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Perspectives Old and New on Paul: The "Lutheran" Paul and His Critics
Here, finally, is a much-needed review and analysis of the divergent interpretations of Paul. In this superb work Stephen Westerholm compares the traditional, "Lutheran" understanding of Paul to recent, "New Perspective" readings of Paul, drawing on the writings of key figures in the debate both past and present.Westerholm first offers a detailed portrait of the "Lutheran" Paul, including the way theologians like Augustine, Luther, Calvin, and Wesley have traditionally interpreted "justification by faith" to mean that God declares sinners "righteous" by his grace apart from "works." Westerholm then explores how the "Lutheran" Paul has fared in the twentieth century, where "New Perspective" readings of Paul see the point of his doctrine to be that Gentiles need not become Jews or observe Jewish law to be God's people. The final section of the book looks anew at disputed areas of Paul's theological language and offers compelling discussion on the place of both justification by faith and Mosaic law in divine redemption.
This book's comprehensive coverage of Pauline interpreters and its fresh insights into Pauline thought make it ideal for use as a text.
This book's comprehensive coverage of Pauline interpreters and its fresh insights into Pauline thought make it ideal for use as a text.
488 pages, Paperback
First published December 30, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 1, 2020
Probably the best overview/synthesis/critique of the "Paul debates" throughout the 20th century. The first section of the book is a summary of the major so-called "Lutheran" theologians: Augustine, Luther, Calvin, and surprisingly (but wisely) Westerholm includes a section on Wesley (my personal favorite of that group).
The second section of the book, and for my money, far and away the best part that makes the entire volume well worth the investment, is Westerholm's balanced and thorough overview of a TON of Pauline scholars throughout the 1900s. This whole section is gold, and is far and away the best entry-point for someone who wants to wrap their mind around what exactly the "New Perspective" is about, and what the points of contention are with the "Old Perspective."
Finally, Westerholm provides his own take in part 3. His interpretation of Paul is rigorous, well-argued, and of course (considering the middle of the book) in conversation with basically every Pauline scholar ever. He essentially proposes a re-working of the "Lutheran" perspective, incorporating some necessary nuances from the "New Perspective" critique, but landing on the core pillars of Lutheran thought. This section is good, but the hardest to get through, as it is bogged down by extremely technical arguments. Perhaps this is necessary for what Westerholm was trying to do, and I still appreciated it, but it's not nearly as pleasant reading as the first two sections.
Those interested in an overview of the Paul debates should absolutely buy this for the entire middle section. Westerholm's own interpretation of Paul is worth reading for those who are really interested in the technical exegesis, but that won't be for everyone.
The second section of the book, and for my money, far and away the best part that makes the entire volume well worth the investment, is Westerholm's balanced and thorough overview of a TON of Pauline scholars throughout the 1900s. This whole section is gold, and is far and away the best entry-point for someone who wants to wrap their mind around what exactly the "New Perspective" is about, and what the points of contention are with the "Old Perspective."
Finally, Westerholm provides his own take in part 3. His interpretation of Paul is rigorous, well-argued, and of course (considering the middle of the book) in conversation with basically every Pauline scholar ever. He essentially proposes a re-working of the "Lutheran" perspective, incorporating some necessary nuances from the "New Perspective" critique, but landing on the core pillars of Lutheran thought. This section is good, but the hardest to get through, as it is bogged down by extremely technical arguments. Perhaps this is necessary for what Westerholm was trying to do, and I still appreciated it, but it's not nearly as pleasant reading as the first two sections.
Those interested in an overview of the Paul debates should absolutely buy this for the entire middle section. Westerholm's own interpretation of Paul is worth reading for those who are really interested in the technical exegesis, but that won't be for everyone.
July 12, 2023
4.5 Stars
Excellent and clear analysis of a particularly contentious subject.
All three sections (Historical portraits of Paul, Contemporary portraits of Paul & Westerholm's portrait of Paul) are worth consideration.
To Westerholm's credit, he does not merely dismiss the New Perspective, nor does he simply affirm his own Lutheran tradition. He argues persuasively that Paul's exposition of justification is neither solely intended to combat ethnocentrism nor legalism, but rather that the Mosaic Law was unable to cope with the problem of human sin, and hence a righteous status could only be found in Jesus Christ.
