The future of justification : a response to N.T. Wright / [print]
John Piper.
- Wheaton, Illinois : Crossway Books, (c)2007.
- 239 pages ; 22 cm.
On controversy -- Caution : not all biblical-theological methods and categories are illuminating -- The relationship between covenant and law-court imagery for justification -- The law-court dynamics of justification and the meaning of God's righteousness -- The law-court dynamics of justification and the necessity of real moral righteousness -- Justification and the gospel when is the Lordship of Jesus good news? -- Justification and the gospel : does justification determine our standing with God? -- The place of our works in justification -- Does Wright say with different words what the Reformed tradition means by imputed righteousness? -- Paul's structural continuity with Second-Temple Judaism -- The implications for justification of the single self-righteous root of ethnic badges and self-help moralism -- That we might become in Him the righteousness of God.
This book is in response to N. T. Wright, a world-renowned New Testament scholar and bishop of Durham in the Church of England. Wright's confidence that the church has gotten it wrong for 1,500 years, given his enormous influence, has set off warning bells for Christian leaders such as John Piper, a pastor and New Testament scholar, If Wright's framework for interpreting the New Testament text and his understanding of justification find a home in the church, not only could the doctrine of justification be distorted for generations to come, but the New Testament writers' original intent could be silenced. So Piper is sounding a crucial warning in this book, reminding all Christians to exercise great caution regarding "fresh" interpretations of the Bible and to hold fast to the biblical view of justification.