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Understanding Paul's Epistle to Romans: Examining the Difficulties and Themes

This study explores the challenges in understanding Paul's Epistle to Romans, with a focus on the theological terminology and the central themes of justification by faith and God's righteousness. It also examines the historical background and purpose of the letter, as well as the sections and themes within Romans.

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Understanding Paul's Epistle to Romans: Examining the Difficulties and Themes

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  1. NTS 501 new testament literature Class VII: Romans

  2. Paul’s Epistle to Romans 1.1 Introduction to Romans • Difficulties in understanding Romans • Pre-understanding of theological terminology • “Righteousness of God” • “Works of the Law”… • What is the center of Romans? • History of effects • “may be the most important letter ever penned in human history”* • Augustine (AD 386) – “Tolle, lege! Tolle, lege!”(Rom 13:13-14) “I wanted to read no further…as the sentence ended, there was infused in my heart something like the of full certainty and all the gloom of doubt vanished” (Confessions, 8.29) • M. Luther (1515) & Rom 1:17 • J. Wesley (1738) – “my heart was strangely warmed”

  3. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • Problem – Salvation by works or by grace? • Read Rom 2:6-11 • Read 3:21-26 • How do you reconcile the two passages? • Possible solution(s) • Larger argument: sinfulness of Jew and gentile • 2:6-11 is only hypothetical • 2:6-11 about humanity without Christ • Cf. humanity in Christ – (6:1-23; 7:4-5; 8:10-13) • What was formerly impossible is now possible through Christ & Spirit “righteous requirements of Law might be fulfilled in us” (8:4)  2:6-11 makes sense in the larger argument of Romans

  4. Paul’s Epistle to Romans 2.1 Date, Provenance, Background • Origins of Roman Christianity • Authorship – Paul (1:1; dictated through Tertius,16:22) • Stylistic and theological features affirm Paul’s authorship* • Textual issues: Rom 15-16:25 • P46 [c. AD 200] places 16:25-27 at the end of ch. 15 though includes ch. 16  Some think Romans circulated without ch. 16. • Some Greek & Latin mss. place 16:25-27 at the end of ch. 14** • Ch. 16/15 later addition OR later deleted to make it general OR removed by Marcion on purpose (e.g. heavy concentration on OT)  Most likely chs. 15-16 lost at some point in some mss. traditions

  5. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • Written from Corinth/Cenchreae between AD 54-58* • Paul about to journey to Jerusalem (Rom 15:25) • Prior to last visit to Jerusalem (16:23; Acts 19:29; 20:4; 1 Cor 1:14) • “Greece…spent three months” [most likely Corinth] (Acts 20:3-4) • During 3rd missionary journey (Acts 19-20) • Paul at crucial juncture in his missions • Completion of the work in the East (15:19) • Going to Jerusalem to deliver the contribution (15:25) • New plans to reach west (15:24) • Roman Christianity • Number of home church gatherings (16:5, 14-15)

  6. Paul’s Epistle to Romans 2.2 Purpose & Occasion for writing Romans • Romans though of as “summary of Christian doctrine” • MelanchtonLoci Communes (1521) • Overstated individualism • Lacks many crucial topics • Lord’s supper; little ecclesiology; eschatology • Contains theology – but not in isolation of Paul’s life • Romans as occasional letter • Contains lots of theology

  7. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • Most complete presentation of Paul’s theology • Rom 1-11 theological – Rom 12-16 ethical and practical • Paul’s personal goals in writing • Relationship building with Roman church (1:13; 15:24) • Future partnership • Clarification of his theology (cf. 3:8; 6:1) • Travel plans – relief funds to Jerusalem (15:25-29)

  8. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • Paul’s pastoral goals • Harmony among the “strong” and the “weak” (14:1-23) • Jew and gentile harmony • Possible historical background for conflict • Expulsion of Jews from Rome in AD 49 (Acts 18:2) • Disturbances over “Chrestus” (Suetonius, Life of Claud. 25) • Leadership of house churches to gentiles • Return of Jewish-Christians after death of Claudius • Jewish-Christian gentile-Christian rift over Jewish heritage • Place of Law and good works & Jewish persecution

