Abstract
The distinguished author of a number of major works on hermeneutics and a magisterial commentary on 1 Corinthians has contributed this volume on Romans for the series Discovering Biblical Texts. Anthony Thiselton has produced a very readable book that succinctly sets out key insights from a host of interpreters as well as his own seasoned conclusions on Paul’s most influential letter.
The first 66 pages introduce the epistle. Teachers will especially appreciate the initial chapter on eight brief reasons why we should read Romans today, followed by two chapters on strategies for reading and interpreting the text. The fourth chapter selectively summarizes the reception history of the letter from Marcion to E. P. Sanders; Dunn and Wright get a quick nod here with Kim cited as a corrective to the ‘New Perspective’. A fifth chapter introduces textual criticism and addresses crucial variants and the textual integrity of Romans. A very short sixth chapter summarizes Paul’s career, setting the scene for the writing of the epistle.
The remaining three-quarters of the book is essentially a commentary on the biblical text, with Greek words transliterated in italics. It does not break new ground but carefully distils the insights of Cranfield, Dunn, Fitzmyer, Jewett and Wright, as well as drawing in points from a host of older scholars. The commentaries of Stuhlmacher, Matera, Keener, Kruse, Hultgren and Schreiner do not get a mention (Longenecker is too recent) – nor does Douglas Campbell’s idiosyncratic interpretative approach to reading Romans – but that is not surprising given Thiselton’s target audience. Scripture, author and subject indices increase the value of the book.
A strength of the volume is that Thiselton has written succinctly; his sentences are short and clear, often quoting or summarizing specific contributions from particular authors. What is not clear at times is whether or not he agrees with the conclusions of those he cites and why. The interpretative line he takes in the commentary section is largely that of Cranfield with a significant dose of Dunn. A weakness is that so many references to the views of others gives a ‘bitty’ feel to the book and comes at the expense of a strong sense of the flow of the epistle’s argument. But such may be the inevitable cost of a work whose purpose largely is to reflect on the hermeneutical terrain.
The appeal of this book will be to a student audience, although teachers will turn to it to see what nuggets this senior exegete has selected to offer. Given the work’s relative brevity (in an age of big books!) on such a massive topic, some scholars will wonder why this or that person’s contribution has been slighted. But Anthony Thiselton has provided a wealth of material and insight in what could be an ideal textbook for a college or seminary course on Romans.