Reassessing Reformation approaches

Peter Sean Bradley makes the connection between Hallowe'en and Reformation Day, and then adds a few nuggets from the fascinating reading he has been doing about the Apostle Paul, via Stanley Hauerwas and (as excerpted here) Thomas Aquinas:

"Our view of the stark dichotomy of Law v. Grace comes from Luther, not Paul, who would have seen grace in the law, which incidentally St. Thomas Aquinas taught in his Commentary on Romans:

For even in the Old Law faith was necessary, just as it is in the New: “You who fear the Lord believe him” (Sir 2:8); “I believed; therefore I have spoken” (Ps l16:l0). And indeed, works are required in the New Law, namely, the works of certain sacraments, as commanded in Luke 22(:19), “Do this in memory of me” and of moral observances: “Be doers of the word and not hearers only” (Jas 1:22)."

Bradley also cites essays by Paula Frederiksen and Pamela Eisenbaum. His conclusion? "It is interesting how a Jewish re-assessment of Reformation approaches to Paul and Augustine may further intra-Christian dialogue." Indeed!

See also: The Anchoress on "who needs the saints?"