Paul's Letter to the Romans

Continuing his series of highly regarded and innovative socio-rhetorical commentaries on the New Testament, Ben Witherington now tackles Romans, perhaps the most profound - and difficult - book of the New Testament.  
  
Interacting with recent treatments of this Pauline letter and with ancient Christian commentators, Witherington shows that the interpretation of Romans since the Reformation has been far too indebted to Augustinian readings of the text as filtered through Luther, Calvin, and others. Instead, Witherington urges a reading of the text in light of early Jewish theology, the historical situation of Rome, and Paul's own rhetorical concerns.  
  
Offering a new translation of the Greek text and new insights into Paul and his world, this commentary sheds fresh light on the meaning of Romans for its original audience and for Christian readers today.  
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While Paulbs letter to the Romans is the most studied and commented-on document from the biblical period, the major exegetical books on Romans from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries have been overwhelmingly shaped by the Reformed tradition. Through a careful survey of work on Romans by both ancient Church Fathers and modern exegetical scholars, Ben Witherington III here argues that the interpretation of Romans since the Reformation has been far too indebted to -- and at key points led astray by -- Augustinian readings of the text as filtered through Luther, Calvin, and others.In this first full-scale socio-rhetorical commentary on Romans, Witherington gleans fresh insights from reading the text of Paulbs epistle in light of early Jewish theology, the historical situation of Rome in the middle of the first century A.D., and Paulbs own rhetorical concerns. Giving serious consideration to the social and rhetorical background of Romans allows readers to hear Paul on his own terms, not just through the various voices of his later interpreters. Witheringtonbs groundbreaking work also features a new, clear translation of the Greek text, and each section of the commentary ends with a brief discussion titled bBridging the Horizons, b which suggests how the ancient text of Romans may speak to us today.Read less