Review Article: The Deliverance of God

Abstract

Douglas Campbell’s recent work The Deliverance of God represents a major rereading of Paul’s letter to the Romans, especially its early chapters, and through this offers a broader reinterpretation of Pauline soteriology, deliberately set in dialogue with theological traditions, particularly those founded on forensic understandings of atonement. This article evaluates the key elements of Campbell’s argument, particularly (1) his depiction of Jewish soteriology (2) his suggestion that much of Rom. 1.18–3.20 utilizes the rhetorical device of ‘speech-in-character’, and therefore represents the opinion of Paul’s opponent rather than that of the apostle himself, and (3) his treatment of historical theology. The Deliverance of God is found to be stimulating and provocative at points, and to be a significant contribution to the field, but unconvincing in its major moves.