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The Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in Paul
This book breaks a significant impasse in much Pauline interpretation today, pushing beyond both “Lutheran” and “New” perspectives on Paul to a noncontractual, “apocalyptic” reading of many of the apostle’s most famous -- and most troublesome -- texts.
In The Deliverance of God Douglas Campbell holds that the intrusion of an alien, essentially modern, and theologically unhealthy theoretical construct into the interpretation of Paul has produced an individualistic and contractual construct that shares more with modern political traditions than with either orthodox theology or Paul’s first-century world. In order to counteract that influence, Campbell argues that it needs to be isolated and brought to the foreground before the interpretation of Paul’s texts begins. When that is done, readings free from this intrusive paradigm become possible and surprising new interpretations unfold.
In The Deliverance of God Douglas Campbell holds that the intrusion of an alien, essentially modern, and theologically unhealthy theoretical construct into the interpretation of Paul has produced an individualistic and contractual construct that shares more with modern political traditions than with either orthodox theology or Paul’s first-century world. In order to counteract that influence, Campbell argues that it needs to be isolated and brought to the foreground before the interpretation of Paul’s texts begins. When that is done, readings free from this intrusive paradigm become possible and surprising new interpretations unfold.
1248 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2009
28 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Douglas A. Campbell
21 books27 followersDouglas A. Campbell is a professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School. His main research interest is the life and theology of the apostle Paul, with particular reference to an understanding of salvation informed by apocalyptic as against justification or salvation-history. However, he is interested in methodological contributions to Paul's analysis from any disciplinary angle, ancient or modern, whether Greco-Roman epistolary and rhetorical theory, or insights into human networking and conflict-resolution discovered by sociologists.
His writings command the respect of scholars worldwide, including Framing Paul: An Epistolary Biography and The Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in Paul.
His writings command the respect of scholars worldwide, including Framing Paul: An Epistolary Biography and The Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in Paul.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 20, 2011
This book will forever change how I read Paul, and most especially Romans. In this massive work, Campbell thoroughly oblitterates the theological presuppositions behind a traditional reading of Romans 1-4 and builds on contemporary Pauline scholarship to offer a fresh reading on this section of Paul's most comprehensive theological treatise. First, Campbell breaks down the predominant reading of Paul which has influenced "Justification Theory" (interestingly, he seems to trace this back more to Melanchton than Luther). Then, he closely exegetes this section of Romans (and later, other Pauline texts) to reveal that Paul's gospel is not one of "justification and then sanctification" as it has been traditionally read, but instead, Paul's good news is one of redemption and release from the world of sin into a new life of participation in Christ. To sum it up quite simply, Campbell attempts to show that Paul's gospel is sanctification. Justification and the tradionally conceived means to arrive at such a state are due to impositions of a later Western legal framework and a false attribution of many of the words in Romans 1-4 to Paul (when, in Campbell's opinion, he was really mimicking a false teacher whose "gospel" was also reaching the same cities to which Paul was writing).
Campbell accomplishes this with sound logic, a deep knowledge of ancient texts, and a masterful command of Greek. He perhaps is a little creative with his semantics at times, especially at junctures where tension is present in his reading. Also, I would like to see Campbell substantiate his claims with parallel readings from early church commentators and theologians. But in all, this is a book that is sure to change Pauline studies in the years to come.
In full disclosure, I am not an academic theologian or biblical scholar, but a pastor. I merely possess a year's worth of introductory Greek and passing knowledge of the ancient world in comparison with such scholars. Also, I am an alumnus of the institution where Dr. Campbell teaches (although I never took a course under him), so I do have a certain bias when approaching this book. For a reader of my level, this was a difficult read, but one that I feel was definitely worth it.
Campbell accomplishes this with sound logic, a deep knowledge of ancient texts, and a masterful command of Greek. He perhaps is a little creative with his semantics at times, especially at junctures where tension is present in his reading. Also, I would like to see Campbell substantiate his claims with parallel readings from early church commentators and theologians. But in all, this is a book that is sure to change Pauline studies in the years to come.
In full disclosure, I am not an academic theologian or biblical scholar, but a pastor. I merely possess a year's worth of introductory Greek and passing knowledge of the ancient world in comparison with such scholars. Also, I am an alumnus of the institution where Dr. Campbell teaches (although I never took a course under him), so I do have a certain bias when approaching this book. For a reader of my level, this was a difficult read, but one that I feel was definitely worth it.
March 14, 2012
This is a field defining book, and a MUST read for anyone who seeks to interpret Paul. Although Campbell could have used an editor with a more confident red pen, he produces a genuinely magisterial treatment of Paul. I don't agree with his reading at all, but this book is an example of every scholars dream: making and developing a committed and coherent argument that destabilizes the current regime.
His treatment of "Justification Theory" is spot on in many/most cases, particularly from a popular frame.
His treatment of "Justification Theory" is spot on in many/most cases, particularly from a popular frame.
July 2, 2022
GOAT'd. Don't ever read another book on Paul. This bad boy is all you need.
Read this during the summer of 2020 with some help from the homies Ethan and Cameron.
Read this during the summer of 2020 with some help from the homies Ethan and Cameron.
June 24, 2016
A fascinating book, one that is both provocative and infuriating - in the best possible way. I am not convinced by his thesis regarding his attribution of 1:18-3:20 to the "teacher," but I do think the questions about Justification Theory remain. In short, I agree with him about the problem, but don't find his solution to be helpful.
