Richard Gaffin, Jr., the New Perspective on Paul, and Union with Christ

Dr. Richard Gaffin, Jr.

From this perceptive, the antithesis between law and gospel is not an end in itself.  It is not a theological ultimate.  Rather, that antithesis enters not by virtue of creation but as a consequence of sin, and the gospel functions for its overcoming. The gospel is to the end of removing an absolute law-gospel antithesis in the life of the believer [emphasis Cunha].  (38)  [Direct quote from Richard Gaffin's book, By Faith, Not By Sight].

Where there is smoke there is fire. Camden Bucey and Gaffin both admit that his work has been accused of the NPP view. And Gaffin admits that he was influenced by N. T. Wright and that he wrote his book in response to the New Perspective on Paul. Further, in this discussion, both Bucey and Gaffin downplay justification by faith and emphasize union with Christ. Justification by faith, according to Gaffin, is a redundancy. They both dance all around to explain away Gaffin's errors. But also in the talk, Gaffin mentions that John Murray was his instructor and Murray was a supporter of Norman Shepherd. What Gaffin does not mention in the discussion is that Norman Shepherd was his supervisor when he did his Ph. D. at Westminster Seminary.

I got this audio from the Reformed Forum, hosted by Camden Bucey.  Click here to listen.  To see the original webpage click here.

For an opposing opinion, you can click here to read Dr. Paul Elliott's criticism of Gaffin's views on Paul:  Richard Gaffin's New Perspective on Paul.  Also, there is a book by Stephen Cunha called, The Emperor Has No Clothes:  Richard B. Gaffin, Jr.'s Doctrine of Justification.  And the God's Hammer blog has articles on Gaffin's departure from confessional orthodoxy as well:  Richard Gaffin, Jr.:  Missing the Mark.   Note also that Gaffin is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.