Romans: Paul’s Inclusive Gospel
(Tony Siew)
Paul’s letter to the Romans is his magnum opus. The letter to the Romans is at once an occasional
letter addressing congregational issues and at the same time Paul’s most
systematic and elaborate of letters. In it, Paul discusses the nature of his
gospel to the Jews and Greeks (Rom 1-8), God’s promises to Israel (Rom 9-11),
and the outworking of the gospel in Church and Society (Rom 12-13). Finally, in
Rom 14-15, Paul promotes an inclusive ethic for Christians that advises the
Gentiles (the strong) to accommodate certain practices of the Jews (the weak)
in order that all believers from diverse ethnic groups can be united in worship
and in the advancement of the gospel in the world. This course will look at the
above themes with particular focus to Paul’s inclusive gospel as a model for
the urban church of the 21st century to embrace diverse ethnic groups as
members of one church, “so that together we may with one voice glorify the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 15:6).
Required Textbook:
1) Talbert,
Charles H., Romans (Smyth &
Helwys Bible Commentary; Macon, Georgia: Smyth & Helwys Publishing, 2002).
Recommended texts:
A) Introduction to Paul
(i)
E. P. Sanders, A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2001)
(ii)
Jouette M. Bassler, Navigating Paul: An Introduction to Key Theological Concepts (Louisville:
John Knox Press, 2006).
B) Commentaries &
Monographs on Paul
1) Toney, Carl N.,
Paul’s Inclusive Ethic (WUNT 252; Tubingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2008).
2) Tobin, Thomas H., Paul’s
Rhetoric in its Contexts: The Argument of Romans (Peabody: Hendrickson,
2004).
3) Jewett, Robert, Romans:
A Commentary (Hermeneia; Augsburg Fortress, 2006).
Lectures Schedule:
Monday afternoons (from 7th July to 28th October 2013).
Assessment:
1)
Presentation (20%) – 10 minutes on a topic from
Romans
2)
Reading & Class Interaction (20%)
3)
Essay (3,500 words inclusive of footnotes [60%])
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