Grading on the Curve

Grading on the Curve

Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary

Scripture Text: Galatians 3:6 and 1 John 3:19–24

Series: Comments on Galatians

Today's Scripture Jigsaw

One of the things I disliked about some of my college and graduate school classmates was this question: “Will you be grading on the curve?” They would ask the professor this question before they even took the test. They suspected that they would perform poorly, and hoped that their test scores would be adjusted to the best grade in the class. If one person scored a 90 and everyone else flunked, they could anticipate passing grades because of how well that one person tested. Ten points, the difference between that one student’s 90 and a perfect score, would be added to everyone else’s grade. If the professor graded on the curve, then they had hope going into the test.

As much as I disliked this in my fellow students, I must admit that I have the same hope in the test of life. Because Jesus not only passed his Father’s test, but tested perfectly, I have hope. I have confidence before God, not because of my own abilities but, because of Christ Jesus. He does not merely make up the difference in my insufficiency, he is my sufficiency altogether (2 Corinthians 3:5). I have faith in him alone, and as Luther says, “Because of my faith in Christ, God overlooks my distrust, the unwillingness of my spirit, my many other sins.”

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