Where is Boasting?

by Simon J. Gathercole

This important work challenges the validity of the "New Perspective" on Paul and Judaism. Working with new data fom Jewish literature and a fresh reading of Romans 1–5, Simon Gathercole produces a far-reaching criticism of the current approach to Paul and points a new way forward.

Building on a detailed examination of the past generation of scholarship on Paul and early Judaism, Gathercole's work follows two paths. First, he shows that while early Judaism was not truly oriented around legalistic works-righteousness, it did consider obedience to the Law to be an important criterion at the final judgment. On the basis of this reconstruction of Jewish thought and a rereading of Romans 1–5, Gathercole advances his main argument — that Paul did indeed combat a Jewish perspective that saw obedience to the Law both as possible and as a criterion for vindication at the final judgment. Paul's reply is that obedience to the Law is not a criterion for the final judgment because human nature makes obedience to the Law impossible. His doctrine of justification can therefore be properly viewed in its Jewish context, yet anthropological issues also take center stage.

Genres: Theology, Biblical

323 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2002

About the author

Simon Gathercole (PhD, University of Durham) is senior lecturer in New Testament studies in the Faculty of Divinity of the University of Cambridge and Fellow and director of studies in theology at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, England. A leading British New Testament scholar, he has written several groundbreaking books.

Reviews

[Ken Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gathercole is a very careful writer, and I appreciate how he engages with the New Perspective on Paul rather than being dismissive. Extremely helpful especially on Romans 2-3 and the 'diatribe' style of the Apostle, and exactly what distinguishes him from the outlook of his Jewish contemporaries. An excerpt:

"the point in Romans 3:21 is not that God is now revealing his righteousness to those who are 'outside the pale of the Law'; rather, Paul is talking of the revelation of the righteousness of God to all who believe, and that includes the revelation of the righteousness of God independently of the Law to the Jewish nation. Because Israel does not obey Torah, God's righteousness cannot come to them through that means".

Gathercole concludes, "in contrast to the emphasis of many scholars, Israel also receives the righteousness of God independently of the Law...The key distinction that Paul is drawing is not between those 'in the Law' who receive the message of condemnation through the Torah (3:19) and those 'outside the Law' who receive the righteousness of God (3:21). Rather, Paul is concentrating on the fact that all, Jew and Gentile alike, receive the righteousness of God 'independently of Torah,' and through faith" (emphasis original).

[Sanjuro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concerning boasting, and the relationship between justification and works in Paul's letter to the Romans, Gathercole looks at the largely anthropological approach of the Lutheran tradition, and the largely sociological approach of the New Perspective on Paul, and soundly wades through important issues, landing largely in the traditional perspective while lauding the helpful correctives of the NPP interpreters. His conclusions are measured and well argued, and he provides a thorough account of the development of these ideas in antecedent Second Temple Jewish texts. I find myself waffling back and forth between these traditions depending on the Pauline letter or theological concept in view, but here Gathercole lobs a reasonable defense of some traditional readings with fresh clarity and insight.

[Timothy Bertolet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent work showing where the New Perspective on Paul has misread aspects of Second Temple Judaism. He is fair to the aspects they have rightly noted but shows where the view has been reductionistic and even ignored evidence to the contrary. His discussion of the relevant texts is extremely helpful. His treatment of Romans 1-5 is much briefer but still helpful as he interacts with secondary sources.

[Yuce]

I read this book to get a better understanding of some of the criticisms put against the New Perspective on Paul. It has much to recommend but in the end, I did not find Gathercole's criticisms or his grasp of the New Perspective adequate or convincing.