Ok, lest you think I’ve been setting up a straw-man, here’s a quote where God’s attributes are conflicting with one another:
On the contrary, in these verses [Rom. 3:25-26] God’s righteousness creates a problem for covenant faithfulness and must be satisfied in order that his covenant faithfulness may continue.
~ John Piper The Future of Justification pg. 68
Notice that it is “his covenant faithfulness” that is under discussion. God’s righteousness, which Piper defines as “unwavering commitment to act for the sake of his own glory,” is a problem for God’s covenant faithfulness. In order for God to be faithful, that is for God to keep his word, he must first guard his own glory.
I would think that N T Wright’s response would be quite simple and more orthodox. God glories in his covenant faithfulness. Indeed, Jesus Christ, as The Righteousness of God, is the solution to all of the questions.
We’ve got to go back to theology proper folks.
