Bahnsen Greg L. - Five Views on Law and Gospel

BABiblical Archaeologist

BAGDBauer, Arndt, Gingrich, and Danker, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament

BibBiblica

BJRLBulletin of the John Rylands Library

BRBiblical Research

BSacBibliotheca Sacra

CSRChristian Scholars Review

CTChristianity Today

CTJCalvin Theological Journal

EJEvangelical Journal

GTJGrace Theological Journal

InstInstitutes of the Christian Religion

IntInterpretation

ISBEInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised Edition

JBLJournal of Biblical Literature

JCRJournal of Christian Reconstruction

JETSJournal of the Evangelical Society

JSNTJournal for the Study of the New Testament

JSNTSupSupplements to Journal for the Study of the New Testament

NICNTNew International Commentary of the New Testament

NICOTNew International Commentary of the Old Testament

NIDNTTNew International Dictionary of New Testament Theology

NovTNovum Testamentum

NTSNew Testament Studies

RevExpReview and Expositor

RTRReformed Theological Review

SEStudia Evangelica

SJTScottish Journal of Theology

STStudia Theologica

SupNovTSupplements to Novum Testamentum

TDNTTheological Dictionary of the New Testament

TJTrinity Journal

TNTCTyndale New Testament Commentary

TOTCTyndale Old Testament Commentary

TransfTransformation

TynBulTyndale Bulletin

TZTheologische Zeitschrift

VTVetus Testamentum

VTSupSupplements to Vetus Testamentum

WBCWord Biblical Commentary

WCFWestminster Confession of Faith

WECWycliffe Exegetical Commentary

WTJWestminster Theological Journal

ZNWZeitschrift fr die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft

ZTKZeitschrift fr die Theologie und Kirche

The rise of the fortunes of biblical theology within evangelicalism has served to help preserve the dialogue concerning the proper relationship of Law and Gospel as well as the utility of the Mosaic law for the contemporary Christian. There are a multitude of key ancillary issues that are generated by the Law/Gospel question, such as the purpose of the Mosaic law in the Old Testament and Pauls treatment of the law. Indeed, this important complex of concerns has been the subject of numerous books in recent years. This fact serves to confirm the importance of the issue for the Christian church and underscores the fact that there is no consensus of understanding of the relationship between Law and Gospel. Differing systems of theology often have radically different conceptions of the proper relationship between Law and Gospel. Since ones understanding of these issues has a direct impact on the application to the life of the believer in Christ, I believe it is imperative and helpful to decide the proper relationship of Mosaic law to the saint.

With that in mind, it is the purpose of this volume to facilitate an objective and, I hope, a well-argued presentation of major alternatives regarding the Mosaic Law, its relationship to the Gospel, and the role it plays in personal sanctification as well as in ethical systems. Unlike other treatments of the Law and Gospel issue, this approach features differing views presented in one volume, together with responses designed to highlight and bring into sharper focus the differences, some of which are systemic. This format also gives the reader the opportunity to evaluate the relative strengths and weaknesses of the views presented. The reader may then decide which view best harmonizes with the biblical and theological evidence. At the same time, it may perhaps also serve to foster a greater degree of rapprochement between the advocates of the various systems which, despite their differences, share an evangelical heritage.

This dialogue is not intended as an exhaustive treatment or analysis, but rather is designed to introduce the very complex issues and provide a framework for the resolution of the issue by the reader. Ample documentation is provided in the essays for more in-depth reflection on the issues by the reader.

All of the contributors to this volume represent careful and articulate evangelical scholarship in biblical studies. Each contributor is committed to the primacy and authority of the Scriptures in framing the understanding of the Law/Gospel issue. Each advocate of a view has devoted extensive study to the issue and has written with great conviction. Yet each author has also written with an irenic spirit as befits Christ and Christian charity.

I would like to acknowledge those who have helped in this project. My deep thanks to the other participants who have helped to make this treatise a reality. Each contributor has appreciated the benefit of such an enterprise. They have engaged in this project enthusiastically and have made the task of editing a joy. I also wish to thank Leonard G. Goss and Stanley N. Gundry for their invaluable assistance at several points in the process of composition. I have especially valued the enthusiastic support shown by Len Goss from the inception of the project.

May this dialogue of brothers in Christ glorify God and encourage a life of holiness for his saints. Tu solus sanctus.

Wayne G. Strickland

General editor