I am still studying the issues, but it’s funny that you mention scripture as justification for positions. I come from a solidly Reformed background, but as I read the two views, one thing that struck me was how much more “biblical” Wright’s view seemed than Piper’s. And I don’t mean “biblical” as in “supported by scripture,” but just “biblical” in terms of “bible-y.”

Wright’s view resonates so much more with the testimony of scripture to me—with discussions of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—rather than Piper’s understanding of a God more of time, space, and transcendence. All of these are true of God, but one view just seems so much more “bibley” =). And in that sense, more “biblical.”

I can find not scripture to justify NT’s positions on most of his positions..

And, interestingly enough, McKnight just posted an article today about Pope Benedict’s view on justification and whether or not it is similar in ways to the new perspective.

I’ll check out your summary =D

- The Law (I have always seen it as Piper summarises it, as something that pushes us to Christ (based on Galatians), but Wright says it was established as a way to keep Israel from going totally off track until the Messiah came)
- God’s Righteousness (interesting that Wright specifically links this into God’s faithfulness to the covenant with Abraham)
- First century Judaism (this is one of the bigger differing points of how first century Jews, especially the religious leaders, viewed the Law)
- The Gospel (I do appreciate Wright’s summary of the gospel more than Piper’s, as he focused on the gospel being about the kingly rule of Jesus)

I was surprised that the summary of ‘future justification’ for both seemed pretty similar. I was expecting to hear more from Wright about redemption being about the reconciliation of the cosmos (the whole world/universe). But I’m not sure how that specifically relates into justification.

I was also surprised how Wright has such a heavy focus on the Abrahamic covenant. There was a reference to bringing things back to their original intention, as in Gen 1, and seeing God’s intention from the beginning fulfilled. But there seemed to be a real lack of considering things pre-Abraham.

I think I had pointed this out to you previously, but Scot McKnight has written 18 articles on his blog summarising the debate even more in depth. I stopped after the third article. But there are 2 or 3 books McKnight suggests that a person read even before Wright’s stuff to really get the background of these things. So, as we know, this really isn’t all that ‘new’. Here is the link – Justification and the New Perspective