Thanks Nate, I also ordered.

Thanks again to Gabriel and each of you who contributed to this thread. 

Gabriel, I was very happy to read evidence from the early fathers whose views parallel those of the reformers. 

Bob

Glad you made it under the wire Bob! If I’m not mistaken the promotion ends the 20th. The first chapter contains the paper Michael Horton just presented in Atlanta at the Evangelical Theological Society, where he interacted with both N. T. Wright and John Piper. Rev. Jason Stellman has posted a synopsis on his blog. Dr. Horton’s larger body of work on the subject is found in the third volume in his recent reformed dogmatics, Covenant and Salvation: Union with Christ.

I’m also appreciative of Gabriel’s work posting on Owen’s Doctrine of Justification by Faith. Dr. Owen’s polemics on this topic were directed mostly at Richard Baxter, although he also defended the Protestant doctrine against learned Jesuit scholars of his day. I just received and skimmed Carl Trueman’s historical work on Owen titled John Owen: Reformed Catholic, Renaissance Man, which provides great insights into the context of the debate.

God bless you Bob. Hope the book is edifying.

Nate

GABRIEL PROKSCH - 04 June 2010 09:53 AM

Justin Martyr:

He gave his Son a ransom for us; — the holy for transgressors; the innocent for the nocent; the just for the unjust; the incorruptible for the corrupt; the immortal for mortals. For what else could hide or cover our sins but his righteousness? In whom else could we wicked and ungodly ones be justified, or esteemed righteous, but in the Son of God alone? O sweet permutation, or change! O unsearchable work, or curious operation! O blessed beneficence, exceeding all expectations that the iniquity of many should be hid in one just one, and the righteousness of one should justify many transgressors.

This one is actually from the anonymous Letter to Diognetus. It can be found in the Baker Academic publication of the Apostolic Fathers. I’m sure you’re aware of this by now, but I just wanted to let people know where they can find it. It makes sense that 400 (a little less actually) years ago Owen would have considered this to be from Justin, since it was included in the codex containing Justin’s writings. Recent scholars have postulated Polycarp as the author, but no one knows for sure. David VanDrunen has also interacted with this letter in his work on Natural Law and the Two Kingdoms, which I highly recommend. Anyway, the letter is wonderful.

Nate

I’m about two thirds of the way through the Modern Reformation book Justified, and it is wonderful! The book would be worth it if only Ryan Glomsrud’s introduction and Mike Horton’s first essay were in it. The interview with Robert Sungenis is also a must-read for former Adventists (or currents, either way). I’ll try to post on it soon.

Nate