Romans Through the Centuries

PAUL S. FIDDES is Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of the British Academy. He is Emeritus Principal and Senior Research Fellow at Regent’s Park College, Oxford, and Director of the Love in Religion research project. A leading voice in contemporary theology, his works include The Creative Suffering of God, Participating in God, and More Things in Heaven and Earth: Shakespeare, Theology and the Interplay of Texts.

• Series Editor’s Preface xPreface xiiAcknowledgments xivIllustrations xviAbbreviations xviiiIntroduction: Romans and the Voice of Paul 1The Speaking Voice and the Written Text 1The Need for Persuasion 3Paul’s Audience 5The Manner of the Voice 6Continuing to Persuade: The History of Interpretation of Romans After Paul 9How to Read this Commentary 23Romans 1 241:1– 15. The Opening of the Letter 241:16– 17. Living by Faith 371:18– 28. The Human Situation Outside a Life of Faith 45Romans 2 562:1– 11. God Shows No Partiality 562:12– 16. Doing What the Law Requires 622:17– 29. The True Identifying Mark 70Romans 3 763:1– 8. The Advantage of the Jew and the Justification of God 763:9– 20. All Are Under the Power of Sin 823:21– 31. The Righteousness of God in the Faithfulness of Christ 89Romans 4 1014:1– 15. Abraham, an Ancestor in Faith 1014:16– 25. Abraham, an Ancestor of the Promise 113Romans 5 1245:1– 11. Righteousness as Reconciliation 1245:12– 21. Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ 131Romans 6 1466:1– 14. Baptism and the End of Death’s Dominion 1466:15– 23. Two Kinds of Slavery 159Romans 7:1– 8:4 1687:1– 6. Dead to the Law, Alive in the Spirit 1687:7– 13. A Conundrum: a Holy Law Provokes Sin 1767:14– 8:4. Different Faces of the Law, Different Dimensions of the Self 182Romans 8:5– 39 1918:5– 17a. Life in the Spirit 1918:17b– 27. Suffering and Praying in the Spirit 2038:28– 39. The Loving Purpose of God 211Romans 9:1– 29 2209:1– 5. Anguish Over the Destiny of Israel 2209:6– 13. Everything Depends on God’s Call 2269:14– 29. Everything Depends on God’s Mercy 233Romans 9:30– 10:21 2479:30– 32. The Stumbling- Stone of Faith 24710:1– 13. Calling on God 25410:14– 21. A Sequence: Sending— Proclaiming— Hearing— Believing— Calling 266Romans 11 27311:1– 12. Stumbling but Not Falling 27311:13– 24. Rejection is Only Temporary 28311:25– 36. God is Merciful to All 292Romans 12 30712:1– 8. The Inner Renewal of Body and Mind 30712:9– 21. The Imperatives of Love 317Romans 13 32713:1– 14. Submission to Authority, But Love of Neighbor 327Romans 14 35114:1– 13a. Accepting One Another 35114:13b– 23. Love Does Not Create Stumbling- Blocks 364Romans 15 37515:1– 13. Living and Worshiping in Harmony and Hope 37515:14– 33. Paul’s Plans for Travel and the “Collection” 387Romans 16 40016:1– 16. Closing Greetings and Commendations 40016:17– 27. A Final Warning and a Last Encouragement 411Glossary 422References 431Index of Subjects 452