Justification: God’s Plan & Paul’s Vision
N. T. Wright
Hardcover: 279 pages
Publisher: IVP Academic (May 30, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0830838635
ISBN-13: 978-0830838639
Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
Buy Here: Amazon.com

Thanks to Adrianna Wright and IVP Press for sending me a copy to review!

John Piper and N. T. Wright fighting it out is like a reformed theologians dream UFC match-up. Both are masters of the pen and word, who preach and teach in such a way that makes you feel like if you were to hold up their books their excitement would start to ooze of the page. We need more excitement like that. You either love them, or hate them, but when they butt heads everyone wants to watch. That’s what excited me most when Piper’s “The Future of Justification: A Response to N. T. Wright” came out. That’s why I was even more excited when I found out that Wright was writing a response: Justification: God’s Plan & Paul’s Vision. All that was missing was an octagon.

I love to read and listen to both Piper and Wright. I highly agree with them in some areas, and highly disagree with them in others. Both have been influential to me. Last year, I listed Wright’s “Surprised by Hope” as my favorite book that I read (along with Andy Crouch’s “Culture Making”). Imagine my surprise, then, when I found Wright’s new book to be, well, frustrating. Don’t get me wrong—it’s an excellent read. Wright always challenges me to take another look on my view of Justification in ways that other New Perspective writers don’t. I also, to ruin the end of the review early, recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the matter. If you were ask me if I were to not recommend it, I would have to echo Paul’s favorite way to say no, “μὴ γένοιτο!” May it never be! I highly recommend the book. It still frustrates me, however.
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One of my favorite scholars, Christopher Wright, was interviewed by the koinonia blog recently&mdashan interview consisting of the single question:

“In what way have we as evangelical Christians failed to grasp or live out the fullness of God’s missional intent? How (if at all) has our theology of evangelism been weak?”

Wright has responded by giving 5 false dichotomies where the Church has over-emphasized one aspect instead of realizing both. His insights are spot-on, in my opinion, and I suggest every check out his response in the post “False Dichotomies in Mission” part 1 and part 2.

The false dichotomies his talks about are:
1. Individual and Cosmic/Corporate impacts of the Gospel
2. Believing In and Living Out the Gospel
3. Evangelism and Discipleship
4. Word/Proclamation and Deed/Demonstration
5. Evangelism from Ecclesiology

I highly recommend the read.