THE KINGDOM - FOR WHOM?
Romans 1:1-7
A lazy reading of Saint Paul's letters would move swiftly over the introductions and thanksgivings and move on to the heavy content. That approach misses important clues and indicators that Paul implants early on to assist the reader in recognizing the important themes that are coming.
This week's lesson gives us the opening of the Epistle to the Romans. In a cursory or lazy reading it seems Paul is resorting to clichés before beginning his very careful and profound treatise. Not at all. We find here the beginning of his argument, the groundwork upon which he will construct his teaching.
The theme is the Kingdom and who is included. Just the naming of this issue suggests the way the lines will be drawn. The dynamic makes for a significant argument Some are in the Kingdom and know it. They have been on the inside forever. Others are not in the Kingdom and are wondering if they have full rights to enter. Their entrance seems blocked by the gate keepers, the ones who are already in.
That description of the issue withholds the proper names of the parties concerned. We know that the insiders and the gatekeepers are the Jews, and those on the outside questioning their status are the Gentiles. But the issue is larger than Jew and Gentile. The issue exists in every congregation. By definition, those in the congregation are insiders. If they also operate as gatekeepers, then lines are drawn about outsiders. Do outsiders stay out, or does the Gospel command us to seek them and include them?
This is a delicate matter for the congregation in Rome. On the one hand Paul must earn and keep the trust of the insiders, those whom he wants to address and whose attitudes he will want to correct. On the other hand he wants to take that earned trust and willingness to listen and confront their misconceptions. This requires that Paul employ skills in literary usage, religious imagery, and historical references.
He writes with phrases, terminology, and references that show that he, Paul, is one of them. He knows the premises they have as insiders, he accepts the basics of their reasoning, and he identifies with their perspective. This is the intent behind some of his phrases - "promised beforehand through the prophets", "in the holy Scriptures", "descended from David", and "designated Son of God in power".
But he also plants concepts, nuances, and interpretations that expand these truths beyond the thinking of the Jews. The key one here which will challenge them is "having received grace and apostleship to bring about obedience of faith for the sake of his name among the nations". That was the point he was building up to - the inclusion of the Gentiles in the Kingdom. That would be the piece of controversy in the Roman congregation.
Paul knew the mindset of those inside the Church. He also knew the Gentiles belonged inside along with the Jews. In this introduction he set the stage for making the case for the challenge to the insiders and the inclusion of the outsiders. Certainly this issue has not died out in the church!