Excellent and clear analysis of a particularly contentious subject.
All three sections (Historical portraits of Paul, Contemporary portraits of Paul & Westerholm's portrait of Paul) are worth consideration.
To Westerholm's credit, he does not merely dismiss the New Perspective, nor does he simply affirm his own Lutheran tradition. He argues persuasively that Paul's exposition of justification is neither solely intended to combat ethnocentrism nor legalism, but rather that the Mosaic Law was unable to cope with the problem of human sin, and hence a righteous status could only be found in Jesus Christ.
June 17, 2013
Perhaps the most exegetically rigorous restatement of an essentially "Lutheran" Paul that also interacts creatively with a wide range of newer proposals. Westerholm deserves to be a significant voice in the discussion on Paul.
August 26, 2024
For those still exploring the questions raised by the New Perspective, this volume is a welcome addition. Westerholm lays out modern critiques of the "Lutheran" Paul, before staking his ground on the major hinge points, and defending this traditional reading of Paul.
This volume is among the strongest defenses of the old perspective I have read. I found his arguments surrounding the theme of "boasting" particularly compelling. However, The most significant shortcoming of this book is that he seems to continually make the mistake that Wright has warned against in several places: "Do not mistake the steering wheel for the whole car". Westerholm successfully demonstrates that Paul's gospel had to address the plight of a humanity that is, due to their fallen nature and sinfulness, under the wrath of God, and in need of God's salvation. However, he seems to conclude that because the NPP does not see this is as the focus of Paul's doctrine of justification, that they also do not see it as addressed by Paul's gospel. This seems to me to not be the case, at the very least in Wright's writings, especially as he has refined his works over the years.
Overall, this volume is another helpful contribution to the discussion on Paul's theology of justification.
This volume is among the strongest defenses of the old perspective I have read. I found his arguments surrounding the theme of "boasting" particularly compelling. However, The most significant shortcoming of this book is that he seems to continually make the mistake that Wright has warned against in several places: "Do not mistake the steering wheel for the whole car". Westerholm successfully demonstrates that Paul's gospel had to address the plight of a humanity that is, due to their fallen nature and sinfulness, under the wrath of God, and in need of God's salvation. However, he seems to conclude that because the NPP does not see this is as the focus of Paul's doctrine of justification, that they also do not see it as addressed by Paul's gospel. This seems to me to not be the case, at the very least in Wright's writings, especially as he has refined his works over the years.
Overall, this volume is another helpful contribution to the discussion on Paul's theology of justification.
December 22, 2017
A good review that humbly acknowledges the strengths and weaknesses of the various sides of the debate. proposal 9f synthesis is "soft", and maybe a firmer case can be made that incorporates the best of the New Perspective, rather than just pointing out that it is a good construction of the context. Seems to downplay ecclesiology for soteriology, which is the accusation levelled against the NPP, but this neglects the proper place that ecclesiology has in Christian theology. While Wright may have overstretched in arguing that "justification" means ecclesiology and "call" refers to the soteriological, there is still merit in considering the ecclesial shape of justification as a speech act.
June 6, 2023
A fantastic overview of the Pauline debates. Westerholm is a clear and witty, if at times verbose, writer.
Edit: Some reviews bemoan Westerholm’s technical analysis. Yes, it is wordy. Yes, it is necessary. If you want to know why one interpretation is preferred over another, you must do technical analysis. This book, along with the rest of the Pauline dialogues, cannot be fully grasped without technical analysis. If you don’t want to look at the Greek or puzzle out the nuances of a verse or an interpretation, you can still understand some of the discussion, but you will never understand all of it. That’s just the nature of the beast.
Edit: Some reviews bemoan Westerholm’s technical analysis. Yes, it is wordy. Yes, it is necessary. If you want to know why one interpretation is preferred over another, you must do technical analysis. This book, along with the rest of the Pauline dialogues, cannot be fully grasped without technical analysis. If you don’t want to look at the Greek or puzzle out the nuances of a verse or an interpretation, you can still understand some of the discussion, but you will never understand all of it. That’s just the nature of the beast.
May 4, 2025
A labour of love to read this lengthy tome, but so worth it! Westerholm capably surveys the scholarship on perspectives on Paul in all their breadth, and does so with surprising warmth and humour given the gravity of the subject matter.
