This article contrasts a “traditional” exegesis of Romans 4:1—8 with two prominent “New Perspective” interpretations of the passage. As representatives of the latter paradigm, James D. G. Dunn and N. T. Wright offer explanations of the text which diverge from its conventional reading due to their redefinition of “justification” as the inclusion of Gentiles within the covenant people and “works of the law” as those aspects of Torah observance that functioned in separating Jews from Gentiles. However, it is argued that understanding “justification” as acquittal by God and “works of the law” as general Torah observance leads to a more straightforward interpretation of Paul’s metaphor of worker and wages as well as his use of Abraham and David as types.
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