The next few post will look at a popular book on soteriology and having a critical examination of it, in the spirit of grace and love. This is not about condemnation of an author or a view, but about examining what the author is saying or arguing for and what can be learned from this. The critical interaction with the material will focus on four main goals:
- Briefly summarize the author’s thesis.
- Explain key arguments used to support the thesis.
- Evaluate the thesis and the means of presentation.
- Discuss personal and ministerial application of this material.
Over the next few posts, we will delve deeper into each of these different areas. The book that I will be reviewing “The Future of Justification: A Response to N.T. Wright” by John Piper. It can be found here for free (Please note there are many resources available from Piper and N.T. Wright for free that are very valuable for personal growth; I would highly recommend checking out both sites to review their material). This book is in response to N.T. Wright’s view on the “New Perspective” on Paul’s theology and is Piper’s goal to correct the renowned Wright on his wrong views on justification. First, we will introduce this further and provide a thesis and foreshadowing of where we will be going during this series.
CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE FUTURE OF JUSTIFICATION
N. T. Wright, a world-renowned scholar and bishop in the Church of England who has spent years studying Paul’s writings, has developed a “New Perspective” on Paul’s theology in collaboration with other leaders of the same viewpoint. Wright believes the church has misunderstood Paul’s theology, specifically justification, and has set out to correct these errors by offering a fresh perspective on the doctrine of justification. John Piper, renowned pastor and scholar, wrote “The Future of Justification: A Response to N. T. Wright” as a response to and critique of N. T. Wright’s view of justification; Piper deems Wright’s take on justification as an alarming, confusing, distorted, and possible heretical understanding of the doctrine. Piper, concerned that Wright’s view distorts the view of God’s glory and grace, challenges Wright’s interpretation of justification and sets out to provide a faithful and clear exposition of this important salvific subject matter of justification. In The Future of Justification, Piper documents the errors in N. T. Wright’s view on justification and proposes a traditional solution that is true to the intent of Paul and what has been defined by the Reformers.