February 12, 2018
Strong historical survey of views on Paul (esp. NPP) plus a Lutheran interpretation of Paul's view of the Law, works-righteousness, and salvation by faith.
April 21, 2023
Really 2 different books. First half surveys Pauline scholarship over the last 100 years or so. Second half gives us his own take. Not bad.
December 3, 2012
REVIEW AND CRITIQUE Westerholm, Stephen. Perspectives Old and New on Paul: The “Lutheran” Paul and His Critics. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.
In Perspectives Old and New on Paul Westerholm offers a careful re-examination of the “old perspective” on Paul of Augustine, Luther, Calvin, and Wesley who have been charged of misinterpreted “justification by faith” as God’s declaring sinners “righteous” by His grace apart from “works of the Law.”
The “new perspective” scholars Wight, Dunn, and Sanders content that Paul’s “justification by faith” was not a correction of legalism but an ethnic Judaism that resisted God’s salvation extended to the Gentles.
Westerholm notes the absence of first-century Judaism as a factor in the discussion of the Reformers (133). Westerholm distinguishes the “hard” and “soft” legalism. The Judaism in Westerholm’s evaluation does not think of salvation as completely apart from the divine grace and based on personal works (“hard legalism”). The covenantal nomism in rabbinic literatures, though seeing the Law as a gift of God but works of the Law does play a critical role (“soft legalism”) (332-333). Thus Westerholm refines the “old perspective” with regard to the view of the Law, and therefore reaffirms the “old perspective.”
Critiques:
The strength of Westerholm’s contention is that he clarifies the older “Lutheran” Paul in front of his critiques. There were rich theological and exegetical considerations that the traditional views are based upon, beyond the simplistic explanation of the “Western introspective conscience.” Primarily, the divine judgment against fallen humanity is the common of all the Reformers to develop their theses. And this ground remains solid in light of the OT background of Paul’s writing.
Westerholm’s own thesis of “soft legalism” is worth consideration. Sanders dissolves the elements of legalism in the distant theological context of election grace in the Second Temple literatures, but Westerholm rightly restores it. The repeated emphases on works of the Law for rewards and punishments are indispensable in the Jewish literatures, regardless the Jewish faith in the election grace. The new perspectives have mistakenly understated the case for legalism in Judaism.
But to probe it deeper, I think that Westerholm’s notion of soft legalism itself is logically contradictory to the notion of election grace. If a Jew believes in soft legalism, he would practically be still legalistic and denying grace. In the deeper sense, the soft legalism is not very different from the hard legalism. Worse, it trusts in human efforts and boasts about their elected status as the people of God. It is both legalistic and nationalistic.
In Perspectives Old and New on Paul Westerholm offers a careful re-examination of the “old perspective” on Paul of Augustine, Luther, Calvin, and Wesley who have been charged of misinterpreted “justification by faith” as God’s declaring sinners “righteous” by His grace apart from “works of the Law.”
The “new perspective” scholars Wight, Dunn, and Sanders content that Paul’s “justification by faith” was not a correction of legalism but an ethnic Judaism that resisted God’s salvation extended to the Gentles.
Westerholm notes the absence of first-century Judaism as a factor in the discussion of the Reformers (133). Westerholm distinguishes the “hard” and “soft” legalism. The Judaism in Westerholm’s evaluation does not think of salvation as completely apart from the divine grace and based on personal works (“hard legalism”). The covenantal nomism in rabbinic literatures, though seeing the Law as a gift of God but works of the Law does play a critical role (“soft legalism”) (332-333). Thus Westerholm refines the “old perspective” with regard to the view of the Law, and therefore reaffirms the “old perspective.”
Critiques:
The strength of Westerholm’s contention is that he clarifies the older “Lutheran” Paul in front of his critiques. There were rich theological and exegetical considerations that the traditional views are based upon, beyond the simplistic explanation of the “Western introspective conscience.” Primarily, the divine judgment against fallen humanity is the common of all the Reformers to develop their theses. And this ground remains solid in light of the OT background of Paul’s writing.
Westerholm’s own thesis of “soft legalism” is worth consideration. Sanders dissolves the elements of legalism in the distant theological context of election grace in the Second Temple literatures, but Westerholm rightly restores it. The repeated emphases on works of the Law for rewards and punishments are indispensable in the Jewish literatures, regardless the Jewish faith in the election grace. The new perspectives have mistakenly understated the case for legalism in Judaism.
