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The Mystery of Romans: The Jewish Context of Paul’s Letter (1996) is a book by Mark D. Nanos.

Abstract

"Paul's letter to the Romans, says Nanos, is an example of Jewish correspondence, addressing believers in Jesus who are steeped in Jewish ways-whether of Jewish or gentile origin. Arguing against those who think Paul was an apostate from Judaism, Nanos maintains Paul's continuity with his Jewish heritage. Several key arguments here are: Those addressed in Paul's letter were still an integral part of the Roman synagogue communities. The "weak" are non- Christian Jews, while the "strong" included both Jewish and gentile converts to belief in Jesus. Paul as a practicing devout Jew insists on the rules of behavior for "the righteous gentiles." Christian subordination to authorities (Romans 13:1-7) is intended to enforce submission to leaders of the synagogues, not Roman government officials. Paul behaves in a way to confirm the very Jewish portrait of him in Acts: going first to the synagogues."--Publisher description.

Nanos offers a bold interpretation of Paul’s letter to the Romans which calls into question many scholarly presumptions as to Paul’s purpose in his correspondence to Rome. Nanos sees Paul addressing a primarily gentile Christian audience in order to prepare them for his visit. This community was not set up by Paul and they seem to be lacking some of the principles with which Paul sets up his Christian communities. Paul wants to ensure his gentile audience that even though they are equals in the community of God, they must remember their place and realize that Paul’s mission everywhere is to the Jews first and only then to the gentiles. It seems as though some of the gentiles in the community, which operates within the synagogues of Rome, have become arrogant in thinking that they are the true Israel, that they have supplanted the Jews in the kingdom of God, and that they do not have to abide by any forms of Jewish law or custom. Paul reminds them of their obligation to uphold the halakha which was common for “righteous gentiles” in the synagogue (the apostolic decree or the Noahide commandments). If they do not, they will cause the weak of faith (non-Christian Jews) to stumble by setting an example of a Christian life which they would never be inclined to follow. Nanos’ Paul is Jewish through and through, a proponent that Christian Jews must continue to follow the Torah and that Gentile Christians must respect the Torah and those who follow it. Paul’s problems lie not in Torah practice, but in exclusivity. Jews are wrong for thinking that only they are members of the true Christian community. Gentiles are wrong for thinking the opposite. Both positions call into question Paul’s firm monotheism, where the One God is the God of both the Jews and the gentiles. – Jason Zurawski, University of Michigan

Editions

Published in Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1996.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• 1. To the Jew First and Also to the Greek
• 2. The Historical Backdrop and Implied Audience
  • 1. Diaspora Judaism in Rome at the Time of Paul’s Letter
  • 2. The Implied Audience for Paul’s “Reminder” to Rome
• 3. Who Were the “Weak” and the “Strong” in Rome?
  • 1. The Problem with Prevailing Views of the “Weak” and the “Strong”
  • 2. Must One Assume that the “Weak” and the “Strong” Are Christians?
  • 3. The Identity of the “Weak” and the “Strong” in Romans
  • 4. Paul’s Instructions to the “Weak” and the “Strong”
  • 5. The Impact of Redefining the “Weak” and the “Strong” on the Purpose and Message of Romans
• 4. The Apostolic Decree and the “Obedience of Faith”
  • 1. Monotheism and the Shema as the Basis of Paul’s Argument
  • 2. The Apostolic Decree and the Message of Romans
  • 3. The “Obedience of Faith” and the Apostolic Decree
• 5. Paul’s Two-step Pattern and the Restoration of “All Israel”
  • 1. Paul’s Two-Step Pattern in Romans and Reflected in Acts
  • 2. Romans 11:25-29
  • 3. Exegesis of Romans 11:25-29
  • 4. The “Fullness of the Gentiles” and the Restoration of “All Israel”
• 6. Romans 13:1-7: Christian Obedience to Synagogue Authority
  • 1. Exegetical Feasibility
  • 2. Contextual Feasibility
  • 3. The Feasibility of this Proposal as Demonstrated in Paul’s Example of “Subordination” (A Final Concern)
  • 4. Summary
  • 5. An Expanded Contextual Translation of 13:1-7, 8
• Summary and Appendix 1: Peter’s Hypocrisy (Gal. 2:11-21) in the Light of Paul’s Anxiety (Rom. 7)
• Appendix 2: Some Problems with Reading Romans through the Lens of the Edict of Claudius

External Links

• Google Books (partial text)