Understanding the New Perspective on Paul

The new perspective on Paul questions traditional evangelical interpretations of key doctrines such as justification by faith. This perspective emerged from scholars in the 1960s and 70s who viewed Second Temple Judaism as not fundamentally merit-based, claiming that Jewish belief during this time included an understanding of God's grace for salvation. Proponents argue that Paul’s teachings were not significantly different from those of Second Temple Judaism, emphasizing that the primary division lies in the person of Christ rather than differences in soteriology. Critics, however, contend that this perspective undermines the traditional understanding of Paul's writings regarding grace and the human condition.