Justification: A Guide for the Perplexed

by Spence, Alan J.

• ISBN13: 9780567077516
• ISBN10: 0567077519
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-03-29
• Publisher: Bloomsbury T&T Clark

Summary

The core of the book is an historical survey of the doctrine of justification as it has developed within the Western church - a somewhat simplified version of McGrath's Justitia Dei, but with a more outspoken assessment of the various moves that are taken at various stages in the discussion. Attention will is paid to the context or prevailing world view in which such a doctrine is deemed significant. Although the focus is on a number of principal theologians there are some reference to their peers or followers. Only at the end the Pauline texts are examined. The conclusion considers what part a doctrine of justification can have within a modern worldview in which the concept of divine judgement has generally been marginalised.

Author Biography

Alan J. Spence has been a teacher in Harare, an evangelist in the South African township, a human rights advocate in Zimbabwe and Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa. His is now minister in the United Reformed Church serving Abington Avenue URC in Northampton, UK.

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations	p. viii
Introduction	p. 1
The Human Predicament in Western Christian Thought	p. 5
Divine Judgement in the New Testament	p. 17
Augustine of Hippo	p. 30
Thomas Aquinas	p. 44
Martin Luther	p. 59
John Calvin	p. 76
Friedrich Schleiermacher	p. 92
Karl Barth	p. 109
A New Perspective	p. 127
Justification Today	p. 146
Notes	p. 160
Selected Bibliography	p. 164
Index	p. 167
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