Justification - by N T Wright (Paperback)

About the Book

N. T. Wright offers a comprehensive account and defense of his perspective on the crucial doctrine of justification. Along the way he responds to critics, such as John Piper, who have challenged what has come to be called the New Perspective. Ultimately, he provides a chance for those on all sides of the debate to interact directly with his views and form their own conclusions.

Book Synopsis

Biblical Foundations Book Award

Few issues are more central to the Christian faith than the nature, scope and means of salvation. Many have thought it to be largely a transaction that gets one to heaven. In this riveting book, N. T. Wright explains that God's salvation is radically more than this.At the heart of much vigorous debate on this topic is the term the apostle Paul uses in several of his letters to describe what happens to those in Christ--justification. Paul uses this dramatic image from the law court to declare that Christians are acquitted of the cosmic accusations against them. But justification goes beyond this in Paul's writings to offer a vision of God's future for the whole world as well as for his people.Here in one place Wright now offers a comprehensive account and defense of his perspective on this crucial doctrine. With anew introduction, he provides a sweeping overview of the central points in the debate before launching into a thorough explanation of the key texts in Paul's writings. While fully cognizant of tradition and controversy, the final authority for his conclusions is the letters of Paul themselves.Along the way Wright responds to critics, such as John Piper, who have challenged what has come to be called the New Perspective. For Wright, what Paul means by justification is nothing less than God's unswerving commitment to the covenant promise he made to bless the whole world through Abraham and his family.This irenic response is an important contribution for those on both sides of the debate--and those still in between--to consider. Whether you're a fan of Wright's work or have read his critics and would like to know the other side of the story, here is a chance to interact with Wright's views on the issues at stake and form your own conclusions.

Review Quotes

"...N.T. wright's Justification is well worth reading. It's not a light read and may take some effort, but it is about one of the ocre issues of our faith, and touches on something that is both a contemporary issue and one that concerned the lifes of Paul and Martin Luter. Wherever you fall in the argument, Wright's position is worth knowing."

--Paul Metzloff, Trinity Seminary Review, Winter 2011

"Justification is likely to become his most controversial book to date, for it offers a fundamentally new reading of a doctrine at the center of Protestant and evangelical theology."

--Douglas Harink, Christian Century, December 1, 2009

"Justification remains a well-written, persuasive articulation of Wright's position, littered throughout with flashes of brilliant exegetical insight, which deserves to be read by everyone interested in the debate, friend and foe alike."

--Alexander Stewart, Biblical Theology Bulletin, Volume 41, 2011

"For those interested in this ongoing debate regarding justification, this book offers an introduction to the overall debate, as well as a detailed biblical-exegetical understanding of Wright's onwn position."

--Mary L. VandenBerg, Calvin Theological Journal, April 2010

"Whether you are a scholar or lay teacher, if you want to learn more about the New Perspective on Paul and N.T. Wright's views on justification, Justification is an important work."

--Michael Makidon, Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society

"Wright does provide a vision of justification that - perhaps not surprisingly - is more in touch with the understanding of the 17th century Mennonite church than it is with Reformed theology. This is a great book."

--Young Anabaptist Radicals (young.anabaptistradicals.org), June 14, 2009

"Wright is a versatile author, able to reach both academic and popular audiences. Justification will appeal to academic readers and serious students of theology."

--C. Brian Smith, Christian Retailing, June 8, 2009

"Wright is pretty succinct in his argument. Wright's perspective falls in line with what is commonly referred to as the new perspective on Paul. Because, in Wright's mind, this perspective is much older than other conceptions. Put simply, it is an approach to Paul from within the interpretive context of Paul's original, Jewish milieu. Wright, and others on the same "quest" have argued that we have missed much of what Paul was getting at because we failed to read him through the original lens."

--Darren King, Precipice (precipicemagazine.com), July 2009

"Wright offers a passionate and stimulating treatment of the core of Paul's theology. . .Both an engaging exploration of Paul's theology and alively defense of his own approach to what in some circles is regarded as the heart of Christian doctrine."

--Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., American, March 8, 2010

"Wright's work is brilliant, so full of inter-textual allusions and quotes that one can only stand in awe of the final product!"

--Susan K. Hedahl, Currents, Winter 2011

About the Author

N. T. Wright is research professor of New Testament and early Christianity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He taught New Testament studies for twenty years at Cambridge, McGill and Oxford Universities, and was formerly the bishop of Durham and canon theologian of Westminster Abbey. A prolific writer of both scholarly and popular books, N. T. Wright has written over thirty books, including What Saint Paul Really Said, The Challenge of Jesus, The Meaning of Jesus, Jesus and the Victory of God and Paul and the Faithfulness of God. His N. T. Wright For Everyone Series includes commentaries covering the entire New Testament.