Return to Themelios Issues
Volume 33 Issue 1 - May 2008

An International Journal for Pastors and Students of Theological and Religious Studies



Table of Contents [+] Expand


Book Reviews[+] Expand

Old Testament
Sidnie White Crawford and Leonard J. Greenspoon.
The Book of Esther in Modern Research.
Reviewed by Robin Gallaher Branch
Eryl W. Davies.
The Dissenting Reader: Feminist Approaches to the Hebrew Bible.
Reviewed by Robin Gallaher Branch
John Day, ed.
In Search of Pre-Exilic Israel.
Reviewed by Bálint Károly Zabán
Katharine J. Dell.
The Book of Proverbs in Social and Theological Context.
Reviewed by Jennie Barbour
William G. Dever.
Did God Have a Wife?
Reviewed by William D. Barker
New Testament
Octavian D. Baban.
On the Road Encounters in Luke-Acts.
Reviewed by Jamie Read
Richard Bauckham.
Jesus and the Eyewitnesses.
Reviewed by David Wenham
Andrew E. Bernhard.
Other Early Christian Gospels.
Reviewed by Simon Gathercole
William S. Campbell.
Paul and the Creation of Christian Identity.
Reviewed by James C. Miller
David L. Dungan.
Constantine's Bible: Politics and the Making of the New Testament.
Reviewed by Preston M. Sprinkle
Margaret Hannan.
The Nature and Demands of the Sovereign Rule of God in the Gospel of Matthew.
Reviewed by Phillip J. Long
Carl R. Holladay.
A Critical Introduction to the New Testament.
Reviewed by Lee S. Bond
 
Larry W. Hurtado.
The Earliest Christian Artifacts.
Reviewed by Rohintan Mody
Bruce J. Malina and John J. Pilch.
Social-Science Commentary on the Letters of Paul.
Reviewed by Nijay K. Gupta
Mark Reasoner.
Romans in Full Circle: A History of Interpretation.
Louisville: Reviewed by Michael Bird
Sorin Sabou.
Between Horror and Hope: Paul's Metaphorical Language of "Death" in Romans 6:1-11.
Reviewed by Nijay K. Gupta
Chris VanLandingham.
Judgment and Justification in Early Judaism and the Apostle Paul.
Reviewed by Timothy Gombis
Tommy Wasserman.
The Epistle of Jude: Its Text and Transmission.
Reviewed by P. J. Williams 89

History and Historical Theology
Sheridan Gilley and Brian Stanley, eds.
The Cambridge History of Christianity: World Christianities, c. 1815-c.1914.
Reviewed by John Coffey
Collin Hansen.
Young, Restless, Reformed.
Reviewed by Andrew David Naselli 91
Douglas A. Sweeney and Allen C. Guelzo, eds.
The New England Theology: From Jonathan Edwards to Edwards Amasa Park.
Reviewed by Oliver D. Crisp
Systematic Theology and Bioethics
Petrus J. Gräbe.
New Covenant, New Community.
Reviewed by A. T. B. McGowan
Kelly M. Kapic and Justin Taylor, eds.
Overcoming Sin and Temptation.
Reviewed by Graham Beynon
James K. A. Smith.
Who's Afraid of Postmodernism?
Reviewed by Tim Chester
Kevin J. Vanhoozer.
The Drama of Doctrine.
Reviewed by Robbie Fox Castleman
Ethics and Pastoralia
Gilbert Meilaender and William Werpehowski, eds.
The Oxford Handbook of Theological Ethics.
Reviewed by Brian Brock
H. P. Owen.
The Basis of Christian Prayer.
Reviewed by Stephen Dray
Milton Vincent.
A Gospel Primer for Christians.
Reviewed by Andrew David Naselli


Romans in Full Circle: A History of Interpretation. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2005. 192 pp. $24.95.

Mark Reasoner.

Michael Bird
Highland Theological College
Dingwall, Scotland, UK

This volume looks at how Romans has been interpreted by those of the ethnē ('Gentiles') in the last two millennia. Reasoner focuses on twelve loci in Romans (1:16-17; 1:19-21; 3:21-28; 5:12; 5:18-21; 7:7-8:4; 8:28-30; 9:16-19; 9:20-23; 10:4; 11:25-27; 13:1-7) and describes how Paul's letter has been interpreted by Origen, Augustine, Abelard, Aquinas, Luther, Erasmus, Barth, and post-Barthians (e.g. N.T. Wright) in these loci. I would have included Ambrosiaster, Chrysostom, and Calvin, but Reasoner's selection is fairly balanced and sound. One could also quibble over his choice of textual loci, but again one has to appreciate the limitations required by such a project and his selection covers the key points of Romans.

It becomes clear at certain point that Origen and Barth are Reasoner's heroes, and he defers to them often. He also includes some of his own sentiments in places such as the pistis christou debate where Reasoner prefers the subjective genitive or 'faithfulness of Jesus Christ' interpretation. Reasoner also leans towards universalism in his analysis of Rom 5:18-21, and he lists Bishop John Colenso as an example of someone who was both a universalist and committed to missionary work. However, Colenso is a poor role model since he was basically a Unitarian, and he denied many Christian doctrines such as the veracity of Scripture and substitutionary atonement.

The volume has certain highlights such as the discussion on Erasmus and Barth on God's faithfulness in Rom 1:16-17 and debates about universalism in Rom 5:18-21. It is genuinely informative, interesting, and thought-provoking. Reasoner successfully imparts to readers an appreciation for the ecclesial context in which Scripture was written and read, the diversity and richness of biblical interpretation through the centuries, and the importance of reception history for biblical studies. This volume is highly recommended for those interested in the theological interpretation of Scripture and reception history, and it will give readers some new things to think over as they work through Romans.