What is james d.g. dunn?

James D.G. Dunn (1939-2020) was a British New Testament scholar and theologian. He was a professor emeritus of Divinity at the University of Durham and a leading authority on the historical Jesus, the apostle Paul, and early Christian theology.

Dunn is best known for his work on the New Perspective on Paul, which challenged traditional Protestant understandings of Pauline theology. He argued that the traditional emphasis on justification by faith alone was driven by the anti-Judaism of the Reformers and that the Jewish context of Paul and early Christianity provided a more accurate understanding of Paul's theology.

Dunn also contributed significantly to the study of the historical Jesus, arguing that Jesus' own self-understanding as the messiah and his relationship with the Jewish tradition were central to his message. He emphasized the importance of understanding Jesus within his Jewish context and challenged simplistic views of Jesus as a universal moral teacher.

Dunn authored numerous influential books, including "Christology in the Making", "The Theology of Paul the Apostle", and "Jesus Remembered". He was also a respected scholar of the Dead Sea Scrolls and published extensively on aspects of the New Testament and early Christianity.