The New Perspective on Paul: an Appraisal Two Decades On

The so-called New Perspective on Paul (NPP) has been likened to a Copernican revolution. Whether one is inclined to defend or assail it, the fact remains that Pauline studies will never be the same again. Some may try to ignore it, but apparently it is not going away, at least not anytime soon. And while many may wish that it would go away, it is my impression that much of the controversy that has surrounded the NPP is rooted in a visceral reaction on the part of various theological traditions. If any proof is needed, one need only peruse the various web sites on which is posted some very “emphatic” material indeed. The purpose of this essay, then, is to attempt to clarify what the NPP is and what it isn’t, and then to ask what kind of a future it may expect. Before proceeding, two qualification are in order. (1) I say the “so-called” NPP for at least two reasons. One, the NPP is like the New Hermeneutic—it isn’t that new any more. That the “perspective” is not so “new” is confirmed by the fact that certain