  9. Paul’s Epistle to Romans 3.1 The Sections & Themes of Romans • The main theme of the letter? • Justification by faith • Rom 1-5 • Transformation by Christ and Holy Spirit • Rom 6-8 • God’s plan of salvation for gentiles and Israel • Rom 9-11 • Ethical living & unity of believers • Rom 12-15  Each section adds to give complete picture

  10. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • Structure of Romans I. Introduction and God’s Power (1:1-18) II. Jew and Gentile under sin (1:19-3:20) III. Justification and God’s favor (3:21-8:17) IV. God’s Faithfulness (8:18-11:36) V. Servants of God in Action (12:1-15:13) VI. Travel Plans and Conclusion (15:14-16:27)  Following Paul’s full argument is crucial

  11. Paul’s Epistle to Romans Section by section analysis • Introduction 1:1-18 • Salutations – customary Hellenistic epistle format • Message rooted in OT & Jesus event (1:3-4) • “obedience of faith” (1:5) • “Righteousness of God” [Gk. dikaiosynetoutheou] • Various grammatical choices • Righteousness that God produces (subj. gen.) • God’s attribute of righteousness (poss. gen.) • Righteousness imputed by God (gen. of source)

  12. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • Righteousness produced by God • His saving activity or power – “salvation/righteousness” (Isa 51:5-8) • Associated w/ “power” & “righteousness” (1:16-17) • More than a gift or imputation (cf. 10:10) • God’s attribute of righteousness • Divine attribute • Wrath, justice & covenant faithfulness (3:5; 3:25-26) • Righteousness imputed by God • Gift of God reckoned to a believer • Fits the phrase “faith to faith” (1:17) & gift nature of righteousness elsewhere (3:21-22; 10:3)  Meaning varies acc. to context(cf. 3:26; see esp. 3:5, 26 & 1:17; 3:21-22; 10:3)

  13. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • Jew and Gentile under sin 1:19-3:20 • 1:18-23 – people have turned away from God • Downward spiral of sin “God gave them over…” • “…Rome into which flows all that is hideous and shameful in the world… (Tacitus Annals 15.44) • Nero’s immorality (Suetonius, Nero 28-29) • Gentiles and Jews are guilty • Gentiles have the “law written in heart” (2:1-16) • Jews have the Law (2:17-29) • No-one is righteous – in right standing w/ God (3:9-20)

  14. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • Justification and God’s favor 3:21-5:21 • God’s righteousness by faith in Christ (3:21-31) • God’s covenant favor through faithfulness of Christ • The meaning of “Justification” • Believer’s new status/imputation – declared not guilty (Protestants) • Moral transformation of sinners (5:19) (Roman Catholics) • Justification = God’s covenant favor – given at the beginning of Christian life as an anticipation and finalized through works in the last day (New perspective)

  15. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • Apart from the “works of the Law”* (3:20) 1) Good works and piety • Failure to do good works (3:20; 3:27; 4:2) • Election apart from good works (9:11-12) 2) Jewish boundary markers (circumcision, diet, Sabbath, calendar) • Circumcision (2:25-29; 3:1, 30; 4:9; 15:8) • Diet and calendar (Rom 14)  Both aspects are present in Romans

  16. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • Atonement & redemption (3:24-25) • Gk. hilasterion: expiation or propitiation? • Expiation = covering sin (object) • Propitiation = placating wrath (subject) • Redemption: freeing the slave & Exodus imagery • OT precedents for “justification by faith” • Abraham (4:1-5, 9-25) • “righteousness reckoned” in OT & Jewish literature (Ps 106:30-31; Jub 30:17; 4QMMT 30-31) • Accredited to Abraham’s account by faith • David (4:6-8)

  17. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • “in Adam” or “in Christ” 5:1-21 • Justified: “peace”; “access”; “standing”; “sharing God’s glory” • “suffering”; “endurance”; “character”; “love” through Spirit • Favor when “weak”; “still enemies”; “sinners” • Adam’s sin  sin, death & condemnation to all • God’s gift in Christ = new life, righteousness, justification* • Three key figures in Paul’s argument • Adam – prototype of all humanity • Abraham – prototype of Jews and gentiles; recipient of God’s promises by faith • Christ – last Adam & Savior for Jew & gentile

