Justification: A Guide for the Perplexed

The core of the book is an historical survey of the doctrine of justification as it has developed within the Western church - a somewhat simplified version of McGrath's Justitia Dei, but with a more outspoken assessment of the various moves that are taken at various stages in the discussion. Attention will is paid to the context or prevailing world view in which such a doctrine is deemed significant. Although the focus is on a number of principal theologians there are some reference to their peers or followers. Only at the end the Pauline texts are examined. The conclusion considers what part a doctrine of justification can have within a modern worldview in which the concept of divine judgement has generally been marginalised.

1.     Justification as the doctrine of salvation of theWestern Church.2.     The widespread belief in divine judgement as thecontext in which such a doctrine flourished historically.3.     The expectancy of final judgement in the New Testamentcommunity.4.     The doctrine of justification in Augustine and theMedieval Church5.     The doctrine of justification in Luther and theLutherans.6.     The doctrine of justification in Calvin and theReformed Church.7.     The doctrine of justification in the Council of Trentand the Catholic Counter-Reformation.8.     The doctrine of justification in Barth9.     The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification10.  TomWright and the New Perspective.11.   Re-reading the Pauline texts.Conclusion. A doctrine of justification today