Justification by Faith: The Origin and Development of a Central Pauline Theme (Novum Testamentum Supplements): 68 - Hardcover

Seifrid, Mark A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 9004095217 ISBN 13: 9789004095212

Publisher: Brill, 1992

Synopsis

This study offers a fresh analysis of the place which "justification by faith" held in Paul's life and thought. In distinction from past attempts to define "justification" in relation to a logical "center", the investigation proceeds by assessing the relationship between this theme and two significant points in Paul's career: his conversion and his letter to Rome. The first chapter surveys a number of interpreters of Paul from William Wrede through E.P. Sanders. In an attempt to overcome the deficiencies of earlier proposals, the work then explores the soteriology of two early Jewish writings proximate to Paul, 1QS and Pss. Sol. Paul's references to his preconversion life reveal a connection between these forms of Judaism and that which Paul knew, making it likely that within a short time after his conversion Paul's soteriology underwent a radical change involving his adoption of ideas inherent to his later arguments on "justification by faith". Paul's aim in writing to Rome discloses that he came to regard "justification" as indispensable to his Gospel and relevant to issues beyond Jew-Gentile relations.
This research challenges the "new perspective on Paul" (Dunn) while providing a historical and theological description of Paul's understanding of "justification by faith."

About this title

About the Author

Mark A. Seifrid, Ph.D. (1990) in Biblical Studies, Princeton Theological Seminary, is Assistant Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville. Publications include several articles on the New Testament.

Edition details

• Publisher: Brill
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9004095217
• ISBN 13: 9789004095212
• Binding: Leather Bound
• Number of pages: 328