Conflict and Identity in Romans: The Social Setting of Paul's Letter
Overview
What is the purpose of Paul’s letter to the Romans? Esler provides an illuminating analysis of this epistle, employing social-scientific methods along with epigraphy and archaeology. His conclusion is that the Apostle Paul was attempting to facilitate the resolution of intergroup conflict among the Christ-followers of Rome, especially between Judeans and non-Judeans, and to establish a new identity for them by developing a form of group categorization that subsumes the various groups into a new entity.
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Top Highlights
“Lastly, in relation to 4:9–12, it is apparent that this passage leaves a question hanging: What is the status of Judeans who have not come to righteousness by faith in respect of Abraham? Is Paul insinuating that they are not really his sons, meaning he is not distinguishing between real and fictive kinship, or is it the case that nothing he has said affects their status as sons of Abraham by physical descent, as Ambrosiaster at least thought, when he said Abraham was ‘the father of the Judeans according to the flesh, but according to faith truly the father of all who believe’?93 Such a view receives some support from his invocation of Abraham as ‘our father in the flesh’ in 4:1 and even more from his acceptance of the continuing existence of Israel in 9:1–5 and in chap.” (Page 191)
“Although the meaning of this phrase is much discussed, Albert Schweitzer offers a useful explanation: ‘Though the expression has almost the character of a formula, it is no mere formula for Paul.” (Page 217)
“Paul knows of no one between Abraham and Christ who pursued this type of righteousness.” (Page 194)
“The contemporary issue driving the current study of Romans is the nature of Christian identity—that is, the question of what it means to be a Christian—in a world rent by violent, often murderous conflict between groups, in particular those of an ethnic kind.” (Page 10)
Esler provides his readers with a discerning, exciting, and masterful reading of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. . . . For an incisive, penetrating, and sensible grasp of Romans, there is nothing better than Esler’s work. The unassuming and unostentatious style in which the book is written belies the freshness of insight and brilliance of perception that the author offers his readers.
—Bruce J. Malina, professor of New Testament and early Christianity, Creighton University
This is an important study of Paul’s letter to Rome that breaks out of the traditional boundaries of doctrine interpretation. Employing insights from recent social science, Esler argues that Paul offers the diverse churches in Rome a common in-group identity that could overcome their ethnic conflicts and make cooperation possible. They need to understand that every ethnic group stands equally under sin and under grace. This innovative book makes Romans more important than ever for a world still torn by ethnic conflict.
—Robert Jewett, visiting professor of New Testament, University of Heidelberg
- Title: Conflict and Identity in Romans: The Social Setting of Paul’s Letter
- Author: Philip F. Esler
- Publisher: Fortress Press
- Print Publication Date: 2003
- Logos Release Date: 2013
- Pages: 472
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible. N.T. Romans › Social scientific criticism; Bible. N.T. Romans › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Conflict management in the Bible
- Resource ID: LLS:CNFLCTDNTTYRMNS
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-02-11T17:43:00Z