Michael Gorman – Romans in Pastoral and Theological Perspectives
May 12, 2022
auto_awesome
Renowned Pauline scholar, Michael Gorman, discusses his new commentary on Romans for pastors and students. They explore the depth of Paul's theology, the concept of righteousness of God, and interpret Paul's statement about salvation of Israel. They also engage in banter, share advice for theology students, and discuss the challenge of building community.
Romans emphasizes building strong, peaceable communities that reflect the future kingdom of God.
The righteousness of God in Romans encompasses God's plan to bring all people out of sin and participate in God's restorative work.
Deep dives
Interpreting Romans for Community Formation
Paul's letter to the Romans emphasizes the importance of community formation and transformation rather than individual faith. It calls for the church to be an alternative and new way of being human, reflecting the future kingdom of God. Living out the gospel entails being a peaceable community, bearing one another's differences, and engaging in reconciling work. Romans 14 highlights the need for justice, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. The letter invites the church to be instruments in God's hands, working towards righteousness and participating in God's saving activity. Romans challenges believers to build strong communities amidst the forces that may push against it in the modern era.
The Challenge of Applying Romans Today
Applying the message of Romans to our lives today requires a deep understanding of community formation and transformation. The letter urges believers to be actively involved in bearing witness to the reconciling work of God. Romans emphasizes the importance of building peaceable communities that reflect the future kingdom of God. It encourages believers to engage in acts of justice, promote peace, and find joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans calls for Christians to live out their faith in a way that demonstrates reconciliation, restoration, and the love of God to the world.
Navigating Challenging Passages in Romans
Two of the most challenging sections in Romans are chapters 13 and 1. Romans 13:1-7 addresses the topic of authorities and submission, which has been widely misinterpreted. Paul's message centers on community formation, suggesting believers should understand and engage with the governing authorities while prioritizing reconciliation, restoration, and the kingdom of God. Romans 1, particularly verses related to sexuality, raises contemporary questions of interpretation. Paul's emphasis is on addressing issues related to idolatry and immoral behavior, urging believers to pursue a transformative and righteous way of life.
Understanding the Righteousness of God in Romans
The righteousness of God in Romans primarily refers to God's saving, rescuing, and redeeming covenantal activity. It encapsulates God's entire plan to bring all people, Jews and Gentiles alike, out of sin and into salvation through Christ. While the exact meaning of the righteousness of God may vary in different parts of Paul's letters, it is consistently tied to God's mercy and displayed most fully in Christ's death and resurrection. The righteousness of God also encompasses the divine attributes, including justice, as believers are invited to participate in God's restorative work and share in God's righteous character.
Episode: Michael Gorman, renowned Pauline scholar, has now penned a commentary on Romans. The commentary is for a diverse audience, including pastors and students. So OnScript co-host Matthew Bates, who is […]