January 5, 2009

• Question 118 - Romans 4:8

  Question 118 - Romans 4:8

   

  Dr. Sungenis,

  I have been having an ongoing discussion with a friend who is a Protestant Pastor about justification and sanctification. In your debate with James White you stated that Romans 4:8 regarding the “man of faith” is talking about David and that there are no Protestant commentaries that mention this. My friend Tom stated that is not correct and was able to find a reference to David in his commentary and the commentary is by James Dunn.

  Do I understand this debate correctly in that Protestants generally don’t reference David in Roman’s 4:8

  Thank you,

  Keith Wasser

   

   

  R. Sungenis: Keith, first, ask him for the quote from Dunn that says David is the man of faith. If he has it, then Dunn would be the first Protestant I've seen do so. If Dunn does so, then the next question is whether Dunn also believes that David is thus the same man who is justified. If so, then it must refer to when he repented of his sins with Bathsheba and Uriah, the very subject of Psalms 32 and 51. If Dunn will admit that Paul is using David as an example of a person who is justified in Psalm 32, then I will be waving Dunn's book for all the world to see, for he has thus vindicated Catholic soteriology.

   

  One problem with Dunn, however, is that he has his own innovations for what Justification really is. From my reading of Dunn, he doesn't hold the typical Protestant position -- that justification refers to a forensic imputation of Christ's righteousness.

   

  In any case, I would like to see Dunn's quote.

   

  • 4:35 pm
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