The Righteous Judgment of God: Aspects of Judgment in Paul’s Letters

This book seeks to fill a gap on the important topic of God’s judgment. It is written for Christians who desire to have a biblical worldview that helps them to live faithfully for Jesus Christ. It investigates what the apostle Paul has to say in his letters about God’s judgment. The worldview that emerges is one that must not be ignored: of judgment as fundamental to our human life as Adam’s descendants, of God’s judgment at work in the world today, and of the final judgment as the certain future for every person. At the center is the decisive judgment of our sin in Christ at the cross, which is God’s answer to our judgment problem. For each of these four aspects of judgment, key questions are considered, with the central question being, ＂＂How do we live in the light of this truth?＂＂ ＂＂Judgment makes us feel uncomfortable. Perhaps this is why the subject of divine judgment is receiving less attention today. It certainly fits with the tolerance and relativism of the post-modern world in which we live. John Coulson longs to see this trend reversed and does a fine job of redressing the imbalance by addressing aspects of divine judgment in Paul.＂＂ --Alan Stanley, Director of Post-Graduate Studies and Lecturer in New Testament and Theology, Brisbane School of Theology ＂＂In this lucid, well-written, and deeply pastoral book informed by much scholarly work, Coulson argues that God’s judgment is a fundamental presupposition of Paul’s theology. Coulson shows that our understanding of God’s grace and of salvation itself will be impoverished if we do not fully grasp what Paul says about God’s judgment. This book will greatly help us to further comprehend the significance of these very important subjects!＂＂ --Paul Trebilco, Professor of New Testament Studies, Department of Theology and Religion, University of Otago, New Zealand ＂＂This is a book with an urgent message, written out of a burden for the recovery of neglected, foundational biblical truths. It represents a clarion call to readers to grapple with Paul’s teaching on God’s judgment of evil and human rebellion. Coulson argues cogently that we will not make sense of our present experience or future destiny, nor plumb the depth’s of God’s grace, apart from facing this multifaceted reality.＂＂ --Richard J. Gibson, Principal, Brisbane School of Theology ＂＂The book addresses the serious imbalance in much Christian teaching, preaching, and witness on judgment and salvation. Coulson’s pauses for thought throughout this book are always helpful challenges. I know of no other work in this area that has produced such an easy read and enormous turnaround for our day and generation.＂＂ --Bruce Winter, Senior Research Fellow in Ancient History, Macquarie University; Visiting Fellow, St Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge John R. Coulson is Deputy Principal and Lecturer in Bible at Brisbane School of Theology in Australia. He has been lecturing in biblical studies since 1997.

John R. Coulson is Deputy Principal and Lecturer in Bible at Brisbane School of Theology in Australia. He has been lecturing in biblical studies since 1997.