Thoughts on the New Perspective
First of all, at the behest of Mr. Haeck, I will introduce myself to those of you who don't know me. My name is Josh Huff. I am one of the few, one of the proud, reformed graduates from BBC. I am also Jewish which makes me doubly blessed by those of you espousing dispensational ideals of Israel still being the "apple of God's eye" rather than those who are adopted sons of Abraham through Christ (Galatians 3:7-9, 26; 6:16). I also love music, as you would notice if you saw my office at church, and I love God's word. I have a lovely wife of over two years now, and little girl named Charis who will arrive any day (I am so excited). Currently, I am working with the youth ministry at Fox Valley Bible Church and waitering at a little Irish Pub named Bennigan's. Now that the appetizer is over, onto the main course.
I have heard a lot of buzz about this New Perspective on Paul in the last several months and I thought it was about time that I read up on the subject. Many hateful things have been spoken about theologians I greatly respect, Scott Hafemann and John Armstrong to name a few, who agree with some of the theology contained in the New Perspective. I recently came upon an article written by another great mind on Paul (N.T. Wright) that clarified things a great deal for me. N.T. Wright is one of the original thinkers and architects of the New Perspective, and it might do some of us good to see what those who agree with it are actually saying, rather than reading only those who disagree. (I learned this lesson well going to a school where I, being a reformed calvinistic amillenialist, disagreed with a few things my teachers were saying).
We need to be careful who we call heretics in this day and age, especially when those we are accusing are much more learned than us. I think we fall into the trap of saying, "I agree with Piper or D.A. Carson on most things, therefore they must be completely right on this subject as well." We must not fall into the trap of the Corinthian believers who said, "I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Peter..." We need to all be students of the word and fully espouse sola scriptura in how we approach these new ideas. With that said, here is the link to the article. I hope those of you wrestling with the New Perspective will find it helpful.
http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_New_Perspectives.htm
P.S. I will let you all know as soon as Charis is born. Keep the faith brothers and sister. I love you all.
I have heard a lot of buzz about this New Perspective on Paul in the last several months and I thought it was about time that I read up on the subject. Many hateful things have been spoken about theologians I greatly respect, Scott Hafemann and John Armstrong to name a few, who agree with some of the theology contained in the New Perspective. I recently came upon an article written by another great mind on Paul (N.T. Wright) that clarified things a great deal for me. N.T. Wright is one of the original thinkers and architects of the New Perspective, and it might do some of us good to see what those who agree with it are actually saying, rather than reading only those who disagree. (I learned this lesson well going to a school where I, being a reformed calvinistic amillenialist, disagreed with a few things my teachers were saying).
We need to be careful who we call heretics in this day and age, especially when those we are accusing are much more learned than us. I think we fall into the trap of saying, "I agree with Piper or D.A. Carson on most things, therefore they must be completely right on this subject as well." We must not fall into the trap of the Corinthian believers who said, "I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Peter..." We need to all be students of the word and fully espouse sola scriptura in how we approach these new ideas. With that said, here is the link to the article. I hope those of you wrestling with the New Perspective will find it helpful.
http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_New_Perspectives.htm
P.S. I will let you all know as soon as Charis is born. Keep the faith brothers and sister. I love you all.
posted by Josh Huff at
10:04 AM
2 Comments:
Josh,
This was posted twice, si Iwent ahead and deleted the shorter one. (It had one less paragraph)
By
Matt H, at 10:23 AM
Josh...Jordan Harris here...I'm not in the chamber singers but I thought I might have something to add to your post.
First, after reading Bishop Wright's book What Saint Paul Really Said, I don't hesitate in labelling Wright an enemy of the gospel. Why? For a number of reasons. First, Bishop Wright argues for a complete redefinition of justification, a redefinition foregin to both Paul himself and the Reformers. This is a distilled version of Wright's view on justification from his book...
<"Justification" in the first century was not about how someone might establish a relationship with God. It was about God's eschatological definition, both future and present, of who was, in fact, a member of his people. In Sanders' terms, it was not so much about "getting in," or indeed about "staying in," as about "how you could tell who was in." In standard Christian theological language, it wasn't so much about soteriology as about ecclesiology; not so much about salvation as about the church.">
Wright implicitly asserts here, as he explicitly asserts in other places, that justificaion needs to be placed within the realm of ecclesiology rather than soteriology. Wright is disgusted by the idea of forensic, legal justification, and in many places decries the fact that Protestants have viewed justification as a legal declaration of a sinner "righteous" because of the atoning work of Christ. In my opinion Josh, N.T. Wright is an enemy to the gospel and a wolf in sheeps clothing. A spirit of ecumenicism pervades his writings and a hostility towards the Reformed doctrine of justification by faith alone is all over the pages of What Saint Paul Really said. I think we would be wise to heed the words of John Piper...
"I think Wright's understanding of Paul is wrong and his view of justification is harmful to the church and to the human soul. Few things are more precious than the truth of justification by faith alone because of Christ alone. As a shepherd of a flock of God’s blood-bought church, I feel responsible to lead the sheep to life-giving pastures. That is not what the sheep find in Wright’s view of Paul on justification."
...On a different note...It's good to hear from you Josh and I send you a hearty congrats for the birth of your new child. I find it encouraging that another Reformed Brother has successfuly journeyed through the muddy waters of dispensationalsim at BBC and is still convinced as ever of the precious doctrines laid down by our spiritual forefathers, the Reformers.
Your fellow servant in the advancement of Christ's Kingdom
Jordan Harris
P.S. Just a thought...I recommend you read Phil Johnson's article "A Defense of the Old Perspective On Paul." The article can be found here...
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/new_p.html
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ReformedVictorious, at 11:05 PM
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