Presents a theological, literary, and cultural reading of Romans across the centuries of Christian thought
Romans Through the Centuries offers a groundbreaking commentary that invites readers to engage with the Apostle Paul's letter not only as a theological text but also as a dynamic and evolving voice that resonates across history and culture. In a format that reflects the complexity of both the letter itself and its enduring legacy, Paul S. Fiddes divides each passage into three distinct yet interconnected lenses: Paul's own speaking voice as he dictated the letter, the rich tradition of its interpretation through major historical epochs, and its influence on literature, visual art, and socio-political thought.
This commentary is distinctive in tracing Paul's argument as a "mind in motion," acknowledging the oral nature of the letter's composition and offering a literary reading that takes seriously the nuances of thought developed in conversation. Fiddes brings theological voices from early Christianity, the medieval West, the Reformation, and contemporary global scholarship into dialogue, providing a comprehensive reception history without overshadowing Paul's original voice. In its final movement, the commentary broadens further, illuminating how Romans has shaped the cultural imagination beyond ecclesial contexts.
A flexible and deeply informed guide to Paul's most influential letter, Romans Through the Centuries:
Integrates literary analysis with theological exegesis, treating Paul's letter as an evolving, spoken argument
Provides readers with flexible entry points to focus on theological development, historical context, or cultural relevance
Features a wide-ranging reception history from Patristic writers to twenty-first-century global scholars
Includes cultural case studies in literature, visual art, and political discourse influenced by Romans
Incorporates the most current scholarship on Romans and critically engages with alternative readings
Part of the acclaimed Wiley Blackwell Bible Commentaries series, Romans Through the Centuries is an essential resource for those seeking to understand the layered legacy of Romans through theological inquiry, literary insight, and historical perspectives. It is well-suited for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in New Testament studies, Pauline theology, and the cultural reception of Scripture, and serves as a valuable resource for clergy, scholars, and advanced students engaged in research.
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ISBN-13
978-1-119-93357-1 (9781119933571)
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Schweitzer Klassifikation
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.
Autor*in
University of Oxford
Series Editor's Preface x
Preface xii
Acknowledgments xiv
Illustrations xvi
Abbreviations xviii
Introduction: Romans and the Voice of Paul 1
The Speaking Voice and the Written Text 1
The Need for Persuasion 3
Paul's Audience 5
The Manner of the Voice 6
Continuing to Persuade: The History of Interpretation of Romans After Paul 9
How to Read this Commentary 23
Romans 1 24
1:1- 15. The Opening of the Letter 24
1:16- 17. Living by Faith 37
1:18- 28. The Human Situation Outside a Life of Faith 45
Romans 2 56
2:1- 11. God Shows No Partiality 56
2:12- 16. Doing What the Law Requires 62
2:17- 29. The True Identifying Mark 70
Romans 3 76
3:1- 8. The Advantage of the Jew and the Justification of God 76
3:9- 20. All Are Under the Power of Sin 82
3:21- 31. The Righteousness of God in the Faithfulness of Christ 89
Romans 4 101
4:1- 15. Abraham, an Ancestor in Faith 101
4:16- 25. Abraham, an Ancestor of the Promise 113
Romans 5 124
5:1- 11. Righteousness as Reconciliation 124
5:12- 21. Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ 131
Romans 6 146
6:1- 14. Baptism and the End of Death's Dominion 146
6:15- 23. Two Kinds of Slavery 159
Romans 7:1- 8:4 168
7:1- 6. Dead to the Law, Alive in the Spirit 168
7:7- 13. A Conundrum: a Holy Law Provokes Sin 176
7:14- 8:4. Different Faces of the Law, Different Dimensions of the Self 182
Romans 8:5- 39 191
8:5- 17a. Life in the Spirit 191
8:17b- 27. Suffering and Praying in the Spirit 203
8:28- 39. The Loving Purpose of God 211
Romans 9:1- 29 220
9:1- 5. Anguish Over the Destiny of Israel 220
9:6- 13. Everything Depends on God's Call 226
9:14- 29. Everything Depends on God's Mercy 233
Romans 9:30- 10:21 247
9:30- 32. The Stumbling- Stone of Faith 247
10:1- 13. Calling on God 254
10:14- 21. A Sequence: Sending- Proclaiming- Hearing- Believing- Calling 266
Romans 11 273
11:1- 12. Stumbling but Not Falling 273
11:13- 24. Rejection is Only Temporary 283
11:25- 36. God is Merciful to All 292
Romans 12 307
12:1- 8. The Inner Renewal of Body and Mind 307
12:9- 21. The Imperatives of Love 317
Romans 13 327
13:1- 14. Submission to Authority, But Love of Neighbor 327
Romans 14 351
14:1- 13a. Accepting One Another 351
14:13b- 23. Love Does Not Create Stumbling- Blocks 364
Romans 15 375
15:1- 13. Living and Worshiping in Harmony and Hope 375
15:14- 33. Paul's Plans for Travel and the "Collection" 387
Romans 16 400
16:1- 16. Closing Greetings and Commendations 400
16:17- 27. A Final Warning and a Last Encouragement 411
Glossary 422
References 431
Index of Subjects 452
