The critics of the new perspective on Paul, and they have tended to focus on the work of N.T. Wright, now have their biggest challenge yet. Until we get Tom Wright's fourth volume, and Tom is now writing it, Douglas A. Campbell hefty tome, The Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in Paul
, will be the benchmark for how to read Paul.Campbell's book contains the fullest theological explanation yet of what he calls "Justification Theory," and whether you agree with his own theory or not, his opening descriptions of the Reformation (Calvinist and Lutheran) understanding of Paul is about as complete as it gets. He sees it as modernistic, rational, individualistic, conditional, introspective, God as a God of strict justice, humans as stricken by ethical incapacity, and a satisfaction theory of atonement.
Into this and against this Campbell proposes an unconditional model of redemption in which humans are rescued from their slaveries to sin and death; this deliverance occurs through Christ's assumption of Adamic ontology and his death executes Adamic ontology; humans respond by dying with Christ in order to execute Adamic ontology and receive a new ontology "in Christ." The new situation is communal and participatory and interpersonal.
The book is more than 1200 pages long. It would be a fantastic vacation read or summer read for pastors; it is a must for professors and I believe should be read by seminary students as a primary text on Paul -- whether one agrees with it or not. What Campbell calls the Justification Theory is deeply embedded in the Protestant consciousness; this sort of book reveals that consciousness and provides readers an opportunity to check whether it is the best reading or not.
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Sean (#4) and Scot (#6),
Sean, I am one of those pastors whose adrenaline starts to flow when Scot introduces a book like this and suggests we pastors read it. A tragic paralysis happens to many pastors. They stay stuck in the theology of their seminary days, and read Max Lucado (not that that is totally bad). When human systems of theological thought are pontifically presented by the credentialed professors, the assumption is that those systems can't ever change. One reason I love the Evangelical Covenant Church is that I have found that many of its pastors read, and read current works. Will every pastor read the book? No, no even in the ECC, but a lot will and the church will be better for it. Take up and read, my friend! :-)
Kudos to John (#15) for encouraging us to read. I would only hope that those who endeavor to step into the pulpit on Sunday would see reading a book like Campbell's as part of the task and calling of being a preacher.
Derek Leman @10,
my understanding of the "New Perspective" is that there is no one framework involved, except that Paul's Jewishness is taken seriously, and implications are thought through from that starting point. Different writers see different implications.
Dana
Loren Rosson III has a lengthy review:
http://lorenrosson.blogspot.com/2009/09/deliverance-of-god.html
The first couple hundred pages are available for preview on Google Books.
http://books.google.com/books?id=Z2djnvSUInsC&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+deliverance+of+god&ei=iM34Stv4F6LqygST7qiBAw#v=onepage&q=&f=false
i read the first 20 or so online and had to order it. i'm merely a dilettante, not a pastor or professional, and i barely have any college. just a normal family man, techie, Jesus geek. but when you hear multiple scholars commenting on the importance ("best thing since Sanders") it makes you take notice. don't get me wrong, it's slow going (for me) and i find the reasoning a bit too heavy on propositional logic and (false?) dichotomies, but it's worth the effort and time.
I'm a Duke grad who had Campbell for a Romans class (and many friends who had him in multiple classes). I'm also now a pastor.
I got most of what Campbell was talking about but was REGULARLY frustrated that he couldn't find a way to be more CONCISE. Ultimately, I'm convinced that if his views are to gain traction beyond esoteric academic discussion, he needs to take the N.T. Wright approach and start writing some more pop level stuff.
That said, I'm 150 pages into the book. Mostly enjoying it.
Tip for pastors on reading: do it first thing, 30-60 minutes most days. You'll get a lot read.
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