Review of Romans and Galatians: Part 1

Many theologians who have studied the new testament book of Romans agree that it is quite a controversial book, in which Paul both contradicts himself and goes against what individuals in that time period viewed as the correct application of scripture. The four authors Stendahl, Hays, Donaldson, and Gaston discuss this very issue, along with the shift in the paradigm, Paul's relationship with the Torah; as well as Paul's use of Old Testament scriptures in Romans, and the relationship of Paul with Israel and its community. Additionally, the concept that sin is universal, and if the Jews have an advantage over the Gentiles because of the fact that God gave the Torah to their, meaning the Jews, ancestors is also discussed in four excerpts by the above authors. These four excerpts are entitled: Final Account Paul's Letter to the Romans, "Intertextual Echo in Romans", "A New Paradigm and a New Problem", "The Torah", and "Paul and the Torah." At the heart of all of these arguments in one form or another is stated on page 24 of Stendahl's book, Final Account Paul's Letter to the Romans. It reads: "'Paul's point in Romans 3 is not to teach a specific doctrine of atonement, reconciliation, or redemption. He uses a rich, conflated image and his point is one to which he returns in verse 27. 'Where then is the bragging' -bragging in the sense of feeling superior to the other. That's what bragging is about, isn't it? Bragging is cut out, Paul says. By what law? By the law of works? By the law of circumcision or food laws, the laws that set people apart?" No, by the law of faith.'"[1] These four authors all bring up relevant points that both help to explain some of the inconsistencies in Paul's letter to the Romans and to raise more questions.