The Different Perspectives On Paul's Paper

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Recommended: proper interpretation of the bible

Ivey L. White
Perspectives on Paul’s Paper According to Gombis (2010) “Originating from Augustine and certainly since the reformation (sixteenth century), a certain reading of Paul dominated. What we might call the “traditional perspective” on Paul and the law entailed a sharp contrast between Paul’s gospel and its Jewish heritage. Paul was teaching against legalism. Legalism was a teaching that you can earn salvation through works. Paul’s teaching was the more good, or the more deeds that you did was not the criteria that would stand on the “day of the Lord”. Since the Damascus road experience, Paul had a different thought on pleasing God. The “traditional perspective” of Paul was that it was belief in Jesus Christ and not works that pleased God. …show more content…

The “traditional perspective” that the Damascus road experience of Paul and is teachings are exact teachings on justification by faith. It is a teaching that does not support work-righteousness, but does not condemn work. It is an actual teaching of how to please God according to the bible. The “new perspective” presumes that the old perspective takes liberty in the teaching of Paul, contrasting work and law with justification. The authors do not give any proof of their statement on the first century literature, but only say that the Christian view is not based on this literature. The “new perspective” takes liberty in assuming this. It affects interpretation because of what’s written in the bible. Although they are related in certain aspects. The bible is the inspired word of god and interpretation should be based on God’s word. As for me, I agree with the “traditional perspective”. I take the literal word to be true and base interpretation on the bible.

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