"Romans Repent!" is perhaps the first book in sixteen hundred years to argue that Paul's letter to the Romans was not written to Christians, but was a script to be proclaimed to the polytheists of Rome. For the last millennium and a half it has been unthinkable to imagine a Rome that was not dominated by Christian faith, but when Paul wrote this message monotheists were not allowed to live in the city. Even the Jews who dwelt in Rome had become conformed to Roman culture and faith. Paul declared that the mighty deeds of Abraham, David and Elijah would not justify those who incited God's jealousy through their unfaithfulness. "Romans Repent!" gives new insight into the evangelization of Rome, with special attention to the role of Phoebe, who boldly declared Paul's message to the people of Rome. This commentary provides a new translation of the letter, which brings to life Paul's message about "us," the churches, who are hard at work to proclaim the gospel among idolatrous people such as "you." What if Romans was not a petition to the churches of Rome, but was a proclamation to all the people of pagan Rome (Romans 1:7)? What if, when Paul warned of the jealousy of God (1:18) and declared that "You have no excuse" (2:1) and that you are mere humans in the weakness of your flesh (6:19), he was writing to those whom Paul considered to be enemies of the true God? Paul called the people of Rome "loved by God," but that did not mean that he thought that they were perfect or good or even Christian. When Paul called people "beloved" he was usually admonishing them or warning them of the jealous passion that God feels toward them (see I Corinthians 4:14; 10:14; II Corinthians 7:1; 12:19-20; Philippians 2:12). Romans were being warned to flee from idolatry and to no longer worship the gods of their faith. "Romans Repent!" will show that the "brothers" who met Paul in Rome (Acts 28:15) were not Christian believers, but were Jewish relatives. The leaders of the Jews in Rome said that they had not yet heard anything from their Jewish brothers concerning Paul (Acts 28:21) and they spoke as if they had only second or third hand information about Christians (Acts 28:22). When Roman Jews in great numbers came to Paul's lodgings (Acts 28:23) there was no mention of any Christians being there. At the end of that meeting Paul declared that the Gentiles of Rome in the future "will hear" this gospel (Acts 28:28). The seed of the word had not yet taken root before Paul began his ministry in Rome. The letter to the Romans has had more effect on Christianity and on human history than any other writing. Cultural understandings of government and obedience, humility and pride, tolerance and conformity have been molded by the interpretation of Paul's words. Christian understandings of justification, grace, law, righteousness, sin, Christ, our connection to Christ and to one another have been indelibly shaped by words that were written almost two thousand years ago. Whether we realize it or not or whether we like it or not, the interpretation of Romans affects our daily lives and the future of human society. "Romans Repent!" will change the way you hear Paul's letter. You will hear his clear preaching of law and gospel to those who had never yet heard the message. You will understand verses that others have found confusing. You will discover remarkable insights even in passages that you thought you already understood.
About the Author: Dean H. Nelson graduated from the University of Oregon in 1974. While there he was active in various Christian groups and was chaplain of Philo House. He received a M.Div. from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN in 1979. While serving as a parish pastor in South Dakota for twenty-seven years and in California for five years he has continued to study and preach the Bible. Pastor Nelson now serves a Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) congregation in the Central Valley of California.