Table of Contents

Editorial Preface

Author’s Preface

General Bibliography

Commentary Bibliography

Romans within the Context of His Life and Work (Including Date and Place of Origin)

2. THE RECIPIENTS

The Origin and Character of the Christian Community in Rome

3. THE PURPOSE OF THE LETTER

Stated Objectives and Structure of the Letter

4. THE FORMAL AND THEOLOGICAL COHERENCE OF THE LETTER

5. THE NEW PERSPECTIVE ON PAUL

Paul and the Law

ROMANS 1–8: TEXT AND COMMENTARY

I. INTRODUCTION (1:1–17)

A. Introductory Statement and Greetings (1:1–7)

B. Personal Explanations (1:8–15)

C. Summary Statement of the Letter’s Theme (1:16–17)

II–V. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD—FROM GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO MAN’S FAITH (1:18–11:36)

II–III. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD—TO MAN’S FAITH (1:18–5:21)

II. THE WRATH OF GOD ON MAN’S UNRIGHTEOUSNESS (1:18–3:20)

A. God’s Wrath on Humankind—from a Jewish Perspective (1:18–32)

B. God’s Wrath on Jew First As Well As Gentile (2:1–3:8)

1. The Impartiality of God (2:1–11)

2. Possession of the Law No Safeguard (2:12–16)

3. Favored Status No Security (2:17–24)

4. Circumcision No Guarantee (2:25–29)

5. What Then of God’s Faithfulness? (3:1–8)

C. Conclusion: God’s Judgment on All without Exception (3:9–20)

III. GOD’S SAVING RIGHTEOUSNESS TO FAITH (3:21–5:21)

A. To Faith in Christ Jesus (3:21–31)

1. The Decisive Demonstration of God’s Righteousness in the Death of Jesus (3:21–26)

2. The Consequences for the Self-Understanding of the Jewish People (3:27–31)

B. Abraham as a Test Case (4:1–25)

C. First Conclusions: The New Perspective of Faith in Relation to the Individual and to Humanity at Large (5:1–21)

1. The New Perspective on the Believer’s Present and Future (5:1–11)

2. The New Perspective on God’s Righteous Purpose for Humankind (5:12–21)

IV–V. THE OUTWORKING OF THIS GOSPEL IN RELATION TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND TO THE ELECTION OF GRACE (6:1–11:36)

IV. THE OUTWORKING OF THE GOSPEL IN RELATION TO THE INDIVIDUAL (6:1–8:39)

A. Does Grace Encourage Sin? (6:1–23)

1. The Believer Has Died to Sin (6:1–11)

2. The Believer Should Therefore Live to God (6:12–23)

B. What Role Does the Law Play in All This? (7:1–25)

1. The Believer Has Been Released from the Law Which Condemned to Death (7:1–6)

2. But the Law Is Still Exploited by Sin and Death, As Experience Demonstrates (7:7–25)

C. The Eschatological Tension and Fulfillment of God’s Purpose through the Spirit (8:1–30)

1. The Spirit of Life (8:1–11)

2. The Spirit of Sonship (8:12–17)

3. The Spirit as Firstfruits (8:18–30)

D. Second Conclusion: The Triumph of God His Faithfulness and the Assurance of Faith (8:31–39)