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The Apostle Paul does not explain the Trinity — how God is three-in-one and one-in-three — and no systematic explanation is to be found in the other biblical writers, either. Although the passage does use Trinitarian language — mentioning Father, Son, and Spirit — its focus lies not on doctrinal explications or intellectual precision but … Continue reading “Romans 8:12-17 Commentary by Audrey West”

At first thought, the readings for the Festival of Pentecost and the Festival of the Holy Trinity in Year B seem to have been inadvertently reversed. The reading for Pentecost, a week earlier than Holy Trinity, is from Romans 8:22-27. The reading for Holy Trinity (Romans 8:12-17) requires one to back up to an earlier … Continue reading “Romans 8:12-17 Commentary by Arland J. Hultgren”

The second lesson for Lent 5 may be attractive from a simple numerical standpoint: the first lesson has fourteen verses, the gospel has forty-five, and the epistle has only six! But there are other good reasons to focus on the Romans passage, especially in Lent. The Romans passage helps us to move away from thinking … Continue reading “Romans 8:6-11 Commentary by Walter F. Taylor, Jr.”

Romans 8 is the pinnacle chapter in Paul’s most formidable epistle. However, the verses of this morning’s proper are probably less well-known than the soaring climax of this chapter in verses 8:31ff. Instead, Romans 8:6-11 form a small part of a larger discourse Paul is having on the dichotomy between flesh and spirit. In order … Continue reading “Romans 8:6-11 Commentary by Margaret Aymer”

Paul is convinced that because of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection a new reality is available for humankind. Paul believes that this new reality is not something people dream about in their heads, or have to work hard to pretend that they are living in. It is not a reality that exists somewhere else or … Continue reading “Romans 8:6-11 Commentary by L. Ann Jervis”

The transition between chapters 7 and 8 presents interpreters with a challenge, namely, to know exactly where one of Paul’s thoughts leaves off and another of his thoughts begins. Moreover, one is left wondering how Paul’s thoughts relate to each other. The lectionary recognizes this difficulty and presents one solution by ending the reading Pentecost … Continue reading “Romans 8:1-11 Commentary by Marion L. Soards”

Romans 8:1-11 is an absolutely wonderful statement of the Good News–and also the source of much misunderstanding. First, the Good News:  “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  The Greek is even stronger, since the very first word is no.  Condemnation has buried in it the word judgment;  literally … Continue reading “Romans 8:1-11 Commentary by Walter F. Taylor, Jr.”

Until this point in Romans, Paul has taken his hearers through the “shadowlands” of the faith. He has described the context in which the righteousness of God has been revealed (Romans 1:16-32). That context is that all people, whether Jew or Gentile have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Paul … Continue reading “Romans 8:1-11 Commentary by L. Ann Jervis”

Romans is regularly recognized to be Paul’s most seriously sustained theological reflection in the corpus of his letters. In turn, Romans 5-8 are recognized as four chapters devoted to Christian life as the experience of God’s grace, four chapters in which Paul examines the character and meaning of Christian life in the world. The tone … Continue reading “Romans 7:15-25a Commentary by Marion L. Soards”

Our toddler granddaughter is learning how to talk and has a wonderful way of lengthening the word “no.” Recently I caught her sitting in front of an electrical outlet.  “Nooo,” she said to herself.  “Nooo, … nooo”–and then she reached her hand toward the outlet.  Grandpa was there to say another kind of “no”!  She … Continue reading “Romans 7:15-25a Commentary by Walter F. Taylor, Jr.”