Lectures on NT Wright
The past couple days I’ve listened to the lectures on NT Wright by Bill Wilder at the Center for Christian Study. They were very interesting and helpful in terms of setting the context for controversy surrounding the covenant and justification today. If you would like to know more about this issue, these lectures would be helpful. For those who have listened to it, here are some of my brief notes. I’d love to hear what others thought of the lectures.
I thought that Wilder did a fair job of briefly describing covenant theology and NTW (NT Wright) broad purposes in most of what he writes. There were points near the end of the second lecture that I started to lose a sense of the exact differences between Covenant theology and what NTW is saying. In the way that Wilder presented it, it seemed as though the two were talking past each other or saying differing things.
In the third lecture, Wilder addressed the issue of imputation. I found this presentation to be somewhat weak. While some of the texts used to describe imputation were brought up, it didn’t seem as though reformed people were quoted on how they understand those texts. I was disappointed that the oft quoted statement by NTW about righteousness not being an object was addressed approvingly. I find that to be a broad mischaracterization of the reformed understanding and it doesn’t seem helpful to me for others to continue to quote it. Wilder tried to downplay imputation language in favor of incorporation with Christ. I heartily affirm the need to focus on the fact that Christians are “in Christ” or are “united with Christ” and therefore vicariously participate in his experience. But it seems misguided to me to play that off against imputation. John Calvin didn’t seem to think that the two were different positions. He is known for clearly articulating the Reformation position on justification against the Council of Trent and most often he uses the language of union with Christ to explain imputation. Furthermore, perhaps, I am too Reformed, but to cut imputation out of the soteriological equation seems to remove the necessary link for being in Christ. How is it that God can see sinners as being united with Christ if they have not first been counted as righteous in his sight? Also, by subsuming all of redemption under the cross and resurrection begs the question of the soteriological significance of Christ’s life. If the death and resurrection of Christ is sufficient for justification, does this minimize Christ’s life?
The summary of Westerholm’s contributions to the conversation I found to be very helpful. I should look into getting that book.
Near the end of the lecture Wilder was strong on emphasizing that he does think that there are excellent reasons to read and appreciate NTW. With sufficient qualification, I too might be able to affirm this, but it seemed like an odd thing to say given Wilder’s strong disagreement with Wright about the definitions of righteousness and justification. In affirming so much of what Wright has done, Wilder seems to minimize the significance of the controversy surrounding justification as central to our understanding of the gospel. What is more, based on this presentation, I’m a little confused about how the positive aspects of what NTW has said is new or different from what is already present and affirmed in Reformation theology.
During the time of question and answer at the end of the last lecture, I found it odd that the debate came up about justification and sanctification. Some of the students in the class were very concerned that the declarative emphasis of justification removes any motivation for further growth in holiness. Wilder did a wonderful job of showing the need to never separate justification and sanctification but the value in distinguishing them. I’m not sure why the students were so adamant about combining justification and sanctification. The Reformers would have found their suggestions very odd.
Well, those are some of my very brief, rough and scattered thoughts after listening to these 6 hours of lectures. You can listen to the lectures yourself at the links below.
LINKS: NT Wright Lectures JollyBlogger’s excellent thoughts on Wright