Reformation Readings of Paul: Explorations in History and Exegesis

Review "In preparation for the five-hundredth anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant reformations, this volume will appeal both to the exegetes and to church historians and will hopefully rekindle the interest in Early Modern exegesis." -- Gergely Juhász, Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 38(5)"We owe a great debt of service to Michael Allen and Jonathan Linebaugh, as Reformation Readings of Paul not only sets the standard for explorations in history and exegesis, it also, by God's grace, motivates contemporary readers to see through the commentaries of the reformers, and the interactions of biblical theologians, the writings of the Scripture, in order to recapture a Pauline perspective for the Christian life, which is a bold vision of our new life in Jesus Christ." -- William C. Roach, Themelios, April 2016"In Reformation Readings of Paul: Explorations in History and Exegesis (IVP, 2015), editors Michael Allen and Jonathan A. Linebaugh take the time to bring the Reformers to life as readers of Paul. The book brings a fresh look at the exegetical readings of Luther and other Reformers, showcases the historical and theological background of their era, and then seeks to bring these insights into conversation with current Pauline studies. . . . This volume promises to be an intriguing read." -- Bob Hayton, Fundamentally Reformed, October 31, 2015"Overall, this work is a masterful beginning to what looks like a very promising field of inquiry. Those who value Reformation and Pauline studies?and especially those who value the intersection of both?must read this book. It is an essential introduction and orientation to the still-developing discipline of retrieving older readings of Paul as guides for new scholarly directions in his thought." -- Nathaniel Gamble, Calvin Theological Journal, Vol. 52, No. 1 Product Description Did the Protestant Reformers understand Paul correctly? Has the church today been unduly influenced by Reformation-era misreadings of the Pauline epistles? These questions?especially as they pertain to Martin Luther's interpretation of the Pauline doctrine of justification?have been at the forefront of much discussion within biblical studies and theology in light of the New Perspective on Paul. But that leads to another question: Have we understood the Reformers correctly? With that in mind, these essays seek to enable a more careful reading of the Reformers' exegesis of Pauline texts. Each chapter pairs a Reformer with a Pauline letter and then brings together a historical theologian and a biblical scholar to examine these Reformation-era readings of Paul. In doing so, this volume seeks a better understanding of the Reformers and the true meaning of the biblical text. Review "This is a very important book that opens up a long-overdue conversation among biblical exegetes, historical theologians and students of the Reformation. In a series of sparkling essays, we learn how Luther, Melanchthon, Bucer, Calvin and Cranmer read particular Pauline texts and what that might mean for the renewal of the church today. A book for every pastor and teacher of Scripture." -- Timothy George, founding dean, Beeson Divinity School, general editor, Reformation Commentary on Scripture About the Author Michael Allen (PhD, Wheaton College) is associate professor of systematic and historical theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida. He is the author of several books, including Justification and the Gospel: Understanding the Contexts and Controversies and Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics: An Introduction and Reader. He is also the co-author of Reformed Catholicity: The Promise of Retrieval for Theology and Biblical Interpretation.Jonathan A. Linebaugh (PhD, Durham University) is lecturer in New Testament studies in the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge. He is the author of God, Grace, and Righteousness in Wisdom of Solomon and Paul's Letter to the Ro