The New Perspective on Paul in the Writings of Michael Wolter and John M. G. Barklay

Abstract

In recent decades, the letters of the Apostle to the Gentiles have appeared in a new light in contemporary biblical scholarship, remaining at the centre of intense scholarly attention and scholarly debate. This article examines Martinus de Boer, Michael Wolter and John M. G. Barkley's New Perspective on Paul, which successfully criticises the Protestant, Lutheran way of reading the concepts of justification, faith, law and others. From the New Perspective on Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles was not polemicising against legalistic religion, but defending the fact that in Christ God has revealed a new standard on the basis of which He declares men righteous. This new reading of St Paul has led to a different interpretation of a number of passages in Galatians, Romans and Philippians in modern biblical scholarship.