JAMES D.G. DUNN AND THE SOCIAL FUNCTION OF THE LAW

by

Joseph C. Ho

An Integrative Thesis

Submitted to the faculty

Of Reformed Theological Seminary

in fulfillment of the requirements

for the degree of

Master of Arts (Religion)

June 2009

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Accepted:

Thesis Advisor: _____________________________________________

Rev. William B. Barcley, Ph.D.

RTS/Virtual President: _________________________________________

Andrew J. Peterson, Ph.D.

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ABSTRACT

James D.G. Dunn and the Social Function of the Law

Joesph C. Ho

The New Perspective on Paul represents one of the sharpest challenges to

traditional Protestant readings of Paul. It also articulates one of the clearest Pauline

theological responses to racial and ethnic divisions. A key New Perspective scholar, James

D.G. Dunn, believes that Paul, when arguing against works of the law, was specifically

advocating for a salvation that transcended ethnic boundaries and against a salvation bounded

by Jewish culture. This social function of the law, he contends, was at issue in both of

Pauls extended expositions of justification by faith, namely, Galatians 2-3 and Romans 2-3.

While erring on some details, Dunn makes a compelling case that Galatians 2-3 more directly

represents an argument against ethnic assimilation than against earning salvation. Similarly,

he builds a generally plausible case that Romans 2-3 was composed to undermine Jewish

superiority in particular, and not primarily to establish universal human sinfulness in general.

Understood accurately, and with a few modifications, Dunns social function reading is a

valid and important perspective on Pauls theology of the law. Such a perspective can and

should offer necessary insights that are complementary and not contradictory to traditional

understandings of the law and legalism.

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For Kaylee, Daniel, and Christopher,

That you might grow up seeing and being witnesses to the many-colored wisdom of God

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CONTENTS

AACCKKNNOOWWLLEEDDGGMMEENNTTSS .............................................................................................................................................................................................. vviiiiii

CCHHAAPPTTEERR

11.. IINNTTRROODDUUCCTTIIOONN ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 22

22.. LLIITTEERRAATTUURREE RREEVVIIEEWW .................................................................................................................................................................. 99

33.. TTHHEE CCRRUUXX OOFF TTHHEE CCOONNFFLLIICCTT:: HHIISSTTOORRIICCAALL DDEEVVEELLOOPPMMEENNTT OOFF

TTHHEE NNEEWW PPEERRSSPPEECCTTIIVVEE CCOONNTTRROOVVEERRSSYY .......................................................................................... 1166

LLuutthheerr,, JJuussttiiffiiccaattiioonn,, aanndd tthhee LLaaww...................................................................................................................... 1166

EE..PP.. SSaannddeerrss aanndd tthhee NNeeww PPeerrssppeeccttiivvee oonn PPaauull ...................................................................... 1199

WWrreeddee aanndd PPaauullss PPoolleemmiiccaall DDooccttrriinnee.................................................................................. 2200

BBuullttmmaannnn,, JJeewwiisshh LLeeggaalliissmm,, aanndd HHuummaanniittyyss UUnniivveerrssaall PPrroobblleemm .. 2211

SStteennddaahhll aanndd LLuutthheerrss IInnttrroossppeeccttiivvee CCoonnsscciieennccee ........................................................ 2233

SSaannddeerrss aanndd PPaalleessttiinniiaann JJuuddaaiissmm ........................................................................................................ 2255

JJaammeess DD..GG.. DDuunnnn aanndd tthhee SSoocciiaall FFuunnccttiioonn ooff tthhee LLaaww ...................................................... 2288

SSuummmmaarryy:: LLiinneess DDrraawwnn iinn tthhee SSaanndd .............................................................................................................. 3333

44.. DDUUNNNNSS ""SSOOCCIIAALL FFUUNNCCTTIIOONN OOFF TTHHEE LLAAWW IINN GGAALLAATTIIAANNSS 22::115533::2299

AANNDD RROOMMAANNSS 22::117733::3311..........3344

PPaarrtt 11.. GGaallaattiiaannss 22::115533::2299:: AArrgguummeenntt aaggaaiinnsstt LLaaww aass

BBoouunnddaarryy oorr aass SSttaannddaarrdd??............................................................................................................................................ 3355

22::11551166:: WWhhaatt aarree WWoorrkkss ooff tthhee LLaaww?? .............................................................................. 3366

22::11772200:: AArree JJeeww//GGeennttiillee DDiissttiinnccttiioonnss iinn VViieeww?? ...................................................... 3399

33::11001144:: WWhhyy tthhee CCuurrssee??................................................................................................................................ 4433

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33::11992299:: WWhhyy tthhee LLaaww??.................................................................................................................................... 4488

SSuummmmaarryy .................................................................................................................................................................................. 5500

PPaarrtt 22.. RRoommaannss 22::117733::3311:: AArrgguummeenntt AAggaaiinnsstt SSttaattuuss oorr AAcchhiieevveemmeenntt??.............. 5522

22::11772244:: WWhhaatt iiss tthhee SSoouurrccee ooff tthhee BBooaasstt?? .......................................................................... 5555

22::225533::11:: WWhhyy BBrriinngg UUpp CCiirrccuummcciissiioonn?? ................................................................................ 5588

33::991199:: JJeewwiisshh AAuuddiieennccee oorr GGeenneerraall AAuuddiieennccee?? ........................................................ 6611

33::22002211:: WWhhaatt aarree WWoorrkkss ooff tthhee LLaaww?? .............................................................................. 6622

33::22772299:: NNaattiioonnaalliissttiicc BBooaasstt oorr LLeeggaalliissttiicc BBooaasstt?? .................................................... 6655

SSuummmmaarryy .................................................................................................................................................................................. 7700

55.. TTHHEEOOLLOOGGIICCAALL AANNAALLYYSSIISS OOFF DDUUNNNN''SS ""SSOOCCIIAALL FFUUNNCCTTIIOONN

OOFF TTHHEE LLAAWW""......7711

PPaarrtt 11.. EEvvaalluuaattiioonn ooff DDuunnnnss SSoocciiaall FFuunnccttiioonn rreeaaddiinngg ooff tthhee llaaww ............ 7722

VVaalliidd CCrriittiiqquueess ooff DDuunnnn.................................................................................................................................. 7722

DDeeffiinniinngg WWoorrkkss ooff tthhee LLaaww................................................................................................ 7733

MMoorraall CCoonntteenntt iinn tthhee NNaattiioonnaall BBooaasstt .......................................................................... 7744

CCoonnttiinnuuiittyy bbeettwweeeenn JJuuddaaiissmm aanndd PPaauulliinnee CChhrriissttiiaanniittyy .................... 7766

IInnvvaalliidd CCrriittiiqquueess ooff DDuunnnn .............................................................................................................................. 7788