Romans: A Commentary

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Foreword to Hermeneia xi Editor’s Note xiii Preface xv Sources and Abbreviations xvii Works Cited xxxv Introduction 1 1. The Approach of the Commentary 1 2. Text-Critical Issues in a Sixteen Chapter Letter 4 3. Chronological and Compositional Circumstances 18 4. The Rhetoric of Romans: Evangelical Persuasion 23 5. The Cultural Situation in Rome: The Pyramid of Honor 46 6. The History and Orientation of the Christian Communities in Rome 59 7. The Cultural Situation in Spain: Subjugated Barbarians 74 8. The Purpose of Romans in the Plan for the Spanish Mission 80 1:1-12 I. The Exordium (“Introduction”): 1:1-7 A. The Inauguration of Paul’s Communication with the Christians in Rome: Sender, Apostolic Credentials, Confession, Address, and Greeting 95 1:8-12 B. Thanksgiving and Causa (“Issue”): The Announcement and Rationale of Paul’s Forthcoming Visit 117 1:13-15 II. The Narratio (“Statement of Facts”): The Background of Paul’s Missionary Project 127 1:16-17 III. The Propositio (“Thesis, Basic Contention”): The Thesis about the Gospel as the Powerful Embodiment of the Righteousness of God 135 1:18—15:13 IV. The Probatio (“Proof”): Four Proofs of the Thesis and Its Implications for the Roman Congregations 148 1:18—4:25 A. The First Proof: The Gospel Expresses the Impartial Righteousness of God by Overturning Claims of Cultural Superiority and by Rightwising Jews and Greeks through Grace Alone 148 1:18-32 1. The Revelation of Divine Wrath 148 1:18-23 a. Thesis and Rationale: The Exposure of Human Suppression of the Truth about God 148 1:24-32 b. Elaboration: Human Distortion as a Current Indication of Divine Wrath 163 2:1-29 2. The Righteous Judgment of Greeks and Jews 192 2:1-16 a. Diatribe concerning Impartial Judgment according to Works 192 2:17-29 b. Diatribe concerning the Nonexemption of Jews from Impartial Judgment 219 3:1-20 3. The Evidence of Universal Sin 238 3:1-8 a. Diatribe Refuting Objections to Impartial Judgment 238 3:9-20 b. Diatribe and Catena of Quotations Demonstrating Universal Sin 253 3:21-31 4. The Righteousness of God and Setting Right of All by Faith Alone 268 3:21-26 a. Thesis and Rationale Concerning the Triumph of Righteousness in Christ 268 3:27-31 b. Diatribe Affirming the One God of Jews and Gentiles 294 4:1-25 5. Abraham and the Righteousness That Comes through Faith 304 4:1-12 a. Diatribe and the First Part of a Midrash Showing That Abraham Received Righteousness by Faith before He Was Circumcised 304 4:13-25 b. Expansion of the Midrash Showing That Abraham’s Promise Comes to Those Who Are Righteous through Faith 322 5:1—8:39 B. The Second Proof: Life in Christ as a New System of Honor That Replaces the Quest for Status through Conformity to the Law 344 5:1-11 1. Introduction: Righteousness in Christ Requires a New System of Boasting 344 5:12-21 2. Abundant Grace in Christ Overwhelms Adam’s Reign of Death 369 6:1-14 3. Diatribe and Enthymemes Concerning the Death of the Sinful Self and the New Life in Christ 390 6:15-23 4. Diatribe Concerning Living to God under the Grace and the Lordship of Christ 413 7:1-6 5. Syllogism Concerning Life in Christ as Freedom from the Law 428 7:7-12 6. Speech-in-Character Concerning the Moral Status of the Law 440 7:13-25 7. Speech-in-Character Concerning the Effect of the Law 454 8:1-17 8. Thesis and Rationale Concerning