Overview
In this fresh and readable addition to the Paideia series, well-respected New Testament scholar Frank Matera examines cultural context and theological meaning in Romans. Paideia commentaries explore how New Testament texts form Christian readers by
• attending to the ancient narrative and rhetorical strategies the text employs
• showing how the text shapes theological convictions and moral habits
• commenting on the final, canonical form of each New Testament book
• focusing on the cultural, literary, and theological settings of the text
• making judicious use of maps, photos, and sidebars in a reader-friendly format
• attending to the ancient narrative and rhetorical strategies the text employs
• showing how the text shapes theological convictions and moral habits
• commenting on the final, canonical form of each New Testament book
• focusing on the cultural, literary, and theological settings of the text
• making judicious use of maps, photos, and sidebars in a reader-friendly format
Table of Contents
Introduction
Romans 1:1-17 The Letter Opening
Romans 1:18-3:20 Part 1: Gentiles and Jews in the Light of God's Wrath
Introduction
Romans 1:18-32 Gentile Failure to Acknowledge God
Romans 2:1-16 God's Impartial Judgment of Gentiles and Jews
Romans 2:17-29 Jewish Failure to Observe the Law
Romans 3:1-20 Gentiles and Jews under the Power of Sin
Romans 3:21-4:25 Part 2: Gentiles and Jews in the Light of God's Righteousness Introduction
Romans 3:21-31 A Righteousness Accessible to All through Faith
Romans 4:1-25 Abraham, the Father of All Who Believe
Romans 5:1-8:39 Part 3: The Experience of Salvation in the Light of God's Righteousness
Introduction
Romans 5:1-21 Transferred from the Realm of Sin to the Realm of Grace
Romans 6:1-23 No Longer Slaves of Sin and Death
Romans 7:1-25 Released from a Law Frustrated by Sin
Romans 8:1-39 Life and Hope in the Realm of the Spirit
Romans 9:1-11:36 Part 4: God's Righteousness and the Destiny of Israel
Introduction
Romans 9:1-29 The Mystery of Divine Election
Romans 9:30-10:21 The Reason for Israel's Failure
Romans 11:1-36 God's Irrevocable Call
Romans 12:1-15:13 Part 5: God's Righteousness and the Moral Life of the Justified
Introduction
Romans 12:1-13:14 Love and Obedience in the New Age
Romans 14:1-15:13 Welcoming One Another according to the Example of Christ
Romans 15:14-16:27 The Letter Closing
Romans 1:1-17 The Letter Opening
Romans 1:18-3:20 Part 1: Gentiles and Jews in the Light of God's Wrath
Introduction
Romans 1:18-32 Gentile Failure to Acknowledge God
Romans 2:1-16 God's Impartial Judgment of Gentiles and Jews
Romans 2:17-29 Jewish Failure to Observe the Law
Romans 3:1-20 Gentiles and Jews under the Power of Sin
Romans 3:21-4:25 Part 2: Gentiles and Jews in the Light of God's Righteousness Introduction
Romans 3:21-31 A Righteousness Accessible to All through Faith
Romans 4:1-25 Abraham, the Father of All Who Believe
Romans 5:1-8:39 Part 3: The Experience of Salvation in the Light of God's Righteousness
Introduction
Romans 5:1-21 Transferred from the Realm of Sin to the Realm of Grace
Romans 6:1-23 No Longer Slaves of Sin and Death
Romans 7:1-25 Released from a Law Frustrated by Sin
Romans 8:1-39 Life and Hope in the Realm of the Spirit
Romans 9:1-11:36 Part 4: God's Righteousness and the Destiny of Israel
Introduction
Romans 9:1-29 The Mystery of Divine Election
Romans 9:30-10:21 The Reason for Israel's Failure
Romans 11:1-36 God's Irrevocable Call
Romans 12:1-15:13 Part 5: God's Righteousness and the Moral Life of the Justified
Introduction
Romans 12:1-13:14 Love and Obedience in the New Age
Romans 14:1-15:13 Welcoming One Another according to the Example of Christ
Romans 15:14-16:27 The Letter Closing
Author
Frank J. Matera
Frank J. Matera (PhD, Union Theological Seminary, Richmond) is professor emeritus of The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he taught New Testament for many years. He recently served as pastor at St. Mary's Church in Simsbury, Connecticut. A past president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America, he has written commentaries on Romans, Galatians, and 2 Corinthians as well as volumes on Pauline theology, New Testament theology, Christology, and ethics.