Rating: 
Summary: The end of Protestantism
Review: There are multiple ironies at work here. First, it is ironic that such a slight book could signal the end of Protestantism. But that is what this thin volume does. How? By definitely demonstrating that the heart of Protestantism--the Reformation understanding of Justification as primarily the imputation of Christ's righteousness--is not really what St. Paul was getting at. Honest Protestants like Alister McGrath have admitted as much, while still maintaining the "usefulness" of the Reformed understanding of Justification for soteriological purposes (a position that is absurd on its face). By the way, it does no good trying to make Wright's critique go away by labeling it Covenantal Nomism, identifying it with Sanders and Dunn's New Perspective, or by simply reissuing warmed-over Protestant classics. For the Protestant project to continue, Wright must be answered. And so far, he hasn't been. Second, it is ironic, but perfectly understandable, that the deconstruction of the Protestant project comes from within Protestantism itself--and from the conservative not the liberal wing, at that. How does this work? Well, Protestantism arose as a critique of abuses in the Catholic Church. If it is to be true to itself and its highest aspirations, it must be honest and open enough to investigate anything of substance that presents itself to its purview. As N. T. Wright has unfolded the aims of Jesus in his magisterial projected six-volume undertaking, Christian Origins and the Question of God, the first three of which are out, certain questions have presented themselves for investigation, one of which is the relation of Jesus to the movement (and esp. to St. Paul, as the definitive spokesman for that movement) that arose after his death and resurrection. That he has done both in this book and in The Climax of the Covenant. Interestingly, Wright was a St. Paul scholar before he began Christian Origins, having written The Climax of the Covenant before writing The New Testament and the People of God (vol. I of Christian Origins). If the Wright project succeeds, that is, if Protestantism cannot adequately answer the issues he raises, it will mean, I believe, the end of Protestantism. Conservative evangelical Protestantism will find itself in a position of having to thematize its soteriological understandings in accordance with the new paradigm, which sees Justification not primarily as the imputation of Christ's righteousness, but as the believer's entrance into and faithfulness to the Covenant community that Jesus established. That raises a whole series of further relevant questions, such as, What is this Covenant community? Where can it be found? What constitutes entering it? What constitutes faithfulness to it? How does the gospel endure in time? Once these questions are carefully addressed, it will be seen that this Covenant community has existed continually and continuously from the first century A.D. through today, that it is, in fact, the Catholic Church. The reason for being a Protestant--that is, one who protests against the Catholic Church--will have ceased to exist. Perceptive Protestants, especially those of a strict Reformed orientation, have recognized the threat that Wright poses to their position, accurately understanding that acceptance of the Wright project entails the collapse of the cornerstone of Reformation thought, and thus the end of Protestantism itself. For example, you can see this hinted at in their reviews posted here and on other Amazon pages featuring books by Wright. And they are correct. For me personally, the writings of N. T. Wright have been a significant (though by no means the only) factor of a move from the conservative evangelical camp to the Catholic Church, where this summer I will be entering the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) class at our local Catholic parish, St. Peter Church of Monument, Colorado. Be that as it may, What St. Paul Really Said is among the most important works on the Christian faith ever written (along with Climax of the Covenant and the Christian Origins volumes). Essential reading for anyone seriously interested in what has divided the Church in the West for 500 years, as well as a possible basis for ending that divide.
Rating: 
Summary: Not his best
Review: While I appreciate the polemic against Wilson's claim that Paul and not Jesus founded Christianity, I found Wright's redefinition of "righteousness" unconvincing. Perhaps he will more adequately explore this idea in one of his later volumes of Christian Origins.
Rating: 
Summary: Dangerous
Review: While I appreciate Wright's defense of Paul as a faithful expositor of the teaching's of Christ, his book, as with all Covenantal Nominism undermines the gospel of our Lord. Justification is indeed about how one is saved, not merely who is included in the covenant. While Wright brings helpful insight into the mind of a 1st century Jewish convert, he overstates his case by attacking the orthodox and historic Christian understanding of justification by faith apart from works. Serious consideration of Romans 5 is not given in this book, and the Lutheran/Reformed/Evangelical understanding of justification as the foresnic imputation of Christ's righteousness to undeserving sinners is scoffed at as unscholarly. But nothing could be further from the truth. Those who do get this book, I must recommend you also purchase "Counted Righteous in Christ" by John Piper, and exegetical defense of the orthodox understanding of justification.
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