For those of you struggling to get your heads around the so-called New Perspective on Paul, Peter Leithart has an excellent summary on what N. T. Wright has written in his article "New Perspectives on Paul." (This has appeared in the volume Justification in Perspective, edited by Bruce McCormack, and is available in pdf format here.) This is my summary of Leithart's summary of Wright's summary:
1. The gospel is not primarily a message of individual salvation. Rather, it is the proclamation that Jesus is Lord.
2. The term "righteousness of God" refers to an aspect of God's character.
3. Our vindication in the final judgement takes into account the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
4. Justification takes place after conversion.
5. The Greek word dikaioĊ should be translated as "vindicate". When God vindicates an individual, he or she is declared to be in the right, and a member of the true covenant family. This vindication anticipates the future verdict that will be rendered at the final judgment.
Finally, Wright comments that he finds the Reformed hostility to the New Perspective puzzling, since the two stand together (against some Lutherans) on many points, especially in a positive evaluation of the law.
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