Michael Bird has announced that he has a new book out: The Saving Righteousness of God: Studies on Paul, Justification and the New Perspective (Carlisle, UK: Paternoster, 2007). From what I gather, Bird approaches the issue from a balanced perspective, trying to summarize both sides and highlight the benefits of both. This balancing act is exactly the kind of thing that I’ve been looking for. I wish I had my hands on a copy right now, so that I could use it in my final paper for my Paul and the Law class. On his post, you can read ringing endorsements such as how the book is “unmatched” in its fairness and thoroughness of coverage and that it “deserves a ‘nobel peace prize in Theology,’” by the likes of James Dunn, Robert Gundry, I. Howard Marshall, and Scot McKnight.

The book is not on Amazon yet (as soon as it is, it’ll be going on my wish list!), but it is available through Paternoster.