Romans 4 and the New Perspective on Paul: Faith Embraces the Promise

My good friend and colleague Dr. G.H. (Jerry) Visscher has published an
important book entitled "Romans 4 and the New Perspective on Paul: Faith
Embraces the Promise." (Dr. Visscher is the NT Prof at the CanRC Seminary in
Hamilton.)

It has been published by Peter Lang, in the influential series "Studies in
Biblical Literature."

The editor of the series writes in a general preface:

"This series seeks to make available to scholars and institutions, scholarship
of a high order, which will make a significant contribution to the ongoing
biblical discourse."

This book definitely makes a significant contribution to the discussion on the
so called "New Perspective on Paul" (NPP).

Dr. Visscher surveys 5 scholars favoring the "NPP". Then he surveys 5 opposing
the "NPP."

He then extensively investigates the context of Romans 4, and follows that with
a careful exegetical analysis of Romans 4, whereby he shows that the "NPP"
cannot be maintained without substantial revision.

Anybody who is remotely connected to the discussion in our churches about the
"NPP" and interested in understanding what exactly the proponents of the "NPP"
are promoting, needs to read this book.

The concise and thoughtful analysis of the "NPP" scholars and their opponents is
worth the cost of the book itself. The careful analysis of Romans 4 is a
masterful work of Reformed exegesis.

One of the proponents of the "NPP" surveyed in the book, Terence Donaldson,
writes (on the back cover!) "In this thorough and perceptive investigation,
Gerhard H. Visscher draws attention to the weaknesses in various New Perspective
readings of [Romans 4:4] and thus adds his voice to those that call for a new
appreciation of old perspectives."

Dr. Visscher is to be commended for this important and helpful book whereby he
makes a significant contribution to the scholarly discussion taking place in the
theological academies of the world. But this book is doubly important in that it
makes the discussion accessible to pastors, preachers, elders, and to the member
in the pew.

Congratulations to you Jerry. May the Lord bless this work in the studies and
pulpits of many Reformed pastors and churches around the world.


For our American friends this book can be found at

amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Romans-New-Perspective-Paul-Literature/dp/1433105373/ref=s\
r_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242164216&sr=8-1

or

in Canada at

amazon.ca

http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords\
=Gerhard+Visscher&x=0&y=0