Romans and the People of God

A great deal of scholarly energy of late has been dedicated to the interpretation of Romans. The intense debate concerning Paul and the law has led some scholars to reevaluate long-held positions with regard to Paul's great letter, while other scholars are seeking fresh formulations of deep -rooted convictions. In addition, there are ongoing investigations into Paul's sophisticated use of Old Testament traditions, his mastery of subtle rhetorical devices, his use of Spirit language, and his formulation of missiological principles. Classical themes such as the fatherhood of God and the divine sonship of Jesus are in continual need of refinement, as are the practical implications of the Pauline perspectives for contemporary living and ministry.

All of these topics and others are dealt with in this superb collection of essays on Romans presented to Gordon D. Fee on the occasion of his 65th birthday. The contributors, themselves all New Testament scholars of international standing, come from a wide circle of Gordon's friends and associates. Their explorations into various exegetical, theological, and pastoral aspects of Romans not only serve as a fitting tribute to Gordon's own work in New Testament scholarship but also represent the very best studies available in this critical area of biblical research.

That this is a lively collection of essays is entirely appropriate for a very "lively" scholar and lecturer. Formerly of Southern California College, Wheaton College, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Gordon has served for the last thirteen years as Professor of New Testament at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia. His worldwide teaching/preaching ministry has taken him from the Philippines to Croatia, from India to Sweden, and many places in between. His many publications, catalogued at the back of this book, speak for themselves.

Never ashamed of his Pentecostal background, Gordon has made a significant mark on biblical scholarship by calling for and demonstrating in his own life the integration of heart and mind, Word and Spirit. The essays included in this symposium are intended both to honor that contribution and to further the kind of scholarship that has motivated the life work of this much loved and respected colleague.

Contributors:
Barbara Aland
James D. G. Dunn
Craig A. Evans
R. T. France
Robert H. Gundry
Michael W. Holmes
Edith M. Humphrey
L. W. Hurtado
Richard N. Longenecker
I. Howard Marshall
Ralph P. Martin
J. Ramsey Michaels
J. I. Packer
Eugene H. Peterson
R. Paul Stevens
Marianne Meye Thompson
Philip H. Towner
Rikki E. Watts
N. T. Wright

 

N. T. Wright, one of the most highly respected biblical scholars in the world today, is research professor emeritus of New Testament and early Christianity at the University of St. Andrews and senior research fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He is the author of over eighty books, including Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, Paul and the Faithfulness of God, and The New Testament in Its World.