Journal of Biblical Literature
"Gathercole has offered a stimulating study that makes an important contribution to an ongoing debate that may perhaps, with the aid of commendable efforts like his own, enter into new and more fruitful stages of discussion."
Evangelical Quarterly
"The volume is important for our understanding of the theology of early Judaism, for Pauline exegesis and theology and for New Testament theology in general. . . . Well written and persuasive."
Bibliotheca Sacra
"Lucid, evenhanded, and helpful for any student of Jewish and Pauline soteriology."
Peter Stuhlmacher
"Simon Gathercole's new book is well worth reading. A solid piece of work, it enriches Pauline scholarship in at least three ways. First, the book offers the first monographic investigation of Paul's use of kauchēsis/kauchasthai ('boasting') in Romans 1–5 in more than three decades, thereby filling a real gap in the research of the opening chapters of Romans. Second, by taking issue in a fair-minded way with the chief representatives of the 'New Perspective' on Paul (E. P. Sanders, James D. G. Dunn, and N. T. Wright), Gathercole demonstrates that already before the rabbis, a long succession of early Jewish authors advocated a soteriology resting on two principles — the principle of election and redemption on the one hand, and the principle of recognizing righteous deeds according to the measure of the law on the other. Paul takes critical issue with this view. Finally, Gathercole's book stimulates one to rethink , on the basis of the original texts, the anthropological bases of the Pauline and early Jewish expectations of salvation and the question of the assurance of salvation."
Seyoon Kim
"Against E. P. Sanders's notion of 'covenantal nomism,' Simon Gathercole clearly demonstrates from various Jewish sources that many Jews of the New Testament period thought that eschatological salvation depended on obedience to the Torah as well as on God's election. Then, against James D. G. Dunn's and N. T. Wright's notion of 'national righteousness,' Gathercole convincingly demonstrates that in Romans 1–5 Paul argues for justification of the ungodly by faith in contrast to the Jewish notion of justification on the basis of obedience to the Torah. The result is an important book marked by the author's firm grounding in the sources, convincing exegesis, and clear argumentation. Gathercole thus drives a big nail into the coffin of the 'New Perspective' on Paul."
George J. Brooke
"In this important book Simon Gathercole breaks free from the overly polarized discussion of the relative positions of grace and works in the writings of early Judaism, including the New Testament. By placing consideration of final judgment alongside the value of what Jews inherited from the past and experienced in the present, he presents a reading of the Jewish texts that form the matrix of Paul's concerns in a more balanced and nuanced form than is common in the 'New Perspective' on Paul. Sweeping generalizations are avoided through the frequent citation of primary sources, and a wealth of scholarship is presented in a highly readable manner. This work will become compulsory reading for all involved in reconstructing the variegated Judaism of the turn of the era."
John M. G. Barclay
"This is a well-researched and highly significant book that will reignite many debates about Paul and Judaism. Correcting several one-sided features of the 'New Perspective,' Simon Gathercole also avoids the mistakes in traditional approaches to this topic; indeed, he takes the debate forward into new terrain in which Paul's theology regains its capacity to startle and surprise. This is a very important contribution to the new wave of 'post-Sanders' scholarship. "
