Christ, Our Righteousness

by Seifrid, Mark A.

• ISBN13: 9780830826094
• ISBN10: 0830826092
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Ivp Academic

Summary

Since the time of the Reformation, considerable attention has been given to the theme of justification in the thought of the apostle Paul. The ground-breaking work of E. P. Sanders inPaul and Palestinian Judaism(1977) introduced the "new perspective on Paul," provoking an ongoing debate which is now dominated by major protagonists. Foundational theological issues are at stake.In this new study, Mark Seifrid offers a comprehensive analysis of Paul's understanding of justification, in the light of important themes including the righteousness of God, the Old Testament law, faith, and the destiny of Israel. A detailed examination of justification in the letter to the Romans is followed by a survey of the entire Pauline corpus.Seifrid's analysis incorporates a critical assessment of the "new perspective," challenging its most basic assumptions; an evaluation of the contribution of recent German scholarship; and a reaffirmation of the "Christ-centered" theology of the Reformers. In this wide-ranging exposition of the biblical message of justification, Seifrid provides a fresh, balanced reworking of Pauline theology.

Table of Contents

Series preface	11	(13)
The conversion of Paul as the justification of the ungodly	13	(22)
The pre-Christian Paul and the nation of Israel	17	(8)
Paul and ethnicity	19	(2)
Paul and the exile	21	(4)
Paul's conversion	25	(7)
Paul's pursuit of the law	25	(3)
Paul's persecution of the church	28	(2)
Paul's conversion according to Acts	30	(2)
Conclusion	32	(3)
The righteousness of God: the message of Romans	35	(32)
The revelation of the 'righteousness of God'	36	(11)
Faith and the revelation of God's righteousness	37	(1)
The `righteousness of God' in biblical usage	38	(7)
The `righteousness of God revealed in the gospel	45	(2)
The justification of God and the ungodly	47	(20)
The righteousness of God's wrath against idolatry (Rom. 1:18-32)	48	(3)
The impartiality of divine judgment (Rom. 2:1-16)	51	(3)
The possession of the law as no advantage (Rom. 2:17-29)	54	(2)
The advantage of the Jew in the oracles of God (Rom 3:1-18)	56	(4)
The law of God and the righteousness of God (Rom. 3:19-20)	60	(3)
The righteousness of God in Christ (Rom. 3:21-26)	63	(4)
Justification and hope (Rom. 3:27-8:39)	67	(1)
Beyond Romans: justification by faith in the letters of Paul	67	(28)
The Thessalonian correspondence	77	(2)
Galatians	79	(4)
The Corinthian correspondence	83	(5)
Philippians	88	(2)
Justification in the later letters of Paul	90	(5)
The righteousness of God and the law of God	95	(34)
Paul's legal terms	95	(10)
`Law' and related terms	96	(2)
`Letter' in Paul's usage	98	(1)
The `works of the law'	99	(6)
The law as witness of the righteousness of God in Christ	105	(18)
Selected passages from Galatians Galatians 2:15-21	106	(1)
Galatians 3:1-4:7	107	(2)
Galatians 4:21-31	109	(1)
2 Corinthians 3:1-18	109	(5)
Romans 7:1-8:11	114	(5)
Romans 9:30-10:13	119	(4)
Summary	123	(6)
The justification of the ungodly and the obedience of faith	129	(22)
Faith as God's work through the gospel	130	(3)
Faith as obedience to the gospel	133	(6)
The faith of Christ	139	(8)
Faith and justification	147	(1)
Justification by faith and judgment according to works	147	(4)
The justification of ungodly Israel and the nations	151	(20)
Israel as the creation of God's promise (Rom. 9:1-13)	152	(2)
God's righteousness and Israel's rejection (Rom. 9:14-10:21)	154	(4)
The triumph of God in Israel's redemption (Rom. 11:1-36)	158	(10)
Israel's exile in Romans 9-11	168	(3)
Justification in Paul, the New Testament witness and beyond	171	(16)
Justification as verdict and vindication	171	(6)
Justification in the witness of the New Testament	177	(2)
Faith, works, and justification according to James	179	(4)
Justification and Protestant-Roman Catholic dialogues	183	(2)
Christian preaching of the gospel	185	(2)
Bibliography	187	(12)
Index of authors	199	(2)
Index of subjects	201	(6)
Index of Bible references	207	(14)
Index of ancient writings	221