Justification: A Guide for the Perplexed

Dr Alan Spence has been a teacher in Harare, an evangelist in the South African townships, a human rights advocate in Zimbabwe and Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa. He is now a minister in the United Reformed Church serving two congregations in London, UK.

• 1. Justification as the doctrine of salvation of the Western Church.; 2. The widespread belief in divine judgement as the context in which such a doctrine flourished historically.; 3. The expectancy of final judgement in the New Testament community.; 4. The doctrine of justification in Augustine and the Medieval Church; 5. The doctrine of justification in Luther and the Lutherans.; 6. The doctrine of justification in Calvin and the Reformed Church.; 7. The doctrine of justification in the Council of Trent and the Catholic Counter-Reformation.; 8. The doctrine of justification in Barth; 9. The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification; 10. Tom Wright and the New Perspective.; 11. Re-reading the Pauline texts. Conclusion. A doctrine of justification today.

‘Alan Spence has written a characteristically clear, carefully plotted, and even-handed overview of some of the major developments and debates on the doctrine of Justification. This is no mean achievement, given the importance and complexity of that debate, and the passions it has excited. The result is a volume that will commend itself to a wide range of readers.' - Oliver Crisp, Fuller Seminary, USA