Romans (Paideia: Commentaries on the New Testament)

by Frank Matera

Publisher:

Baker Academic

, 2010

Overview

In this volume of the Paideia: Commentaries on the New Testament, respected New Testament scholar Frank Matera examines cultural context and theological meaning in Romans. This commentary approaches each text in its final, canonical form, proceeding by sense units rather than word-by-word or verse-by-verse. Each sense unit is explored in three sections: introductory matters, tracing the train of thought, and key hermeneutical and theological questions. Graduate and seminary students, professors, and pastors will benefit from this readable commentary, as will theological libraries. This commentary, like each in the Paideia series, approaches each text in its final, canonical form, proceeding by sense units rather than word-by-word or verse-by-verse. Each sense unit is explored in three sections: (1) introductory matters, (2) tracing the train of thought, (3) key hermeneutical and theological questions.

Key Features

• Examines cultural context and theological meaning
• Discusses theological issues raised by the text
• Provides notes, outlines, images, and tables

Contents

Top Highlights

“In my view, then, although Das has made the strongest case to date for a purely Gentile audience, Paul’s appeal to his audience to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed them (15:7), which precedes his description of Christ as a minister to Jews and Gentiles (15:8–9), suggests that even if Paul’s audience was composed predominantly of Gentile believers, it included some Jewish Christ-believers as well.” (Page 7)

“In my view, Paul is not speaking of the present experience of the Christian but describing the experience of those who are not in Christ as seen from the perspective of one who is in Christ. The unredeemed may not think of themselves in this way, and Paul certainly did not view himself in this way when he persecuted Christ’s followers; but in the light of Christ he sees that this is the real situation of all who are not in Christ, even if they are not aware it.” (Page 167)

“Paul’s purpose, then, is not to attack the law and circumcision but to expose the failure of those who rely on them without doing what they require.” (Page 71)

“The uniqueness of Paul’s paraenesis, then, is the way he relates it to his gospel: the justified can live in Christ, the eschatological human being, because God has overcome the power of sin that held sway over Adamic humanity.” (Page 284)

“Abraham’s most outstanding characteristic was his monotheism, which distinguished him from the idolatrous Gentiles” (Page 107)

Endorsements

Matera’s commentary focusing on God’s saving righteousness revealed in the gospel is a lucid exposition of Romans. A great gift not only to students but also to seasoned interpreters of Paul.

—Michael J. Gorman, professor of New Testament, St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore

Matera wisely distills and dispenses the massive scholarship on Romans. Students will find here an excellently organized, clear, and substantial description and discussion of this important and complex letter. Matera’s personal passion for Paul’s magnificent convictions in Romans energizes this fine introductory commentary.

—L. Ann Jervis, professor of New Testament, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto

Product Details

• Title: Romans
• Author: Frank Matera
• Series: Paideia Commentaries on the New Testament
• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Print Publication Date: 2010
• Logos Release Date: 2012
• Pages: 416
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. N.T. Romans › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9781441251268, 9780801031892, 144125126, 0801031893, 144125126X
• Resource ID: LLS:PAIDEIA66RO
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-08-30T23:41:11Z

About Frank Matera

A priest of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Frank Matera was born in New Britain Connecticut. He studied at Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, St. Bernard Seminary in Rochester, and at the Catholic University of Louvain, where he received his MA. After several years of parish work, he pursued doctoral studies at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA, where he received his PhD in 1981. His dissertation, The Kingship of Jesus: Composition and Theology in Mark 15 was subsequently published by Scholars Press. Professor Matera taught at St. John’s Seminary in Boston from 1982–1987 and has taught at the Catholic University of America since 1988. A student of Paul, he is the author of commentaries on Galatians and 2 Corinthians and is presently working on a commentary on Romans. Interested in the theological dimension of the New Testament, he has published books on the Passion Narratives, New Testament Ethics, New Testament Christology and, most recently, the Theology of the New Testament.

About the Series

Paideia: Commentaries on the New Testament approaches each text in its final, canonical form, proceeding by sense units (pericopes) rather than word-by-word or verse-by-verse. Thus, each commentary follows the original train of thought as indicated by the author instead of modern artificial distinctions. Using this approach, one is able to grasp not only the exegetical-historical information of a passage, but also follow a coherent theological expression throughout. Additionally, this series is enormously helpful and practical through its usage of small visual presentations of historical, exegetical, and theological information. Highly user friendly, this is a great resource for college students, pastors, or those who want to take their Bible study to another level.

The Paideia series explores how New Testament texts inform Christian readers by:

• Attending to the ancient narrative and rhetorical strategies the text employs
• Showing how the text shapes theological convictions and moral habits
• Commenting on the final, canonical form of each New Testament book
• Focusing on the cultural, literary, and theological settings of the text
• Making judicious use of maps, photos, and sidebars in a reader-friendly format