  18. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • “New life in Christ” 6:1-8:39 • Clarification I - “Shall we go on sinning?” (6:1) • Dying and rising with Christ – new life • Status = dead to sin, alive with Christ • Practice = walk in newness of life • “consider yourself dead to sin” • “Do not let sin exercise dominion” • “present yourselves to God”

  19. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • Clarification II – what’s the role of the Law? (7:1-25) • Freedom from the law – analogy from marriage (7:1-6) • Law and sin (7:7-25) – Sin, not Law, is the problem • Christian or non-Christian struggling with sin? • Who is speaking in 7:14-25? • Paul – before his conversion • Paul – his present experience • Non-Christians in general • Christians in general • Compare Rom 7:14, 17-18 – 6:22, 2, 14, 13, 19  Life “in Adam” and under the Law – fight against “evil impulse” (Gen 6:5; 1QS 3.13-4.26)

  20. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • Clarification III – The solution is “Life in the Spirit” • Life in the Spirit – renewal of God’s people & cosmos • “No condemnation”; “Son to deal with sin” (8:1-3) • “Law might be fulfilled” (8:4) • Walk in Spirit “set your minds”; “Spirit gives life”; “leading”; “sonship” • Not flesh – “put to death”; “cannot submit”; “slavery” ; “death” (8:10-13) • Redemption of the entire world (8:18-25) • Spirit enables Christian life & endurance (8:26-39)

  21. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • God’s faithfulness tested (9:1-11:36) • Q: Why have so many Jews rejected the Gospel? • Is God faithful to His promises? • Paul’s groan for his brethren (9:1-5) • “It is not as though the word of God has failed” (9:6) • Human action cannot thwart God’s purposes • “Children of the promise” – “children of the flesh” • Isaac, not Ishmael; Jacob, not Esau • Membership of Israel is by God’s choice & promise (9:8, 11) • God’s sovereign lordship over creation (9:22-24) • Striving for righteousness (10:1-21) • Jews through Law “to establish their own” (10:3) • Through good works or “works of the Law” (cf. Phil 3:1-6) • Gentiles faith in Christ (righteousness-salvation; 10:10)

  22. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • God has not abandoned His people (11:1-36) • Temporary hardening of Jews & olive tree imagery • Gentiles welcomed into covenant – Israel partially hardened • Remnant of Jews saved now – Paul strives to save Jews (11:14) • Finale outcome: “all Israel shall be saved” (11:25-27) • End-time revival of Jews • All Jews always saved • “All Israel” is spiritual Israel, the church (cf. 9:6; 2:25-39) • Q: Does God privilege an ethnic group? (cf. 1:1-3:31) • Remnant currently saved (cf. Paul; 11:5-6, 14) • Doxology & mystery of God’s plan (11:33-36)

  23. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • Servants of God in Action (12:1-15:13) • Appeal to believers – sacrificial living (“living sacrifices”) • Because of “God’s mercy” (Rom 1-11) • Transformation: non-conformity and renewal of mind • Renewed vs. corrupt mind (cf. 1:28) • Practical renewal (12:3-21) • Serve God’s people w/ spiritual gifts (12:4-8) • Be subject to governing authorities (13:1-7) • Nero & relief of tax burden • Romans written, AD 54-58 • AD 64 fire of Rome & persecution of Christians • Martyrdom of Paul AD 66/67

  24. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • Summary of commandments: love of neighbor (13:9) • “put on Lord Jesus Christ” (13:14) • What makes for peace and mutual building (13:19) • Weak and strong – no judgment on non-essentials (14:1-23) • Foods and days (14:1-23) • “nothing unclean in itself” – consider weaker brother • Example of Christ and glory of God (15:3-6)

  25. Paul’s Epistle to Romans • Travel Plans and Conclusion 15:14-16:27 • “priestly service” – gentiles to Christ (15:16) • From Jerusalem to Illyricum (15:19) • Gospel “fully preached” • Ministry to the poor in Jerusalem (15:25-27) • Contribute to the needs of the saints (12:13; cf. 12:16; 2 Cor 8-9) • Focus now where Christ has not been preached (15:20-21) • Next phase: Spain by way of you (15:24) • Greetings and conclusion (16:1-27)

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