Author: Wick

So I’ve finally read enough to be able to present a bit more of a summary of what NT Wright is bringing to the table. Focusing specifically on Paul’s discussion of Justification in Galatians, we find it has a LOT to do with the differences (or lack thereof) between the Jews and Gentiles – in a newly inaugurated existence brought about by the life/death/resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It’s tempting then, to write it off, as something important for the Jews to realize, and important for the Gentiles (both Greek and other) of their day, but of little importance for our “salvation”. But Paul emphasizes these elements so much throughout his New Testament letters, it forces us to take a look at what he’s actually saying beyond simply “removing an ethnic division”.

So how do we recognize that when Paul mentions Justification, he probably isn’t referring some sort of internal transformation or even “imputation of God’s righteousness”…but at the same time is not simply referring to an ethnic broadening?

“It should be obvious that this is not merely a statement of what we now call “private religious experience”……The point is that what happens to the Jew who believes in Jesus the Messiah is a dying (to the old identity defined by the Torah, and thus separated from the Gentiles), and a rising into the new identity defined by the Messiah himself, whose faithfulness unto death has brought his people out of the “old age” and into the new. This event is an objective reality for all who believe in Jesus the Messiah and are baptized into him, whatever it “feels like” at the time.”

So justification/righteousness as NT Wright is talking of it here involves three things:

1. Being given the judgment of “right” in regard to a “lawcourt” scenario. (as opposed to somehow seeing the concept as “morally good character”, it is a status of a judge finding in ones favor, now extending to both Jew AND Gentile)

2. That involves God being faithful to covenant He has made with His people. (to reach all humanity and even all creation through them)

3. That covenant is pointing toward the ultimate “making right” of all things. (Eschatological Justice)

And all of this is finding it’s home in the life/death/resurrection/spirit of Jesus Christ. The one who is, literally, the “seed” of Israel. Both a descendant of, but also – containing everything about God’s covenant to God’s people towards the New Creation that is to come.

When I was younger, I had our address memorized. It was rhythmic, almost. When an older person asked where I lived, or I had to help them fill out a form for me (camps, doctors, etc.), I could blurt it out almost second nature. It was a piece of cake. (not that we lived on a piece of cake, but it was easy to tell people my address.)

At one point, however….someone decided that should change. You may not be aware of this, but on most streets in the US, odd numbers are on one side, evens are on the other. “Duh”, you may be thinking. Well, until this event occurred in my life, I had no clue. It helps a lot as a salesman going from business to business, trying to find a place, however….so I’ve used it a lot.

In any case, at one point someone determined our house was on the wrong side of the street to warrant an odd number. We were told we must change our address to an even numbered address. I remember thinking it was an odd thing to ask of us, but I was able to process it. I can’t imagine the confusion it caused some of my younger siblings, or even more so their friends and teachers, etc. To have a new address, without having moved anywhere at all.

Nothing changed in all reality. Nothing was moved. Nothing looked different. The inside of the house remained the same, it even stayed in the same location. The only noticeable change were the numbers painted on the rock, labeled on the house itself, and on our mailbox.

It was a silly thing indeed. But I’m sure it helped us to be found in the mass of houses for whoever really needed us to be found.

And all of this, unfortunately, can serve as a pretty good metaphor sometimes.