March 5, 2022
A massive, awe-inspiring, extraordinarily ambitious work of scholarship, The Deliverance of God proposes a surprisingly cogent and convincing alternate reading of Romans 1-4—an interpretation that alters almost everything about the way that we understand the text. Throughout the work, Douglas contends that the first four chapters of Romans serve as a conversation or a debate that Paul crafted between him and a false teacher who posed a threat to Paul’s ministry unto the Roman church—a teacher who taught a work’s based judgment and required strict Jewish law observance. The latter half of chapter 1 of Romans comes directly from the false teacher; chapter 2 serves as Paul’s way of poking holes in and pointing out inconsistencies in the teacher’s views; in chapter 3, Paul asks the false teacher questions about his gospel, and the teacher struggles to answer; in chapter 4, the teacher attempts to use Abraham’s testimony in the Torah to bolster his position—only for Paul to take the opportunity from him and utilize the figure of Abraham to his own purposes. By the end, the false teacher has been silenced.
The Deliverance of God makes far and away for the most sophisticated and challenging work of scholarship that I have ever read. Campbell often lists out Paul’s text in the Greek rather than the English, and he clearly expects the reader to already be quite familiar with many of the Greek words. He works through almost 2,000 iPhone-sized pages of background analysis before he even begins his exegesis. To be honest, I probably only understood about 70% of what Douglas was even trying to communicate—but I am proud of myself for understanding any of it and for sticking with it. Even during those points of the book when I had little clue what exactly Douglas was communicating, the Wannabe Theologian in me found that there nonetheless remained something quite edifying about tapping—even for a moment—into the mind of a true Bible scholar.
It would take far, far too long for me to attempt to write out all of my thoughts about the material presented in The Deliverance of God—or even most of my thoughts. But suffice it to say that, while I found Campbell’s theory about the false teacher extremely plausible (and perhaps even probable!), I was not nearly as convinced by his theology or his perception of Paul’s gospel in general. For instance, I am not quite convinced that Romans 3:21-26 does not in fact teach penal substitution—or justification theory, as Campbell labels it. Nor am I at all convinced that, for Paul, God was categorically never (at least partially) retributive in His just judgments. Furthermore, as a general critique of the work as a whole, I would have loved for Campbell to have provided some quotes from church fathers, verifying his interpretation. Having lived so shortly after the time of Paul’s writing, it would seem odd to me if none of them picked up on and wrote about the presence of the false teacher in the text.
At the end of the day, my theology stands miles apart from Campbell’s theology—but we both come from a similar framework in seeing God as essentially and inspiringly benevolent in all of His actions toward humanity. Whether one agrees with his ultimate conclusions or not, I would highly recommend The Deliverance of God as an insightful and mind-bending read to any Christian with an interest in theology.
The Deliverance of God makes far and away for the most sophisticated and challenging work of scholarship that I have ever read. Campbell often lists out Paul’s text in the Greek rather than the English, and he clearly expects the reader to already be quite familiar with many of the Greek words. He works through almost 2,000 iPhone-sized pages of background analysis before he even begins his exegesis. To be honest, I probably only understood about 70% of what Douglas was even trying to communicate—but I am proud of myself for understanding any of it and for sticking with it. Even during those points of the book when I had little clue what exactly Douglas was communicating, the Wannabe Theologian in me found that there nonetheless remained something quite edifying about tapping—even for a moment—into the mind of a true Bible scholar.
It would take far, far too long for me to attempt to write out all of my thoughts about the material presented in The Deliverance of God—or even most of my thoughts. But suffice it to say that, while I found Campbell’s theory about the false teacher extremely plausible (and perhaps even probable!), I was not nearly as convinced by his theology or his perception of Paul’s gospel in general. For instance, I am not quite convinced that Romans 3:21-26 does not in fact teach penal substitution—or justification theory, as Campbell labels it. Nor am I at all convinced that, for Paul, God was categorically never (at least partially) retributive in His just judgments. Furthermore, as a general critique of the work as a whole, I would have loved for Campbell to have provided some quotes from church fathers, verifying his interpretation. Having lived so shortly after the time of Paul’s writing, it would seem odd to me if none of them picked up on and wrote about the presence of the false teacher in the text.
At the end of the day, my theology stands miles apart from Campbell’s theology—but we both come from a similar framework in seeing God as essentially and inspiringly benevolent in all of His actions toward humanity. Whether one agrees with his ultimate conclusions or not, I would highly recommend The Deliverance of God as an insightful and mind-bending read to any Christian with an interest in theology.
March 18, 2019
This nearly 1200 page tome is an extraordinary work that single-handedly destroys both the "Old Perspective on Paul" and the "New Perspective on Paul" as, essentially, stuck within the same old frame, exposes that frame as being logically nonsense and deeply anti-Semitic, and then proposes a new way to read the epistle to the Romans. In short, Campbell proposes that much like in Paul's other writing, Romans is responding to criticisms of Paul's theology, in this case the document is written as an ancient dialog or debate. In Romans, Paul's universalist, unconditional gospel is being contrasted with that of an opponent who sees God as wrathful and judgmental and conditional in terms of grace. The bulk of the book is devoted to this reading, and he demonstrates that the dialog goes back and forth through chapters 1-4, with the heart of Paul's own gospel found in chapters 5-8.
January 17, 2021
Definitely 5 stars for content! Whether or not one agrees or disagrees with Campbell's conclusions, one must acknowledge the essentiality of this book. My reason for 4 stars is just that the book is arduous, it is thick, large, and overwhelming. It is my belief that every person who is seriously interested in theology must read this book in its entirety.
November 9, 2025
I definitely should have read the more accessible version. This was a lot to digest. It was great - especially the first half looking to undercut justification theory. But it got into the weeds really deep and fast.
January 3, 2022
Fascinating. I didn’t understand Paul before. I still don’t understand Paul, but now I don’t understand him iin a much more interesting way.
August 23, 2012
Great book! However, Campbell is very detailed and, thus the book is HUGE and must be read with a Greek dictionary close by.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews