Primer on the Justification Situation

Most readers of this blog are probably aware of the New Perspective on Paul (NPP) and the debate over the old Lutheran doctrine of Justification versus the NPP verson. Proponents of each side have drawn their lines in the metaphorical sand by publishing books ad nauseum. Two of the more popular presenters have been Baptist pastor John Piper and Anglican bishop N.T. Wright. Piper came out swinging first with his book, The Future of Justification: A Response to N.T. Wright, which recieved accolades from both sides for honestly engaging the good bishop to accurately represent his views. Wright has recently responded with his book, Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision, which I have yet to read since it was just recently released stateside.

Christianity Today has recently published a helpful primer on the two positions to help those who are tired of sloshing through the mire of the debate. You can open the PDF, here.

While I have benefitted from studying both Piper and Wright, especially Wright's books on Jesus and the Resurrection, I do not think Piper is the best representative of the old Lutheran position on justification. For that I would turn to an actual Lutheran exegete, Stephen Westerholm's Perspectives Old and New: The "Lutheran" Paul and his Critics, which is par excellence on Paul's understanding of the law.