Romans Through the Centuries

The Epistle to the Romans (also known as Letter to the Romans, or Romans) is the sixth book in the New Testament and it was composed by the Apostle Paul to explain non-believers that the gospel of Jesus will bring salvation to the mankind. The letter has been intensely studied since early Christian times and was the basis of Martin Luther’s teaching on justification by faith alone.

Unfolding Paul’s argument and interpretation over the centuries (through the Patristic era, the Reformation, and the modern period), the proposed title explains how Paul’s letter remains popular and relevant to this day. Each section of the commentary will proceed through six stages. At first, the structure of Paul’s argument is summarised and analysed to identify his own intention in its context (1-2). Then the author examines a selection of crucial passages, focussing on their linguistic, historical, and theological aspects (3), and he retraces how the text has been differently interpreted from the first century to the present days (4), also exploring the afterlife of the passage in literature, art, music, drama, and films (5). The various approaches to the text are set in the theological, ecclesiastical, and social context of their times, with some attempts to show how the passage has made an impact on the life of church and society, as well as the way that the concerns of the period have shaped the perspective of interpretation. Finally, the author will present their own conclusion on the contested points of exegesis, in the attempt to affirm the multi-valency of each passage while recognizing key boundaries of interpretation.

The proposed title sets Paul’s letter in the wider context of Christian theology, while exploring how the text can contribute to our own understanding of God, the world and human nature. The result is an innovative volume that offers an overview of the key passages of the letter and its interpretations, whilst breaking down the barriers between the disciplines of New Testament criticism, historical theology and ’the making of Christian doctrine’ for today.

Paul S. Fiddes is considered one of the leading contemporary British theologians. He holds the Title of Distinction of Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Oxford and was formerly Principal of Regent’s Park College and Chairman of the Theology Faculty. Elected Fellow of the British Academy in 2020, he has considerable experience as author and editor. With Wiley Blackwell he published The Promised End: Eschatology in Theology and Literature (2000), part of the renowned Challenges in Contemporary Theology series.