the Cosmic Struggle Between Flesh and Spirit 474 8:18-30 9. Thesis and Rationale Concerning the Hopeful Suffering of the Children of God 504 8:31-39 10. Conclusion: The Status of the Elect Based on Divine Love 531 9:1—11:36 C. The Third Proof: The Triumph of Divine Righteousness in the Gospel’s Mission to Israel and the Gentiles 555 9:1-5 1. Introduction: The Tragic Riddle of Israel’s Unbelief 555 9:6-18 2. Thesis and the First Part of a Midrash on Israel and the Righteousness of Divine Election 570 9:19-29 3. Diatribe and the Second Half of a Midrash Refuting Objections 587 9:30—10:4 4. Diatribe on the Failure to Submit to Divine Righteousness, Which Is Caused by Misguided Zeal 606 10:5-13 5. Pesher Confirming Righteousness by Faith 621 10:14-21 6. Syllogism and Citation-Chain Concerning the Gospel Preached But Rejected 634 11:1-10 7. Diatribe and Midrash Concerning the Status of Israel 650 11:11-24 8. Diatribe and Allegorical Enthymeme dealing with the Missional Purpose of Israel’s Trespass 666 11:25-32 9. Oracular Disclosure and Enthymeme on the Mystery of Global Salvation 694 11:33-36 10. Conclusion: A Hymn on the Majesty of God as Revealed in the Mysterious Plan of Global Salvation 713 12:1—15:13 D. The Fourth Proof: Living Together according to the Gospel so as to Sustain the Hope of Global Transformation 724 12:1-2 1. Introduction: The Thesis concerning the Motivation and Assessment of Praiseworthy Behavior 724 12:3-8 2. The Elaboration of Sober Self-Assessment and the Exercise of Charismatic Gifts 736 12:9-21 3. The Elaboration of Guidelines for Genuine Love 755 13:1-7 4. Diatribe concerning Fulfilling Obligations to the Governing Authorities 780 13:8-10 5. The Admonition to Fulfill Law through the Agape Meal 804 13:11-14 6. The Admonition to Moral Alertness in the Last Days 816 14:1-12 7. Exemplary Guidelines for the Weak and the Strong 829 14:13-23 8. Exemplary Guidelines for Mutual Upbuilding in Pluralistic Congregations 853 15:1-6 9. The Obligation to Follow Christ’s Example in Edifying Each Other 874 15:7-13 10. Conclusion: Recapitulating the Inclusive Ethic That Will Contribute to the Mission of Global Transformation 886 15:14—16:23 V. The Peroratio (“Conclusion”) An Appeal for Cooperation in Missionary Activities in Jerusalem, Rome, and Spain 900 15:14-21 A. Recapitulation of Paul’s Missionary Calling and Strategy 900 15:22-33 B. The Report on Travel Pans and an Appeal to Participate in Present and Future Missionary Activities 918 16:1-2 C. The Recommendation of Phoebe as Missionary Patroness 941 16:3-16, 21-23 D. Greetings and Commendations between Ministerial Leaders 949 16:3-16a 1. Greetings to Congregational Leaders in Rome 949 16:16b, 21-23 2. Greetings from Congregational Leaders in Corinth and Elsewhere 975 16:17-20a The First Interpolation: The Church’s Campaign against Heretics 985 16:25-27 The Second Interpolation: The Supersessionist Doxology 997 16: 24, 20b E. The Epistolary Benediction 1012 Glossary of Rhetorical and Exegetical Terms 1015 Indexes 1. Passsages 1021 a / Old Testament and Apocrypha 1021 b / Old Testament Pseudepigrapha and Other Jewish Literature 1036 c / New Testament 1044 d / Early Christian Literature and the Ancient Church 1058 e / Greek and Latin Authors 1060 f / Inscriptions, Papyri, and Ostraca 1077 2. Greek Words 1080 3. Subjects 1084 4. Modern Authors, Editors, Translators 1094 Designer’s Notes 1139