New Perspectives

I am hoping to do a more extended future post with some thoughts on the New Perspectives on Paul. However, I would like to just start by making a brief comment at this point to get us thinking. Today, the charge against Augustine, Luther, Calvin, etc. is that they adapted Paul's own words to fit their situations (cultural context) and thinking; And, they were creative in doing so. I am wondering how contemporary scholars are able to make this claim and excuse themselves from the very same accusation. Obviously, everyone is affected by their culture. Duh! The question is, who is doing a better job of recognizing all that is affecting them and able to read a text, i.e. Romans, without their cultural 'shades' distorting what 'Saint Paul Really Said'? At this point I am speculating that apathetic, antinomian, gospel proclamation without kingdom living Christianity is affecting the way some of these guys are reading Paul. Now, that does not necessarily mean that they are wrong. But, could it be that the claim they are making against Augustine, Luther, and Calvin, could just as easily be made against them? Or, is their a different situation (cultural context) that is affecting the way NPP guys are reading Paul? Clearly, 'nobody respectable' intentionally misreads an author. But, well-intentioned misreadings do happen.