Browsing the archives for the New Perspective category

14 Feb 07

Finding balance in the New Perspective debate

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 [...]

1 Comment Posted in New Perspective, Paul, books by Patrick George McCullough
6 Feb 07

Relationship between flesh and law?

What does “works of the flesh” have to do with being “under the law”? That’s the question with which I’m presently wrestling. I don’t have my answer worked out yet (and I’m not sure I ever will), but here are some quotes that are helping me think about it. Dunn is, of course, from the [...]

9 Comments Posted in Galatians, New Perspective, Old Perspective, Paul, law, papers, quotes, works of the flesh by Patrick George McCullough
3 Feb 07

Translating Galatians 5:16-26

I have decided to choose Gal 5:16-26 for my 5-6 page exegetical assignment in Paul and the Law because at first glance I really have no idea where it will fit into the whole OPP/NPP debate. I thought it would be best to do my own translation to get me going, so this is my [...]

6 Comments Posted in Galatians, New Perspective, Old Perspective, Paul, flesh, law, spirit by Patrick George McCullough
24 Jan 07

Does the New Perspective on Paul call Judaism racist?

There is a criticism of the New Perspective on Paul (NPP) that has come up in our Paul and the Law class several times (first initiated by Dr. Hagner himself) which I find both troublesome and intriguing. It goes like this: in its attempts to absolve 1st century Judaism of a legalistic image, the [...]

11 Comments Posted in New Perspective, Old Perspective, Paul, classes, racism by Patrick George McCullough
23 Jan 07

What do Anabaptists say about justification by faith?

In response to my last post, my friend Matt raised good questions about Anabaptists and their understanding of justification by faith. I started to copy down some quotes and felt like it was just too much material (and the material was just too good) for a comment, so I’m making a new post out of [...]

7 Comments Posted in New Perspective, Paul, anabaptism, justification by faith, quotes by Patrick George McCullough
23 Jan 07

It's not our issue: Anabaptists and the New Perspective on Paul

I would like to share some wisdom that was emailed to me about why Anabaptists might not be all gung ho about the New Perspective on Paul. I alluded to something similar in a previous post, but I think this puts it better. The email was from Dale Fredrickson, who is a NT PhD student [...]

4 Comments Posted in New Perspective, Paul, anabaptism, classes, papers, quotes by Patrick George McCullough
20 Jan 07

An Anabaptist, Judaizing Paul?

I mentioned my search for sources where Anabaptists can be found wrestling with the New Perspective on Paul (NPP). After much searching through books and journals, it does appear that Anabaptist interaction with the NPP is scant. The primary resource, it seems, is Toews’ commentary on Romans. I have found, however, a short chapter in [...]

3 Comments Posted in New Perspective, Paul, anabaptism, classes, papers by Patrick George McCullough
15 Jan 07

E. P. Sanders' Paul, the Law, and the Jewish People

I have to read Sanders’ book by Wednesday and I’m struggling with grasping his arguments. I haven’t found Sanders’ writing to be the easiest to read (particularly for someone not familiar with all the historical scholarly arguments and counter-arguments about Paul), so I’m going to try to distill some of the core of his [...]

5 Comments Posted in E. P. Sanders, New Perspective, Paul, books, quotes by Patrick George McCullough
13 Jan 07

Quotes promoting the New Perspective on Paul

I’d just like to throw these out there for an idea of how NPP fans promote the NPP. The first is from The Paul Page, which is maintained by Mark M. Mattison. The second is an Anabaptist reviewer of John Toews’ commentary on Romans. They both make some pretty bold claims:
What is this new perspective? [...]

0 Comments Posted in NT studies, New Perspective, Paul, quotes by Patrick George McCullough
13 Jan 07

Looking for Legalism: The New Perspective on Paul and the Early Church

I am taking two courses this Winter that have so far had some interesting parallels, especially in regard to legalism. My “Paul and the Law” class is taught by Don Hagner, along with some very capable doctoral students giving presentations. It is an introduction for me into the New Perspective debate on Paul (I will [...]

4 Comments Posted in NT studies, New Perspective, Old Perspective, Paul, early church, legalism by Patrick George McCullough