Romans in Full Circle: A History of Interpretation

by Reasoner, Mark

• ISBN13: 9780664228736
• ISBN10: 0664228739
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-09-19
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Pr

Summary

The New Testament book of Romans has played an important role in the life of the church from the period of the early church and through to the present day. In this concise survey of the major theological changes associated with Paul's letter, Mark Reasoner focuses on its history and interpretation, particularly through the works of Origen, Augustine, the medieval exegetes, Luther, and Barth. In so doing, he reveals that by a circuitous route, western Christians in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries are returning to reading Romans in ways very similar to Origen's concerns in the third century. This is true particularly in regard to issues of the human will, sensitivity to Jews and Judaism, openness to the possibility of universalism, and a deconstructive reading of the obedience to government passage in Romans 13. Thus, in addition to giving a helpful overview of Romans itself, this book will help readers situate their theological questions within the two thousand-year history of conversations about Paul's letter to Roman believers.

Author Biography

Mark Reasoner is Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Bethel University, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Acknowledgments	xi
Abbreviations	xiii
"Origen," by Thomas Merton	xvii
Introduction	xix
Locus 1 To the Jew First and to the Greek (1:16-17)	1	(10)
Locus 2 Natural Theology (1:19-21)	11	(12)
Locus 3 Made Righteous by Christ (3:21-28)	23	(20)
Locus 4 All Sinned (5:12)	43	(12)
Locus 5 The All and the Many (5:18-21)	55	(12)
Locus 6 Warring Laws (7:7-8:4)	67	(18)
Locus 7 Calling, Foreknowledge, Predestination (8:28-30)	85	(10)
Locus 8 Not Willing or Running (9:16-19)	95	(10)
Locus 9 Potter and Clay (9:20-23)	105	(8)
Locus 10 Christ the Telos of the Law (10:4)	113	(8)
Locus 11 Israel's Salvation (11:25-27)	121	(8)
Locus 12 Let Every Psyche Be Subject to the Authorities (13:1-7)	129	(14)
Conclusion	143	(8)
Notes	151	(28)
Index of Ancient Sources	179	(6)
Index of Names	185	(6)
Index of Subjects	191