{"id":6383,"date":"2010-06-16T05:35:13","date_gmt":"2010-06-16T05:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/jesuscreed\/2010\/06\/deliverance-of-god-7-matt-edwa.html"},"modified":"2010-06-16T05:35:13","modified_gmt":"2010-06-16T05:35:13","slug":"deliverance-of-god-7-matt-edwa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/jesuscreed\/2010\/06\/deliverance-of-god-7-matt-edwa.html","title":{"rendered":"Deliverance of God 7 (Matt Edwards)"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is an incredible series being offered to us by Matt Edwards: a nine part summary and response to Douglas Campbell’s mega-book, The Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in Paul<\/a>\"\"
\n<\/strong><\/em>. Thanks to Matt Edwards.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Deliverance of God<\/span><\/i><\/b> 7–Problems
\nof Conversion in Justification Theory<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

We are evaluating Douglas
\nCampbell’s rereading of Romans 1-4 as presented in The Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in
\nPaul<\/i>. In the book, Campbell rejects “justification theory” (JT), the
\ntraditional way of understanding Romans 1-4. He describes JT as having two
\nphases–“the rigorous contract” (in which God’s ethical demands are made clear
\nto all people, all people are found to have fallen short of these demands, and
\nall people are declared worthy of God’s retributive justice) and “the
\nappropriation of salvation” (in which God, in his grace, offers a more
\nmanageable criterion for salvation, “faith”). Most western Christians interpret
\nRomans 1-4 according to JT.<\/p>\n

 Campbell has suggested three steps
\nthat JT advocates need to take in response to his rereading: (1) demonstrate
\nthat JT is a valid option for Paul, (2) answer his critique, and (3) show how
\nJT is a better interpretive option than his rereading. We have undertaken step
\n(1) in a previous post, and over the next few posts we will be undertaking step
\n(2). When we are finished, I will suggest an approach to step (3).<\/p>\n

Campbell argues that JT is
\ninconsistent with what we know about conversion–both in what we know
\nempirically about how people actually convert, and in what we know about how
\nPaul himself converted.<\/p>\n

Campbell argues that most people do
\nnot become Christians by means of navigating phases one and two of JT. More
\nimportant to conversion are human networks, rational choice, and predisposing
\nconditions. In other words, people are most likely to convert from one religion
\nto another when their social ties to the new religion are stronger than their
\nties to the old one (Campbell follows Rodney Stark, 130-33). People also
\nconvert when they perceive a new religion to offer them something of benefit
\n(following Stark again, 133-34). Finally, converts are usually young, educated,
\nunattached, and “seeking” (following John Lofland, 134-36). JT may be a useful post-conversion explanation<\/i> of one’s
\nconversion, but it doesn’t explain why<\/i>
\npeople convert.<\/p>\n

Further, JT doesn’t fit with
\nexplanations of Paul’s conversion. It would be odd for Paul to endorse a
\ntheology that didn’t explain his own conversion. Paul explains his conversion
\nin Galatians 1:12-16 and Philippians 3:4-11. His conversion is explained by
\nLuke in Acts 9:1-22, 22:3-21, and 26:12-23. Of these, only Philippians 3:4-11
\ncomes close to using the language of JT. However, even there Paul doesn’t speak
\nof his pre-Christian existence in terms of despair. He says that he was
\n“blameless” (3:6), and that he only realized the uselessness of his works after<\/i> he converted (3:7-11). The other
\npassages speak of Paul’s conversion in terms of revelation<\/i> and commissioning<\/i>
\nto preach to the Gentiles.<\/p>\n

Campbell notes that there is no
\nmention of Paul’s conversion in the major justification texts and that there is
\nno mention of justification in the main conversion texts. He concludes: “Not
\nonly is the linkage between<\/i> Paul’s
\nJustification discussions and he references to his conversion absent, but the
\nlatter texts contain no explicit mention of<\/i>
\nJustification, which means in turn that there
\nis no direct evidence that the apostle’s conversion took place in accordance
\nwith that theory’s expectations<\/i>. We expect a journey through a long
\nstruggle with sin illuminated by the law before the bar of God’s stern justice,
\nto the relief of justification by faith alone (and as certain texts from Luther
\narguably suggest). But we never get these<\/i>.”
\n(151)  <\/span><\/p>\n

What do you think about this? Why did you<\/i> become a Christian? Where you searching for an answer to your
\n“sin problem” as revealed to you in nature, or did you realize your “sin
\nproblem” through preaching and\/or reading the Bible? Does JT explain your
\nconversion? Does it explain Paul’s conversion? Campbell does not discuss 1
\nTimothy 1:12-17 because of the methodological difficulties that would present.
\nIf we consider them, do they change anything?  <\/span><\/span><\/b>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is an incredible series being offered to us by Matt Edwards: a nine part summary and response to Douglas Campbell’s mega-book, The Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in Paul . Thanks to Matt Edwards. The Deliverance of God 7–Problems of Conversion in Justification Theory We are evaluating Douglas Campbell’s rereading of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gospel"],"yoast_head":"\nDeliverance of God 7 (Matt Edwards) - Jesus Creed<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/jesuscreed\/2010\/06\/deliverance-of-god-7-matt-edwa.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Deliverance of God 7 (Matt Edwards) - Jesus Creed\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This is an incredible series being offered to us by Matt Edwards: a nine part summary and response to Douglas Campbell’s mega-book, The Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in Paul . 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