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Yet Once More—'the Works of the Law': a Response

Department of Theology, Abbey House Palace Green, Durham DH 1 3RS

This is a response to C.E.B. Cranfield's rebuttal of Dunn's earlier treatment of 'the works of the law' in JSNT 43 (1991), pp. 89-101. Dunn first clarifies that the phrase 'works of the law' is Paul's characterization of (1) what the law requires, (2) focused in particular test cases, (3) as paralleled by Qumran usage where it denotes sectarian halakhah. Secondly, in response to the charge that in Romans the phrase indicates a universal indictment, he argues (1) that the thrust of Rom. 2.1-3.20 is to include the 'Jew' within the universal indictment, and (2) to indict the 'Jew' of both actual disobedience and assumption of a privileged position before God which dulls the seriousness of that sin. (3) Rom. 3.27ff. confirms that the thrust of Paul's argument is directed against Jewish boasting; and (4) Rom. 4.4-5 does not disturb that conclusion. Finally, a brief study of Gal. 2.16 and 3.10 clarifies how it is that 'those who are of the works of the law' can be said to be under the curse of the law.

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