Justification By Faith 1517–2017 What Has Changed? -- By: Anthony N. S. Lane
Journal: Tyndale Bulletin
Volume: TYNBUL 69:2 (NA 2018)
Article: Justification By Faith 1517–2017 What Has Changed?
Author: Anthony N. S. Lane
TynBull 69:2 (2018) p. 283
Justification By Faith 1517–2017
What Has Changed?1
Summary
Justification was a key issue at the Reformation, and Protestants and Catholics have polarised over it. There was a brief moment of agreement at the Regensburg Colloquy in 1541, but this was swept away by the Council of Trent, whose Decree on Justification (1547) took care to demarcate itself from Protestantism. Hans Küng initiated a new approach, seeking points of agreement rather than difference. That approach eventually gave birth to the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (1999). This does not pretend that no differences remain but claims that they are acceptable. It is fruitful to consider the differing concerns of each side.
The focus of this paper is what may or may not have changed in Protestant–Catholic relations on justification, not the changing picture of modern biblical studies. In particular, I will not be looking at the New Perspectives (plural) on Paul nor at John Barclay’s recent magnum (if not maximum) opus.2
1. Justification In The Reformation
The year 2017 was, of course, the 500th anniversary of Luther’s posting of the 95 Theses, traditionally regarded as the beginning of the Reformation. On 31 October 1517 he posted the theses to the Archbishop of Mainz and may or may not have nailed them to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. The theses dealt primarily with the
TynBull 69:2 (2018) p. 284
issues of indulgences and Purgatory. There was no mention of the doctrine of justification. Subsequently, of course, justification became a big issue and justification by faith alone is one of the great slogans of the Reformation. But the Protestant doctrine of justification in its classical form, as expounded by Melanchthon (Lutheran) and Calvin (Reformed), for example, did not emerge until the 1520s.3
Before going further, I should note a significant imbalance when it comes to debates on justification. As already stated, justification is a very important doctrine for most Protestants, especially confessional Protestants and Evangelicals. By contrast, it is a slight exaggeration to say that it is of interest to Roman Catholics only when they are engaged in dialogue with Protestants. To illustrate this claim, I will refer to two documents. At the Council of Trent the leaders of the council reported to Rome that ‘the significance of this Council in the theological sphere lies chiefly in the article on justification, in fac...
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