Author: Administrador

For the next few weeks we will be reading portions of Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome. This letter is significantly different from the other epistles. It was not a community Paul had established. Nevertheless, he wrote with the goal of creating unity out of the conflict between the various already established communities. Whether … Continue reading “Romans 5:12-19 Commentary by Lucy Lind Hogan”

This text has been the source of some of Christianity’s most controversial, challenging, and distinctive doctrines. It was the locus for Augustine’s doctrine of original sin and for K. Barth’s claim that Paul is saying that just as Adam was the source of humanity that could not escape obedience to sin, Christ is the source … Continue reading “Romans 5:12-19 Commentary by L. Ann Jervis”

Last week’s study of Romans 1:1-17 highlighted how our response of faith joins us to a story that has come before — the story of God’s long fidelity to the people of Israel. Today’s passage picks up with our being brought into the story through faith and propels our vision to the future, when we … Continue reading “Romans 5:1-11 Commentary by J.R. Daniel Kirk”

Paul had a preacher’s style that comes through in his writing. Often, as here, he tells ’em what he’s going to tell ’em. Then he elaborates what he’s told ’em, and finally he tells ’em what he’s just told ’em. It should be simple to follow, right? But Paul writes densely, so a little unpacking … Continue reading “Romans 5:1-11 Commentary by Sarah Henrich”

I wonder if we are drawn, in part, to Paul’s letters because of their immediacy and transparency. We see in them communities that struggled, as we do, with how to live together and live out the gospel. We see people who squabbled over who could and could not eat certain foods; who could and could … Continue reading “Romans 5:1-11 Commentary by Lucy Lind Hogan”

In the previous four chapters, Paul has spent intense time trying to explain what he means by righteousness. In essence, Paul has described righteousness as God’s character — he first uses the word in Romans by qualifying it with “of God” (Romans 1:17). God has revealed God’s character – “righteousness of God” — in the … Continue reading “Romans 5:1-11 Commentary by L. Ann Jervis”

“Access” has become a key phrase in our technological age. At the door of the seminary where I work we try to remember the “access” code. At the computer we turn the noun into a verb: “I need to access that file.” When I am at home trying to retrieve messages from my workplace e-mail … Continue reading “Romans 5:1-8 Commentary by David Bartlett”

Trinity Sunday presents preachers with significant challenges. Reference to the Trinity is itself enough to cause the eyes of many contemporary Christians to glaze over with befuddlement as they wonder where such a concept came from, why it continues to be important, and what it could possibly have to do with them. Attempts to explain … Continue reading “Romans 5:1-5 Commentary by Beverly Gaventa”

In the space of five verses, the second reading for Trinity Sunday mentions God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. We have peace with God (verse 1). This peace, as well as access to grace, has come through Jesus Christ (verse 2). Moreover, God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (verse … Continue reading “Romans 5:1-5 Commentary by Mary Hinkle Shore”

Romans 5:1-5 marks a major transition in Paul’s letter to the Romans from faith to hope. The post baptismal life is expanded in Romans 5:1-8:39 That life can be described as the “overlap of the ages” (Byrne) between the inauguration of the blessings of Christ’s victory and their complete fulfillment when the faithful share the … Continue reading “Romans 5:1-5 Commentary by Cynthia Briggs Kittredge”