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The Justification Reader
The Justification Reader sets out the classic Christian teaching of "salvation by grace through faith." Distinguished theologian Thomas C. Oden, well known for retrieving the riches of church tradition, here gathers together the early Christian sources on the theme of justification. Ranging broadly through Christian history and across all branches of the church, Oden cites the writings of such major figures as Athanasius, Basil, Gregory Nazianzus, and John Chrysostom in the East and Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, and Gregory the Great in the West. Although Oden presents all the relevant historical texts on justification, the book also includes his own insightful explication of the doctrine. His work shows that what these church fathers teach on justification was restated almost verbatim by the sixteenth-century Reformers and can still be confessed in good conscience by Christians from every communion. Thus this volume both provides a compendium of a central belief of the faith and demonstrates its ecumenical potential. The first volume in a new series, this book will be an important sourcebook for readers from every tradition.
- GenresTheologyChurch History
182 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2002
About the author
Thomas C. Oden
162 books82 followersThomas C. Oden was Henry Anson Buttz Professor of Theology and Ethics at Drew University in New Jersey from 1980 until his retirement in 2004. He remained faculty emeritus until his death. He was the general editor of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture and the Ancient Christian Doctrine series as well as the author of Classic Christianity, a revision of his three-volume systematic theology.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 2, 2015
This review originally appeared on my blog along with several other book reviews related to the apostle Paul and the doctrine of justification: https://lightenough.wordpress.com/201...
This is a “reader” – meaning you read many excerpts from the writing of others – which in this case is primarily the writings of early church Fathers (the first 500 years of the church) but the Reformers as well. Oden, of course, interacts with the excerpts. Justification was not expounded upon in detail in the early church, primarily because there was no need to do so. (Other Christological and Trinitarian controversies were pressing.) However, that does not mean the doctrine of justification was not addressed. Apparently there is a perspective that after the apostle Paul’s emphasis on justification in the New Testament, the great doctrine fell silent or disappeared until is was re-discovered in the Reformation. Oden’s argument or point in this book is to demonstrate that the doctrine was indeed held and believed in the opening 500 years of the church.
Partly he is trying to address a problem with Protestant pride – and partly to create unity among the 3 branches of Christendom. All branches can look to the early church, and not be fixated on 16th century polemics. Oden states his thesis is as follows: “I am contrasting the unity of the first five centuries on justification teaching with the disunity of the last five centuries on justification teaching.” You might think this book sounds dull, but I appreciated many straight-forward statements on justification and our salvation. I’ll close this post with a sampling:
On why the doctrine of justification is a blessing: “Your life is not trapped in the deceit that comes from defensive self-justification.”
Why do we resist the good news of justification? “The message of justification is difficult to accept because it seems to good to be true. It says: stop trying to justify yourself. You do not need to. There is no way to buy or deserve God’s love or acceptance. You are already being offered God’s love on the cross without having to jump hoops or pass tests.”
“Justification is best understood in direct contrast with condemnation. Those justified are not condemned. Those not justified are condemned. There is no middle way (Matt 12:37), no way to stand as partly justified. To justify is to liberate totally and once for all the offender…”
“But how can God remain holy if sin is easily dismissed? That is just the point: it is not an easy dismissal. It required a cross, a death, a burial. The cross is a sacrificial offering that substitutes Christ’s goodness for our sin.”
This is a “reader” – meaning you read many excerpts from the writing of others – which in this case is primarily the writings of early church Fathers (the first 500 years of the church) but the Reformers as well. Oden, of course, interacts with the excerpts. Justification was not expounded upon in detail in the early church, primarily because there was no need to do so. (Other Christological and Trinitarian controversies were pressing.) However, that does not mean the doctrine of justification was not addressed. Apparently there is a perspective that after the apostle Paul’s emphasis on justification in the New Testament, the great doctrine fell silent or disappeared until is was re-discovered in the Reformation. Oden’s argument or point in this book is to demonstrate that the doctrine was indeed held and believed in the opening 500 years of the church.
Partly he is trying to address a problem with Protestant pride – and partly to create unity among the 3 branches of Christendom. All branches can look to the early church, and not be fixated on 16th century polemics. Oden states his thesis is as follows: “I am contrasting the unity of the first five centuries on justification teaching with the disunity of the last five centuries on justification teaching.” You might think this book sounds dull, but I appreciated many straight-forward statements on justification and our salvation. I’ll close this post with a sampling:
On why the doctrine of justification is a blessing: “Your life is not trapped in the deceit that comes from defensive self-justification.”
Why do we resist the good news of justification? “The message of justification is difficult to accept because it seems to good to be true. It says: stop trying to justify yourself. You do not need to. There is no way to buy or deserve God’s love or acceptance. You are already being offered God’s love on the cross without having to jump hoops or pass tests.”
“Justification is best understood in direct contrast with condemnation. Those justified are not condemned. Those not justified are condemned. There is no middle way (Matt 12:37), no way to stand as partly justified. To justify is to liberate totally and once for all the offender…”
“But how can God remain holy if sin is easily dismissed? That is just the point: it is not an easy dismissal. It required a cross, a death, a burial. The cross is a sacrificial offering that substitutes Christ’s goodness for our sin.”
March 26, 2022
This book is a good lay-level primer on the doctrine of justification.
Though Oden’s ecumenical efforts are laudable, he fails to defend the thesis of this book. There are times he says “justification by grace through faith” — no problem! However, on multiple different occasions he says “faith alone” or appeals to “sola fide” when no doctrinally-sound Catholic would follow him into those waters.
His selection of patristic texts was helpful, though the brevity of many of the quotes did not help his efforts.
Ultimately, I enjoyed this read, but it cannot rise above the level of three stars, for me, due to how insufficient Oden’s handling of his own thesis was.
Though Oden’s ecumenical efforts are laudable, he fails to defend the thesis of this book. There are times he says “justification by grace through faith” — no problem! However, on multiple different occasions he says “faith alone” or appeals to “sola fide” when no doctrinally-sound Catholic would follow him into those waters.
His selection of patristic texts was helpful, though the brevity of many of the quotes did not help his efforts.
Ultimately, I enjoyed this read, but it cannot rise above the level of three stars, for me, due to how insufficient Oden’s handling of his own thesis was.
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July 28, 2021Oden draws from the early church fathers to show that the belief in salvation by grace through faith existed in the early church. He contends that the views of the 16th-century Protestant Reformers are evidenced in the writings of fathers like John Chrysostom, Augustine, and Ambrosiater.
November 25, 2022
Bof.
Son intérêt réside surtout dans la traduction inédite de portions des pères inaccessibles autrement.
Son intérêt réside surtout dans la traduction inédite de portions des pères inaccessibles autrement.
December 7, 2022
Handholding + revisionism = ecumenism
February 22, 2017
A wonderful book showing the patristic grasp of biblical soteriology. Oden's case would be strengthened if he dealt with passages from the church fathers that are interpreted by some to indicate otherwise.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews