In my snail’s pace through Douglas Campbell’s The Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in Paul, I’ve gotten through his assessment of the problems with a traditional reading of Romans 1:16-17 and 3:21-26 (pp. 377-81).
Although this was a short section, it was a good reminder that (a) there are some serious problems with the way Romans 1:16-17 is traditionally read; and (b) Campbell has some important alternatives to offer that should help shape the way we read Romans.
Of course, at this point in the book he’s simply assessing the weaknesses of the traditional position, but knowing where he’s going, at least in part, I’m once again eager for him to get there.
The most significant problem that Campbell highlights is this: whereas the traditional reading has interpreted human faith as the referent in 1:17, “…revealed from faith to faith,” this seems quite impossible. “By faith” here is not an indication of how we’re saved, but how God’s own righteousness is revealed. Something else must be in view.
And, whatever this “something else” is, it must make sense when read with Habakkuk 2:4, “The just shall live from faith.” I anticipate being quite happy with where this goes…
