I have begun presenting information about Paul’s Letter to the Romans. After Paul announces his theme that the Gospel is for both Jew and Gentile, much of the rest of the chapters is about the mutual responsibility that both Gentiles and Jews have for the mess in which the world found itself. Paul indicts the Gentile world. He recites standard Jewish stereotypes of what Gentiles are like. They are idolaters who should know better. He assures them of exchanging the truth for a lie. He claims that they worship creation rather than its creator. Paul then adds a long list of Gentile vices. Pick up the Letter and read the list that Paul presents.

Paul’s rhetoric is pretty harsh. Does this mean that Paul thought that all Gentiles were like this? No. He also makes clear that there are some good Gentiles. His indictment is of the Gentile world, that is this world as he  commonly refers to it.

After his harsh rhetoric toward the Gentiles, he turns his attention to the Jewish world. He articulates the guilt and responsibility of the Jews for the way the world is. His main claim is that having the law (i.e., Torah) does not exempt a person from judgment if he doesn’t live by it. So also circumcision is of no value unless it is internal, not merely external. Yet Jews have priority; to them were revealed the promises of God. In the end, however, Paul articulates a common indictment of Jews and Gentiles for the mess that he find it in. They share a solidarity of failure.

Now consider the fact that Paul had never been to Rome and really didn’t know anyone in Rome and that this letter was his introduction to the community there. One can only wonder what the Romans thought when they received the letter Paul then turns from indictment to proclamation, an announcement and pronouncement that something decisive has happened. Paul writes:

But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

These words, and the ones that follow, include some of the most important words in the history of Christian  theology. He uses the words justification, grace and faith. These words are commonly combined in the phrase, used most frequently in Protestant churches in this form: justification by grace through faith. Martin Luther was the first who used Paul’s words to mark a sharp distinction between traditional Christianity and the Christianity of the protestors. It should be noted that the Orthodox and Catholic Churches declare that faith with good works leads to justification. You cannot be justified in the sight of God if you cannot perform good works. Good works are the indication of one’s faith. One knows if one’s faith is true if one is able to perform good works without obligation.