leads
a earlier reviewer to conclude that the only issue at stake in this
debate is the imputation of Christ's active obedience. Piper does
effectively reach this conclusion at one point, but only after
tackling many of Wright's more extreme statements, and then
ignoring them and interpreting him in the most conservative way
possible. It is not true that this is all that this "New Perspective
on Paul" debate is about.
In conclusion, this is a good critique of a critical thinker on a
profoundly important subject that is only going to become more
important in the years ahead. A must read for all New Testament scholars,
ministers and church officers.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
This book may stretch you, but to be stretched is sometimes a good...
Bishop Tom Wright has long been the darling of many evangelicals. He is praised particularly for his work on the resurrection. Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2010 by Adrian Warnock
John Piper misses the mark by miles
Coming up with a review of this book has proved to be a mighty difficult task. Piper has a gift for writing an articulate, persuasive and even convincing argument. Read more
Published on 7 April 2008 by Bernard Davis
A clear and powerful argument
John Piper writes with such clarity that, to my mind, he provides one of the best introductions to the "new perspective" on Paul, and Wright's views on justification that I have... Read more
Published on 3 April 2008 by Retroguy
Christ is our righteousness!
I have to take the opposite review of the first reviewer - Piper has restated a long lost truth that may well now appear in many statements of faith as a result of the ongoing... Read more
Published on 14 Dec 2007 by 9Marksfan
an often great author misses the mark by miles
Coming up with a review of this book has proved to be a mighty difficult task. Piper has a gift for writing an articulate, persuasive and even convincing argument. Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2007 by Bernard Davis
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