IVP - Addenda & Errata - Theological Restraint Justified

Theological Restraint Justified

IVP recently released N. T. Wright’s Justification: God’s Plan and Paul’s Vision. This book, which among other things is an answer to Wright’s critics, has gotten quite a bit of advance review, with some having read the U.K. edition which came out a couple of months ago.

As I was thinking about the current evangelical debates over the doctrine of justification, I was reminded of something I copied down a couple of years ago while reading Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics IV:

But in theology it is good to look beyond the needs and necessities of the moment, to exercise restraint in a reaction however justified, to be constantly aware of the limits of the ruling trend (however true and well-founded it may be). And since our present business is with Church dogmatics, which is ecumenical at least in prospect, this must be our attitude in relation to the doctrine of justification, not because we deny but because we maintain our Evangelical position. (CD IV.1, 523)

I find that an excellent piece of advice for theologians and would-be theologians. In the current debate, it can be well applied on any side you find yourself. The seasoned maturity standing behind those words is inspiring and invites meditation and self-examination. I’m tempted to post it on my computer monitor.

Barth, however, is not asking us to show restraint in buying the book. By all means, buy and read the book! Then exercise your restraint.

Posted by Dan Reid at April 27, 2009 12:55 PM