I have
written a great deal against the Reformed understanding of justification and
imputation, including:
Much of my
work has focused on the meaning of λογιζομαι (the Hebrew equivalent being חשׁב). For a 7-part series examining
this term in Greek texts contemporary with the Greek New Testament, see:
λογιζομαι in texts contemporary with the New Testament:
In the following examples, while sometimes used as support for the
Protestant understanding, in reality, are instances where something is considered
(using חשׁב and
λογιζομαι in the Hebrew and LXX) equivalent or holding the same weight as something
else, for either calculating or metaphorical purposes (not a forensic imputation from an alien source):
But the houses of the
villages which have no wall round about them shall be counted (חשׁב;
λογιζομαι) as the fields of the country; they may be redeemed, and they shall
go out in the jubilee. (Lev 25:31)
And this your heave
offering shall be reckoned (חשׁב; λογιζομαι) unto you, as though it were
the corn of the threshingfloor, as the fulness of the winepress . . . Therefore
thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it
shall be counted (חשׁב; λογιζομαι) unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and
as the increase of the winepress. (Num 18:27, 30)
He esteemeth (חשׁב;
λογιζομαι) iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood . . . Darts are counted (חשׁב;
λογιζομαι) as stubble: he laugheth as the shaking of a spear. (Job 41:27, 29)
Behold, the nations
are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted (חשׁב; λογιζομαι) as the
samll dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little
thing . . . All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted (חשׁב;
λογιζομαι) to him less than nothing, and vanity. (Isa 40:15, 17)
A New Testament text that is often abused is that of Rom 2:26, but when
read in context, it is similar to the above verses:
Therefore if the
uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision
be counted (λογιζομαι) for circumcision?
There is no support for the Protestant concept of imputation this verse
shows that it is possible to reckon by assigning an equivalency to something
else, in this instance, God reckoning (λογιζομαι) a commandment-keeping Gentile
as being inside the covenant, even if he never got the opportunity to be
circumcised.
Any appeal
to these verses simply fails to recognize there is a metaphorical/equivalency
to the use of חשׁב/λογιζομαι. It is the equivalent
of me saying that €100 is the equivalent, using חשׁב/λογιζομαι, of $105. There is no legal fiction here or in the
above instances.