James D. G. Dunn (1939-2020) was a renowned British New Testament scholar and professor who made significant contributions to biblical studies, particularly through his involvement with the New Perspective on Paul (NPP). He taught at the University of Durham in England and authored many influential books and articles. While Dunn is respected in academic circles for his thorough scholarship, his teachings on the doctrine of justification and his reinterpretation of Paul's writings place him outside the bounds of biblical orthodoxy, making him a false teacher who should be avoided.
The Core Problem: The New Perspective on Paul
James D. G. Dunn is one of the leading figures behind the New Perspective on Paul, and he was the one who coined the term "New Perspective on Paul." His main argument was that the traditional Reformation understanding of Paul’s doctrine of justification, as articulated by Martin Luther and others, was fundamentally mistaken. Dunn proposed that when Paul spoke about “works of the law,” he was not addressing general human efforts to earn righteousness or merit before God but was instead talking about Jewish identity markers, such as circumcision, dietary laws, and Sabbath-keeping. Dunn’s interpretation suggests that Paul’s primary concern was about breaking down ethnic boundaries between Jews and Gentiles, rather than addressing the universal problem of human sin and the need for God's saving grace.
Why This is Contrary to Scripture
The Bible teaches that the doctrine of justification by faith alone is the heart of the gospel. Romans 3:28 states, "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law." This verse, and others like it (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16), emphasizes that human beings are declared righteous before God solely based on faith in Christ, not by any works or adherence to the law. Paul makes it abundantly clear in Romans 4:5 that God "justifies the ungodly," and that this justification is credited to those who believe in Christ's finished work on the cross. By redefining "works of the law" merely as Jewish identity markers, Dunn fundamentally shifts the focus away from humanity’s inability to fulfill God's perfect law and undermines the universal need for the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ alone.
Dunn's teaching also minimizes the imputed righteousness of Christ, which is central to the doctrine of justification. In passages like 2 Corinthians 5:21, where Paul writes, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God,” we see that justification involves a legal exchange—our sins are imputed to Christ, and His righteousness is imputed to us. Dunn's reinterpretation rejects this vital aspect of justification, replacing it with a view that is more about communal identity than individual salvation from sin.
A Different Gospel
By redefining justification and emphasizing ethnic inclusivity rather than addressing the heart of human sinfulness and the need for Christ’s righteousness, Dunn ultimately preaches a different gospel than the one Paul proclaimed. Paul warned in Galatians 1:6-9 that if anyone preaches a gospel contrary to the one he preached, “let him be accursed.” The seriousness of Dunn's error lies in the fact that he shifts the basis of salvation from the finished work of Christ alone to something that is ultimately about one's identity within a covenant community. This leads to a distortion of the gospel and obscures the clarity of how sinners are made right with a holy God.
Compromising the Reformation's Recovery of the Gospel
Dunn's teachings not only conflict with the biblical doctrine of justification but also undermine the clear teachings recovered during the Reformation. The Reformers rightly emphasized that justification is by faith alone, apart from works (sola fide), as clearly taught in Scripture. By redefining "works of the law" and shifting the emphasis away from individual guilt and the imputation of Christ's righteousness, Dunn effectively denies one of the foundational truths that the Protestant Reformation reclaimed. This is a serious departure from the gospel, and it leads people away from the assurance that comes from knowing that we are justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
Conclusion: Why Dunn Should Be Avoided
James D. G. Dunn should be avoided because his teachings on justification and the New Perspective on Paul fundamentally distort the gospel message. By redefining key biblical terms and concepts, Dunn presents a view of salvation that is inconsistent with Scripture's clear teaching on how sinners are made right with God. The apostle Paul emphasized that any teaching contrary to the gospel is dangerous and must be rejected (Galatians 1:8-9). As believers committed to the truth of God's Word, we must heed Paul's warning and stand firm in the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone, recognizing that any departure from this truth leads away from the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
Dunn’s influence, despite his academic contributions, ultimately leads to a misunderstanding of the heart of the Christian faith, and his teachings have the potential to lead others into confusion about the nature of salvation. Therefore, to protect and preserve the purity of the gospel, Christians should exercise discernment, reject Dunn's false teachings, and avoid any influence that undermines the clear and authoritative teaching of Scripture.