Tabletalk Magazine, February 2010: What N. T. Wright Really Said

by Ligonier Ministries

Publisher:

Ligonier Ministries

, 2010

Overview

The February 2010 issue of Tabletalk looks at the current controversy surrounding N.T. Wright and the doctrine of justification. Contributors include R.C. Sproul along with D.A. Carson, Sinclair Ferguson, J.V. Fesko, Paul Helm, Michael Horton, Albert Mohler, John Piper, and Cornelis Venema, among others. Tabletalk features articles about topics central to the Christian faith and daily, in-depth Bible studies with featured columns by contributors such as John Sartelle and R.C. Sproul Jr.

The 2010 Bible studies engage in a thematic and biblical-theological study of the Old Testament, looking at various characters, events, practices, and other elements of old covenant religion that are fulfilled in the new covenant.

Contents

• "Tilting at Scarecrows" by R. C. Sproul
• "Rethinking the Gospel?" by R. Albert Mohler Jr.
• "A Future Justification Based Upon Works?" by Cornelis P. Venema
• "'Works of the Law' in Paul" by J. V. Fesko
• "What Does Justification Have to do with the Gospel?" by Sinclair B. Ferguson
• "Justification and Ecumenism" by Micahel Horton
• "Has the Church Misunderstood Justification?" by Guy Prentiss Waters
• "A New Luther?" by Derek W. H. Thomas
• "Wright is Wrong on Imputation" by Thomas R. Schreiner
• "'Faith' and 'Faithfulness'" by D. A. Carson
• "The 'Nonsense' of Justifying the Ungodly" by John Piper
• "Christ, Our Righteousness" by Roger Nicole
• "Salvation and the Life After Life" by Paul Helm
• "The New Covenant" by Iain D. Campbell
• "God Speaks Through His Son" by Ken Jones
• "The Church as God's Prophets" by Kim Riddlebarger
• "Christ, The Wisdom of God" by John P. Sartelle

Top Highlights

“Wright argues that the remaking of creation is at the center of the gospel. ‘New creation’ is the culmination of ‘God’s project’ and the gospel is the declaration of this promise, revealed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Evangelism is to be reconceived as the announcement of God’s kingdom and the promise of new creation. Any claim ‘that the main or central thing that has happened is that the new Christian has entered into a private relationship with God or with Jesus’ is to be avoided.” (Page 7)

“Once again, however, Wright moves from a legitimate criticism to a deliberate reconstruction of the gospel. While missing or minimizing the meaning of the gospel for creation is an error, the fact remains that the Bible reveals the redemptive purpose of God to focus primarily and pervasively upon the salvation of sinners.” (Page 7)

“The essence of the righteousness of God is His unwavering faithfulness to uphold the glory of His name. And human righteousness is the same: the unwavering faithfulness to uphold the glory of God.” (Page 30)

“the problem is not so much with what Wright proposes to add to our understanding, but what he wants to take away.” (Page 7)

“In the statement ‘when the gospel is proclaimed, people come to faith and so are regarded by God as members of his people,’ ‘justification’ itself is being radically redefined. Here it no longer means ‘counted righteous in God’s sight although a guilty sinner in oneself.’ It means ‘being regarded as members of His people.’ Justification no longer belongs to the definition of the gospel as such, to pardon and acceptance, but refers to membership in the covenant community.” (Page 15)

Praise for the Print Edition

Tabletalk has been a key ingredient in the diet of Christians conscious of their spiritual vitality.

—Michael S. Horton

Month by month, Tabletalk represents an oasis in a desert of false spirituality, mindless Christianity, and vapid conviction. Tabletalk represents theological rigor, biblical Christianity, and authentic Christian devotion. It is an antidote to the world of superficial Christianity. Read it and grow.

—R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

Tabletalk has been a wonderful resource in my own daily walk with the Lord.

—Ravi Zacharias

Product Details

• Title: Tabletalk Magazine, February 2010: What N. T. Wright Really Said
• Executive Editor: R. C. Sproul
• Editor: Burk Parsons
• Series: Tabletalk
• Publisher: Ligonier Ministries
• Publication Date: February 2010
• Pages: 83

About Ligonier Ministries

R. C. Sproul is founder and president of Ligonier Ministries and president of Ligonier Academy. He also servers as the senior pastor of Saint Andrew’s in Sanford, Fla., and he has written more than seventy books including The Holiness of God, The Intimage Marriage, Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, Following the Cross, and the R. C. Sproul Exposition Collection.

Burk Parsons serves as editor of Tabletalk and associate pastor of Saint Andrew’s in Sanford, Fla., and he is editor of the books Assured by God: Living in the Fullness of God’s Grace and John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology.