Pentecostal Commentary on Romans: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary

Over the past 125 years, of the branches of the Christian family the Pentecostal/Charismatic/Neocharismatic branch has seen the greatest growth, increasing from essentially nothing to about 650 million people. This constitutes more than one-quarter of the world's Christian population. Despite its dynamic growth, this segment has been badly underserved in biblical resources. A Pentecostal Commentary on Romans is presented within this context of need. However, it should also be of use to those from other traditions. Written by a life-long Pentecostal, this commentary is a careful study of Paul's epistle to the Romans with an eye to the many theological controversies in which Romans has figured prominently over the centuries. It features a fresh translation of Romans from the Greek text, and, in addition to traditional verse-by-verse commentary, twenty excursuses that wrestle with important theological and interpretive topics. Considerable attention is given to the Greco-Roman setting in which the book was written as well as its role in Paul's ongoing struggle to keep Jewish Christianity and gentile Christianity united. Romans may be Paul's most theological epistle, but it was written with a deep pastoral purpose. Accordingly, it is generally acclaimed as the apostle's greatest letter.