Ep. #184 – “Iustificare” in the Early Church w/ Dr. Matthew J. Thomas

Summary

Was justification understood as an exclusively legal term up until Augustine’s time? Did St. Augustine mistakenly translate justification because he did not know Greek? Is there evidence in the early Church that justification can be understood in transformational as well as legally? Dr. Matthew J. Thomas joins us to discuss these topics and more.

Guest Bio

Dr. Matthew J. Thomas holds a DPhil in New Testament and  Patristics from the University of Oxford and has published extensively including his recent book, Paul’s “Works of the Law” in the Perspective of Second Century Reception, which received the Jesus Creed “Book of the Year” Award.  He has published numerous articles in publications such as New Testament Studies, Studia Patristica, and Nova et Vetera. He and his wife Leeanne wrote the introduction and commentary for 1 and 2  Maccabees in the Ignatius Study Bible, which is soon to be released. His book for the Popular Patristic Series is forthcoming, focusing on Clement of Rome.

Resources

Righteous-ed by Faith: Justification as Factitive in the Pre-Augustinian Tradition (Journal Article) by Dr. Matthew Thomas

Paul’s “Works of the Law” in the Perspective of Second Century Reception by Dr. Matthew J. Thomas

Dr. Matthew J. Thomas (faculty website)

Dr. Matthew J. Thomas’s Academia.edu Page

Paul and the Power of Grace by John M. G. Barclay

The Letter to the Romans by William Barclay

Iustitia Dei: A History of the Christian Doctrine of Justification by Allister McGrath

Related Episodes

Ep. #130 – A Lutheran’s Case for Catholicism w/ Dr. Robert Koons

Ep. #140 – A Biblical Case for the Papacy w/ Suan Sonna

Ep. #141 – St. Paul and “Works of the law” w/ Dr. Matthew J. Thomas