When in Romans: Freedom or Shackles?

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The book of Romans carries so much theological weight that it’s hard to see Paul’s reasoning and technique through it. Fortunately, there’s been a wealth of new scholarship and research on it that it’s freeing the text from its Lutheran and Calvinist shackles. You can spend a lifetime diving into details but I will focus on three areas that highlight the new research:  the contrast and purpose of Chapters 1&2 and why they must always be read together, Chapter 3 and atonement theory, and Chapters 12, 14, and 16 which hint at why Chapters 1-3 are probably not about systematic theology like we think. 

Notes: hilasterion (ἱλαστήριον) also refers to the Seat of Mercy as well as the covering or place of forgiveness. Jews celebrate Yom Kippur as the Day of Atonement. This is followed by "through" or "by" faith (διὰ τῆς πίστεως) in the genitive, instead of "because of" faith in the accusative. 

References:
Beverly Roberts Gaventa “Romans: A Commentary” 2024.
Nijay K. Gupta & John K. Goodrich, Eds, “The Beginning of Paul’s Gospel: Theological Explorations in Romans 1-4” 2023. 

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