Rhetoric Analysis

Paul’s letter to the Romans is known as one of his greatest theological works. It has been passed down for thousands of years and is still just as relevant today as it was in Paul’s time. How exactly is it relevant the modern day Christian may ask? What with its harsh language that includes strong sentences such as “the wages of sin is death” (6:23) and “the wrath of God” (1:18) one may say that the times have changed. Some may say that these issues in Paul’s time are acceptable in society today. Jesus is all loving not wrathful. What exactly is the Christian to think? The purpose of this short essay is to examine how the Book of Romans relates to the Christian in the twenty-first century and how it helps to shape his worldview.

In issue three of writing identities, we have learned that tone shifts or changes in different rhetorical situations. A rhetorical situation is basically an event that consists of at least one person trying to change the perspective of another person. Looking at the definition, is it true that the tone changes in different rhetorical situations, depending on what is happening and what is being discussed in that period of time.

Imagine discovering the cure for cancer, and then tossing the revolutionary discovery into a blaze of fire. This obliteration has happened to rhetoric, a tool of language that donates life to argument and creates a thriving system of communication for the world. Rhetoric used to be an important aspect of education that could assist students with the teachings of argument and human interaction. Today, rhetoric has become a topic of minimal discussion among ideas that have long since been outdated, and considered archaic to the educational system. In reality, rhetoric exemplifies the human genius and must be taught in schools to further the evolution of human expression.

Paul became an advocate for the inclusion of the Gentiles among the ‘true’ followers of Christianity. Until this moment in history, Jewish Christians believed that non-Jews had to convert to Judaism and follow the law like them, which included many dietary restrictions and circumcision. Gentiles who worship in the synagogue but did not convert were only

The church in Rome, once so prone to lose sight of their high calling in Christ, had developed strength of Christ character. Their words and acts revealed the transforming power of the grace of God. With clearness and power Paul presents the doctrine of justification by Faith in Christ alone. Paul heart’s desire and prayer for his people the Jews were that they might be saved he now sets forth the great principle of the gospel that salvation is only through faith in Christ as Jesus says “if you love me keep my commandments”. Therefore it is not by works that we are saved nor by relations or titles nor anything but only through Christ who is the “Way the Truth and the Life”.

Paul’s letter to the Roman’s was an occasional epistle as opposed to a systematic theology. However, Paul did present the Gospel in a systematic way. He was writing to an unknown audience of Christian’s, so he made sure to explain himself thoroughly in all areas, more so than if he was writing to those who knew him or had heard him speak before. He wanted to give the Roman’s a good foundation to work from. In doing so he has given Christian’s of today a good foundation for their biblical worldview. While one certainly cannot extract their entire worldview from the book of Roman’s, it is certainly a good basis. Paul covers several areas that are important to one’s worldview in this letter. They will be discussed in this essay. They are creation, sin, salvation, eschatology, ethics and theology. Each topic will be given a closer look as we proceed.

Nostra Aetate would also use the Apostle Paul’s letters to the Romans as a New Testament passage where he gives reverence to Judaism. Paul praises “the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised” (Romans 9:4-5). “The Jews viewed God’s choosing of Israel in the Old Testament as being like an adoption” (Life Application Study Bible, p. 2044). “They were undeserving and yet God adopted them and granted them status of calling them children of God” (Life Application Study Bible, p. 2044). These verses states that the covenant made between Israel and God has never been revoked even though some of them rejected the Jewish Messiah. This reinforces the churches idea that Jews should not be cursed and they are the people of God. Using this New Testament passage the church is repairing the wounds of centuries of Christian prejudice towards Jews.

Paul’s letter to the Romans is of his greatest theological works, passed down for thousands of years and still as relevant today as it was in Paul’s time. How exactly is it relevant the modern Christian may ask? What with its harsh language that includes statements such as “the wages of sin is death” (6:23) and “the wrath of God” (1:18), one may say that current times have changed. Some may say that the issues Paul addresses are acceptable in today’s society. What exactly is the Christian to think? The purpose of this short essay is to examine how the Book of Romans relates to the Christian in the twenty-first century and how it helps to shape his worldview.

The Jewish Christians thought that because of their covenant relationship with God that they were in a much better position than all others, and did not have to worry about their sins. Because God gave the Jews the Torah through Moses they are under the law, because the Gentiles did not have the Torah they were apart from the law. But either way it did not matter, the results of breaking the law is the same for both the Jew and the Gentile. The law shows what sin is, it does not justify. No one will be justified by the law unless they are perfect in obeying it, which only Jesus was ever able to do. (James 2:10) For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Paul used a lot of verses from the Old Testament to make his point more powerful. In verses 3:21-32, Paul then teaches them how to become

Paul closes this passage by detailing the most basic of Jewish law observances – circumcision. Paul argues that if one claims observance to this ritual but breaks the law, it does not matter in his relationship with God because his physical circumcision holds no weight accept for culturally. In verse 25-29, he notes that obedience to the law is not a physical act, but one of the heart, which sets apart a person to God. The act of saying one thing and doing another does not depict a life that is truth based and this was the action of the Jews under the Law. This is the problem with the Law. Ultimately, “it demands more conformity to outward regulations.” It is an inward, Spirit-led significance that defines the honor and praise of God since it is not outwardly recognized and praised by men. Paul defends the position that the law cannot bring man to righteousness nor can anything outside of inward recognition of God. Ladd opines, “The reason why the law cannot make sinful men righteous is that it is an external code, whereas the sinful hearts of men need a transforming inward power. The Law is a written code, not a life imparted by God’s Spirit (Rom. 7:23).” All people are subject to judgement as we will see in the next passage.

Paul was not fighting against the Law of Moses – he knew the law, and that obeying the commandments would lead to happiness. But he also knew that Christ had come to fulfil the law as messiah, and to reconcile the world to himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). He did not interpose rejection of the law, but was polemical of Jewish Christians excluding Gentiles on grounds such as circumcision. As he was later to say of the event, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

In the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians, Thessalonica had the opponents Christians and Greek Gentiles. Paul discriminated the Jews in Judea – despite being a Jew himself. He continues the persecution of Jews throughout his letters. This persecution charged the Jews with “atheism” and “misanthropy.” (Mason and Robinson, 1 Thessalonians: pg. 40).

The aforementioned argument raises some questions about the authenticity of vindication without law. “Why then was the law given at all?” Why would the very God who gave the promise include the law? Paul answers this by rationalizing that the law had a purpose to point out to the nation of Israel its need for Christ. It was put into place to aid the people to receive the Spirit of God when they were struggling to do so. One cannot be spiritual by means of circumcision or just by observing the law, first of all because no one follows the law in its entirety, and secondly because God’s blessing cannot be earned, it is a gift. The law would not exist without the promise. Paul goes on to validate that all believers in Christ are descendants of Abraham and equal in the eyes of God; there are no categories for discrimination. He pities those who

This is why Isaiah 13:9-11 helps to understand the meaning and significance of Ephesians 2:1-7. The harsh judgement the Jewish people avoided because they were God’s people, now, according to Paul, is meant for them as well. This highlights that the Jews need a savior just as much as the gentiles did, reminding them of the unity in Christ Jesus. According to Paul, all the members of the church in Ephesus were dead in their sins, deserving of the same wrath of God shown in Isaiah despite their commitment to the commandments. Yet Jesus saved them and they should act accordingly. The same applies to Christians today, regardless of how they stand in the Law, like many of the Jews did, they too were dead in their transgressions and are unified with

Although we were not saved by works, we are called to respond to God by doing the works he prepared for