Abstract
While some scholars have argued that in Romans Paul adapts his Gospel to his audiences in Rome, this presentation examines the particularly Jewish elements in Paul’s presentation of the Gospel this letter. It argues that these often neglected elements contribute to the Empire-critical thrust of the letter. Precisely because of its Jewish roots and clothing, Paul’s Gospel challenges the claims of Rome.
The presentation first discusses some recent anti-Imperial readings of Romans. It then summarises these Jewish elements and their critical function vis-à-vis the claims of the Empire, ever present in Rome.
A final section draws out the implications of this particularly Jewish counter-narrative for the study of Romans, Pauline theology as well as church and society at large.