Book Review:

Faith Alone by Thomas R. Schreiner,

Thomas R. Schreiner, widely known for his work in Pauline scholarship, joins five other respected scholars and theologians to produce The Five Solas Series, a series of books commemorating the Reformation's 500th anniversary. Schreiner (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is the James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Associate Dean of the School of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Faith Alone is the first book in Zondervan's five-volume series, alongside the series editor Matthew Barrett's God's Word Alone (2016) and others. Each book in the series considers one of the Solas of the Reformation era.

For Schreiner, the doctrine of sola fide (faith alone) "is important because it reminds us of the grace of the gospel" and that "our standing and acceptance before God is entirely of the Lord" (17). The book is presented in three parts as a "tour" of the historical and scriptural teaching on justification, with a brief response to some of the contemporary challenges to sola fide (18).

In Part I, "A Historical Tour of Sola Fide" (chs. 1–6), Schreiner guides the reader through several destinations on his historical tour of the doctrine of justification. He primarily demonstrates the early church standing in fundamental continuity with the Reformers (e.g., Luther and Calvin) and later Protestant figures (e.g., Owen, Baxter, Turretin, Edwards, and Wesley). The early church did not articulate sola fide with the same clarity. Still, they consistently affirmed the message of the New Testament on justification by faith apart from works, even if works are still necessary for final salvation (36).

Part II, "A Biblical and Theological Tour of Sola Fide" (chs. 7–16), "investigates the biblical witness regarding justification by faith alone," concentrating on the teaching of the NT (97). In these ten chapters – the longest in the book – Schreiner defends the "old perspective" (109). The phrase "works of the law" employed by Paul focuses on the entire law and righteousness only and exclusively comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Consistent with sola fide, Schreiner observes that true faith is not a mental assent – a "claiming faith" or "saying faith" – (191) but "has vitality and energy, so that works necessarily follow" (206). There is no contradiction between sola fide and good works.

Part III, "Contemporary Challenges to Sola Fide" (chs. 17–21), concludes the journey by exploring the challenges to the doctrine of sola fide in the modern era. Schreiner considers and critiques the Roman Catholic (RC) teaching relative to justification and the so-called New Perspective on Paul (NPP) as popularized by scholar N.T. Wright (211). Though he devotes two chapters to each challenge, Schreiner's work admittedly overlaps when discussing the NPP (239). He finds both positions unconvincing. However, he expresses gratitude for Wright's innovative scholarship (252, 261), which he does not do for the RC teaching.

Schreiner's work is worthy of praise. Faith Alone is an excellent treatment of the doctrine of justification, written at a popular and pastoral level, providing excellent responses in an engaging and gracious style. Those familiar with the doctrine, its historical continuity, and biblical witness will be encouraged. Those already convinced of the contemporary challenges will find their respected view well represented and critiqued fairly. Those looking for a great place to begin their journey of understanding justification by faith alone need to look no further. I hope the remaining four volumes of the series are as good as this one.