Perspectives Old and New on Paul: The "Lutheran" Paul and His Critics

Stephen Westerholm

Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004 - Religion - 488 pages

Here, finally, is a much-needed review and analysis of the divergent interpretations of Paul. With a clear head and winsome sense of humor, Stephen Westerholm compares the traditional understanding of Paul to more recent readings, drawing on the writings of key figures in the debate both past and present.

Westerholm first offers a detailed portrait of the "Lutheran" Paul, including the way such theologians as Augustine, Luther, Calvin, and Wesley have traditionally interpreted "justification by faith" to mean that God declares sinners "righteous" by his grace apart from "works." Westerholm then explores how Paul has fared in the twentieth century, in which "New Perspective" readings of Paul see him teaching that Gentiles need not become Jews or observe Jewish law to be God's people. The final section of the book looks anew at disputed areas of Paul's theological language and offers compelling discussion on the place of both justification by faith and Mosaic law in divine redemption.

Contents

• Redemption: 9
• Summary: 20
• Martin Luther: 27
• John Calvin: 43
• John Wesley: 64
• A Portrait of the Lutheran Paul 88: 88
• Wrede and Schweitzer: 101
• Montefiore Schoeps and Sanders: 117
• Kümmel and Stendahl: 134
• Drane Hübner and Räisänen: 164
• Heikki Räisänen: 178
• Lutheran Responses: 205
• Frank Thielman: 214
• Other Perspectives: 226
• The Quotable AntiLutheran Paul: 249
• Extraordinary Dikaiosness: 273
• Divine Dikaiosness: 284
• Dikaiosness and the Covenant: 286
• Righteousness in Paul: 295
• The Law in Paul: 297
• The Meaning of Law: 298
• The Law and Works: 300
• The Law and Faith: 321
• The Law and Legalism: 330
• The Law and Torah: 335
• Grace in Sanderss Judaism: 341
• The Evidence in Review: 352
• Thessalonians: 353
• and 2 Corinthians: 361
• Galatians: 366
• Romans: 384
• Philippians: 401
• Ephesians the Pastorals and James?: 404
• The Law in Gods Scheme: 408
• Grace Abounding to Sinners or Erasing Ethnic Boundaries?: 440
• Bibliography: 446
• Index of Authors: 472
• Index of Scripture and Other Ancient Literature: 476

About the author

Stephen Westerholm is professor emeritus of early Christianity at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario. His other books include Reading Sacred Scripture: Voices from the History of Biblical Interpretation (with Martin Westerholm), Justification Reconsidered: Rethinking a Pauline Theme, and Understanding Paul: The Early Christian Worldview of the Letter to the Romans.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Perspectives Old and New on Paul: The "Lutheran" Paul and His Critics
• Author: Stephen Westerholm
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004
• ISBN: 0802848095, 9780802848093
• Length: 488 pages
• Subjects: Religion / Biblical Criticism & Interpretation / New Testament