Jesus Creed

Random Commands

Thursday September 21, 2006

Categories: Romans

In Romans 12:9-13 Paul provides what NT Wright calls a "more general list of ways in which individual Christians and groups or churches are to behave" (711). He observes they are connected to building one another up.

I'm never impressed with ingenuity in trying to figure out logical connections in such lists; nor do suggestions of topical groupings compel agreement. Instead, at times Paul can just list things that are doggone good advice for how to live as Christians with one another so that they learn not to think too highly of themselves and so that the community of faith will live the way it should.

I like it that loving others is at the top -- it fits with Jesus Creed but it also fits with Romans 13:8-10 -- because it is the core moral imperative of the gospel. Wright, in fact, thinks the rest hangs from "Love -- genuine!"

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Comments
Carl W. Conrad
September 22, 2006 6:02 AM

While I don't doubt that "genuine" is the appropriate English for ἀνυπόκριτος in 12:9, I've wondered whether a footnote might be in order here to note the association of the verb-root from ὑποκρίνομαι originally refers to dramatic performance or "play-acting."

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Scot McKnight is a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois). A popular and witty speaker, Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly asked to speak in local churches and educational events. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986). Click to continue reading Scot McKnight's Bio...

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