Romans

In his book, The Deliverance of God, Douglas Campbell argues that Romans 1:18–3:20 should be read as an ancient form of rhetoric, known as prosopopoeia or in modern-day terms, parody. This type of literary device was used in the writings of Plato to show the absurdity of an opponent’s argument. If Campbell’s interpretation is correct, … Read more

The traditional Protestant understanding of salvation places a strong emphasis on personal faith. For example, “If you believe, you will be saved.” This emphasis can be a healthy corrective to the prideful idea that we are saved by our good deeds. But while it’s not often recognized, the same danger lurks in the emphasis on … Read more

Pride is a problem, even for Christians, or should I say, especially for Christians. And this problem goes all the way back to the first century. In Romans 11, Paul addresses Gentile believers with the purpose of humbling them which can be seen in the direct prohibition, “do not become proud” (v. 20) and in … Read more

Great teachers ask a lot of questions. Just consider the frequent use of questions in the teaching of Socrates, Confucius, and Jesus. Paul’s letters are also peppered with questions. And Paul not only asks questions, he also answers them. Take a look at the breakdown of Romans 9 below. (At the bottom of this post, … Read more