Paul, Thessalonica, and Early Christianity

Rating:
Summary: A Liberal Lutheran who hates Luther
Review: In this interesting work on Paul's epistles to the Thessalonians and early Christianity, Donfried sets out his anti-Protestant, anti-evangelical, and pro-ecumenical agenda in the preface. Donfried is a liberal Lutheran (ELCA) who wants to get rid of the barrier that separates Protestants and Romanists (he thinks that the joint declaration by the "Lutherans" and Romanists on justification is a great thing). In order for him to do this he turns the doctrine of justification upside-down. This can be seen in his chapter on justification and judgment in Paul. Donfried believes that Protestants should do away with the traditional understanding of justification in favour of a view that is more agreeable with our Romanist counterparts. He argues that justification is not about the imputed righteousness of Christ, but about sharing in his life. In order for a believer to share in this life, he or she must obey the commandments, follow the law, and do what is pleasing before God. Those believers who stop doing these things will be cut off from Christ and given a condemnatory verdict at the last judgment. So much for sola fide, sola gratia, and solus Christus. If Donfried is so enthralled with this whole ecumenical enterprise and scholarship's sympathy towards Rome in recent years, perhaps he should just drop out of his denomination and join the Holy Mother Church (it is no surprise that the two reviewers in the back cover who recommend this book are Roman Catholics). Good Lutherans don't believe what he does. If Luther, Calvin, or Edwards read this book they would scratch their heads wondering why such an author likes to be called Lutheran.

Rating:
Summary: A rich resource for New Testament study
Review: This book is a rich collection of a number of Karl P. Donfried's most important and most influential essays. It includes his inaugural lecture as Elizabeth A. Woodson Professor of Religion and Biblical Literature at Smith College, Northampton, Mass., where Donfried has taught since earning his Dr.theol. degree at the University of Heidelberg, where he studied with Günther Bornkamm.

This collection traces much of the shape of Donfried's scholarship over past years and brings his New Testament colleagues and other readers up to date with what he is doing now. Particularly informative is not only the landmark article, "Justification and Last Judgment in Paul," but also another article tracing its reception both in Lutheran and other circles over twenty-five years. Those who are eager to delve into contemporary scholarship on 1 and 2 Thessalonians will be greatly informed by Donfried's highly influential article, "The Cults of Thessalonica and the Thessalonian Correspondence." (See also Donfried and Johannes Beutler, editors, THE THESSALONIANS DEBATE [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000].)

This book represents the best of Donfried's scholarship as an independent thinker and scholar, a distinguished Lutheran theologian, and an ecumenical leader.

I am very pleased to recommend this book highly. My students are reading parts of it this semester in my class on the Pauline Epistles.

Rating:
Summary: A rich resource for New Testament study
Review: This book is a rich collection of a number of Karl P. Donfried's most important and most influential essays. It includes his inaugural lecture as Elizabeth A. Woodson Professor of Religion and Biblical Literature at Smith College, Northampton, Mass., where Donfried has taught since earning his Dr.theol. degree at the University of Heidelberg, where he studied with Günther Bornkamm.

This collection traces much of the shape of Donfried's scholarship over past years and brings his New Testament colleagues and other readers up to date with what he is doing now. Particularly informative is not only the landmark article, "Justification and Last Judgment in Paul," but also another article tracing its reception both in Lutheran and other circles over twenty-five years. Those who are eager to delve into contemporary scholarship on 1 and 2 Thessalonians will be greatly informed by Donfried's highly influential article, "The Cults of Thessalonica and the Thessalonian Correspondence." (See also Donfried and Johannes Beutler, editors, THE THESSALONIANS DEBATE [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000].)

This book represents the best of Donfried's scholarship as an independent thinker and scholar, a distinguished Lutheran theologian, and an ecumenical leader.

I am very pleased to recommend this book highly. My students are reading parts of it this semester in my class on the Pauline Epistles.

Rating:
Summary: Original Scholarship at its Best
Review: This is an outstanding volume, rich in first-class scholarship and ecumenical sensitivity of the highest order. Donfried is at the cutting edge of New Testament scholarship and has a profound understanding of the impact of the Dead Sea Scrolls on early Christianity. His knowledge of Lutheran-Roman Catholic relationships is impeccable having served on the New Testament panel of the USA National Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue that produced the best selling volumes PETER IN THE NEW TESTAMENT and MARY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT as well as having been an official delegate of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to the signing of the Joint Declaration on Justification with the Roman Catholic Church in Augsburg, Germany, on October 31, 1999. This book is a MUST buy both for scholars, ecumenists and lay persons interested in learning from an outstanding scholar with an impeccable international standing.