Preaching Romans: Four Perspectives

First-rate scholars and preachers on four interpretive approaches to Paul and Romans

Pauline scholarship is a minefield of differing schools of thought. Those who teach or preach on Paul can quickly get lost in the weeds of the various perspectives. How, then, can pastors today best preach Paul’s message?

Scot McKnight and Joseph B. Modica have assembled this stellar one-stop guide exploring four major interpretive perspectives on the apostle Paul: Reformational, New, Apocalyptic, and Participationist. First elucidated by a scholarly essay, each perspective is then illuminated by three sermons expositing various passages from Paul’s magisterial letter to the Romans.

Coming from such leading figures as Richard Hays, James Dunn, Fleming Rutledge, and Tom Schreiner, these essays and sermons splendidly demonstrate how each perspective on Paul brings valuable insights for preaching on Romans.

[Table of Contents]

Introduction

Interpretive Perspectives on the Apostle Paul

1. Romans and the Lutheran Paul: Stephen Westerholm

2. Romans and the New Perspective: Scot McKnight

3. Romans and the Apocalyptic Reading of Paul: Douglas A. Campbell

4. Romans and the Participationist Perspective: Michael J. Gorman

Preaching Romans: Sermons

Reformational Perspective

1. Romans as Ecclesial Theology: Building Multiethnic Missional Churches: Michael F. Bird

2. God Justifies the Ungodly: Romans 4:1-8: Thomas R. Schreiner

3. The Transforming Reality of Justification by Faith: Romans 5:1-5: Carl R. Trueman

New Perspective

1. The Balance of Already/Not Yet: Romans 8:1-17: James D. G. Dunn

2. This Changes Everything: Romans 5:12-21: Tara Beth Leach

3. Pass the Peace by Faith: Romans 4:1-4, 13-17: Scot McKnight

Apocalyptic Perspective

1. Immortal Combat: Romans 1:16-17 and 5:12-14: Jason Micheli

2. In Celebration of Full Communion: Romans 3:21-24: Fleming Rutledge

3. Old Adam, New Adam; Old World, New World; Old You, New You: Romans 5:12-21: William H. Willimon

Participationist Perspective

1. Death Becomes Her: Romans 6:1-14: Timothy G. Gombis

2. Made New by One Man’s Obedience: Romans 5:12-19: Richard B. Hays

3. Breathing Well: Romans 8:12-30: Suzanne Watts Henderson

Conclusion

1. Implications: Joseph B. Modica