Iustitia Dei: A History of the Christian Doctrine of Justification

The doctrine of justification was of major importance at the time of the Reformation, and continues to be of immense significance in ecumenical dialogues. This book, which appeared in its first edition in 1986, is the only major study of the doctrine since 1870. Its many acclaimed features include an assessment of the concept of justification in the thought world of the ancient Near East, a thorough examination of the development of the doctrine in the medieval period, and a careful analysis of the sixteenth-century debates. This revised and updated edition brings together in one volume the material from the two volume first edition, while adding new sections dealing with recent developments in Pauline scholarship and ecumenical debates over the doctrine. It will be an essential resource for anyone wanting to understand historical theology, sixteenth-century church history or the modern ecumenical debates between Protestants and Roman Catholics.

Table of Contents:
Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Prolegomena; 2. The fountainhead: Augustine of Hippo; 3. The development of the doctrine in the medieval period; 4. The medieval schools of thought on justification; 5. The transition from the medieval to the modern period; 6. The development of the doctrine in the Reformation period; 7. The Tridentine decree of justification; 8. The legacy of the English Reformation; 9. The modern period; Appendix: a glossary of medieval soteriological terms; Abbreviations; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

Review :
'No seminary, divinity school or graduate research library should be without this contribution to scholarly interpretation of the historical and theological aspects of the doctrine of justification. The first major study since Albrecht Ritschl's Die christliche Lehre von der Rechtfertigung und Versohnung (Bonn, 1870), this work is impressive in its comprehensiveness and quality. Not only does it span twenty centuries, it also covers many lesser-known figures alongside the acknowledged 'greats' of Christian thought. Its analyses are consistently precise, carefully attentive to detail and nuance, and its conclusions both circumspect and challenging.' Religious Studies 'No major work on the subject has appeared for over a century ... McGrath reviews and revises, overhauls and extends all previous studies ... A first class, scholarly, authoritative, balanced, informed study ... unique value as an historical and theological analysis.' Scottish Journal of Theology 'An admirable work … an invaluable source and should be recognised as a standard work on the subject.' Heythrop Journal 'An impressive study … it will undoubtedly be consulted by students of the doctrine of justification for a long time to come.' Journal of Theological Studies 'Indispensable' Epworth Review 'A valuable and important study' Theology 'A more than ordinarily useful scholarly tool … With an admirable economy of expression that brooks no loss of clarity, McGrath provides skilful introductions to notoriously difficult and controverted positions, both historical and theological … A book the clarity and conciseness and utility of whose expositions cannot be conveyed in a review.' Guy Mansini, Theological Studies 'This is an impressive study. It is both a valuable reminder of an important branch of the common stream of Christianity, and an invitation to further evaluation and fresh development.' George Newlands, Journal of Theological Studies