But to probe it deeper, I think that Westerholm’s notion of soft legalism itself is logically contradictory to the notion of election grace. If a Jew believes in soft legalism, he would practically be still legalistic and denying grace. In the deeper sense, the soft legalism is not very different from the hard legalism. Worse, it trusts in human efforts and boasts about their elected status as the people of God. It is both legalistic and nationalistic.
August 3, 2011
Pauline studies have been an interesting and contested field for the past thirty years or so. Even the most fundamental tenets of Paul's theology have been brought into question. Central to the debate has been the question of whether the "Lutheran" reading of Paul and his gospel, which has held sway in the West since the 16th century (or the 4th if you go back to Augustine), is faithful to the essence of Paul's preaching or whether it distorts Paul's intent.
Westerholm, in this spectacular book, provides a great entry point into the debates, careful analysis of the various positions, and a clear, mature assessment of Paul and the modern debates about him. I think this book provides an ideal starting point for people who want to get the lay of the land in current study about Paul, while also interacting (mostly in the notes) with these positions. He then, with surprising humor and wit, puts forth one of the clearest statements I've ever read concerning how Paul understood "law," "righteousness," and "justification by faith." Westerholm brings in the best of the "new perspective on Paul," taking into account a fuller understanding of the Jewish backdrop of Paul's writings and a fuller account of Paul's own thinking on these matters, while also showing that the essential core of the "Lutheran" Paul, especially when augmented and corrected at points, helps present a full and accurate view of Paul's thinking.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is very well written, surveys the most important historical figures in the debate, the most important current contributions, both for and against the "Lutheran" Paul (with frequent use of their own words, so that each author's own flavor and emphasis comes out), and then brings this all together with a great presentation of Paul's thought. His work on the role of the law, summed up in nine theses in chapter 19, is especially good. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. It has given me a grasp of all of these issues and debates, and a grasp of Paul's own thinking, that seemed almost too elusive to grasp before.
Westerholm, in this spectacular book, provides a great entry point into the debates, careful analysis of the various positions, and a clear, mature assessment of Paul and the modern debates about him. I think this book provides an ideal starting point for people who want to get the lay of the land in current study about Paul, while also interacting (mostly in the notes) with these positions. He then, with surprising humor and wit, puts forth one of the clearest statements I've ever read concerning how Paul understood "law," "righteousness," and "justification by faith." Westerholm brings in the best of the "new perspective on Paul," taking into account a fuller understanding of the Jewish backdrop of Paul's writings and a fuller account of Paul's own thinking on these matters, while also showing that the essential core of the "Lutheran" Paul, especially when augmented and corrected at points, helps present a full and accurate view of Paul's thinking.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is very well written, surveys the most important historical figures in the debate, the most important current contributions, both for and against the "Lutheran" Paul (with frequent use of their own words, so that each author's own flavor and emphasis comes out), and then brings this all together with a great presentation of Paul's thought. His work on the role of the law, summed up in nine theses in chapter 19, is especially good. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. It has given me a grasp of all of these issues and debates, and a grasp of Paul's own thinking, that seemed almost too elusive to grasp before.
September 14, 2009
I really don’t know if I could say enough good things about this book. It was one of the most exegetically persuasive theological pieces I have ever read. For quite some time I have felt that there were really no solid responses to the new perspective(s) which honestly embraced legitimate insights, but simultaneously gave insightful critiques. I can’t say that now. Westerholm is a master (and a freaking good writer too).
April 5, 2012
This is a must read for anyone interested in Pauline studies. Westerholm does a better job of looking at the perspectives of others than outlining his own.
October 27, 2014
The best response to the proposed New Perspectives of Paul thus far read. Also includes a very helpful summary
of the history of Pauline interpretation in the last century.
of the history of Pauline interpretation in the last century.
May 26, 2016
Belabored on the humor and compendious, but otherwise good.
December 21, 2016
The best
Read
January 17, 2017A masterful summary by an academic who is able to combine scholarly depth with an admirably clear style of writing. We can't imagine a better introduction to the current state of Pauline studies.
maybe-read
July 27, 2020G. Waters - Westerholm does a great job of summarizing the last 50 years (~1950-2000) of pauline scholarship.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews