The Quest for Paul's Gospel (Journal for the Study of the New Testament. Supplement Serie)
'Like Bishop Butler who complained, "You stirred up a lot of dust and then complained that you cannot see," Campbell argues that Pauline scholars could not see the coherence of Paul's thought because their reliance on either justification by faith or the history of salvation models obscured it. In pointing to a way out of the current plight of Pauline study, Campbell's emphasis on the Spirit signals a real advance. No serious student of Paul's theology can afford to neglect this bold book.'Leander E. Keck Winkley Professor of Biblical Theology, Emeritus, Yale Divinity School, USA'This audacious book on Paul's theology is controversial in the best sense of the word. Douglas Campbell's impassioned and clearly stated argument will provoke many responses and will reinvigorate international discussion. This is a "must read" book in the field of biblical theology.'Professor Robert Jewett, Heidelberg University, Germany'In this set of bold and provocative essays, Douglas Campbell engages in the quest to establish which model best grasps the heart of Paul's gospel and can express this heart in a way that is theoretically cogent, exegetically convincing and, above all, theologically valuable. Campbell operates - using explicitly military analogies - at the grand, strategic level, and his aims are nothing less than comprehensive victory for his nuanced version of a participatory eschatological model, the elimination of the justification by faith model, and the subjugation of the salvation-history model. In announcing this ambitious programme, Campbell throws down the gauntlet: allies will be cheered and encouraged to rally round; foes will be provoked, and goaded into counter-attack. Above all, Campbell's book will focus attention on this central battle for the interpretation of Paul, and will leave no doubt that the outcome matters, and matters theologically. No one with an interest in the interpretation of Paul's theology should ignore it.'Dr David G. Horrell, Senior Lecturer in New Testament Studies, University of Exeter.'In this lucid and provocative book, Douglas Campbell argues for an interpretation of Paul's gospel that emphasizes participation in Christ at the expense of "justification by faith". The result is a theological and exegetical tour de force. Campbell's trenchant and sometimes brilliant analyses will compel his readers to rethink their assumptions about Paul - even if they remain finally unpersuaded.' Francis Watson, Professor of New Testament Exegesis, University of Aberdeen.