Analysis Of Beverly Gaventa’S Understanding Of Romans
Beverly Gaventa’s When in Romans provides an alternative perspective to the famous letter we often use for recitation, personal study, and congregational sermons. Gaventa does this by lingering in the words of Paul rather than just passing through. To explain further, as her introduction notes, many skim Romans quickly without deep thought or they only look for the passages which prove their point. Thus, by lingering in the words as Gaventa recommends, Paul’s letter “dramatically enlarges” our understanding of the Gospel. Gaventa makes it clear in her preface that this book is not for those who would normally read a book about Romans. Instead of picking out the technicalities throughout the letter, Gaventa takes a different approach by focusing only on the parts of the letter that she finds crucial.
Gaventa’s main purpose for writing this book is to expose how Romans complicates our assumptions rather than fulfill them. She uses chapter one to discuss the liberation of salvation for all. Chapter two focuses on Paul’s thoughts on Israel. In chapter three, Gaventa examines the ethics of Christian living. Lastly, chapter four analyses the church and its status as well as its sin. Gaventa concludes with an analogy to Bruce Springsteen’s song “Land of Hope and Dreams” to show the inclusivity of the Gospel story. For further wisdom on the matter, she provides a “For Further Reading” section as well as a detailed index. Chapter one, Watch the Horizon, begins by comparing Gaventa’s experience with the movie The Tree of Life to Paul’s letter to the Romans. She describes how others read the letter and miss out on a larger part of the story, similar to how in her narrative, those in the theater with her walked out ten minutes into the show because they did not get what they came for. She explains that many of her students and scholars often think about Paul’s words concerning salvation as a transaction between humanity and God. However, a careful reading says otherwise. Throughout the chapter, Gaventa shows how Paul’s understanding of salvation is “cosmic. ” Salvation does not just save the individual, but the group as a whole.
God’s power through Christ reclaims humankind from the grips of sin and death. For Paul, salvation is more than the forgiveness of sins; it is the freedom from the real bondage of sin. Gaventa makes clear that God’s defeat over death is more significant than giving salvation. She goes on to explain how being spiritual cannot earn one salvation because salvation is greater than what one chooses. God’s power extends salvation to all because of his defeat over death. Therefore, Paul breaks out of the narrow expectation of salvation by providing a much broader context. Gaventa uses another analogy in chapter two by comparing the little boy in the song “Flowers are Red” to the way some read scripture. From this comparison, she argues that some know what questions they are looking for before opening up the text; therefore, they know what answers are possible before beginning. The way Paul views Israel is one area in which readers make assumptions before deeply viewing the text.
The big discussion surrounding this idea defines Israel as legalistic or spiritual. Gaventa argues that the primary question one should be asking is a question about God and God’s creation and redemption, not Israel’s disobedience. Gaventa provides several cases of evidence to support this belief both in Romans 4 and Romans 9-11. She concludes the chapter by addressing her purpose for writing this chapter within her larger purpose which is to combat the church’s impulse to oppose Judaism. Gaventa enters the world of Pauline ethics in chapter three. When reading Paul’s thoughts on ethics, most readers would ask questions concerning how his teachings relate to our own lives. However, Gaventa continues her purpose of the book by saying that questions such as these are too limited. Instead, she argues that acts of worship effect how we live. All of the unethical practices Paul preaches against result from worshiping everything but God. Gaventa explains that for Paul the worship of God results in Christ-like living. Gaventa’s chapter encourages readers to look past questioning what to do and not do, but instead look at how our hearts are worshiping God opposed to other worthless idols.
In the last chapter of the book, Gaventa addresses how Paul consolidates the church, both Jews and Gentiles. Gaventa notes that Paul uses various words to describe the “Christian” body. According to Gaventa, Paul’s words display how the body must take responsibility for one another, which contrasts with our western society that displays a lack of selflessness. It seems that in chapter four, Gaventa wants to readdress this idea of inclusivity that many miss out on when reading the book of Romans. She affirms Paul’s thoughts on a community that cares for each other and one that considers the outsider. Gaventa encourages the reader to turn away from condescending assumptions in order to notice the peace that Paul speaks of.
In her conclusion, Gaventa ties a bow around the previous four chapters to leave the reader with a take away thought. She speaks of Bruce Springsteen’s song “Land of Hope and Dreams” which includes a train that requires “no proof of suitability”. Gaventa notes that Springsteen purposefully wrote the song for all people. Gaventa does make the statement that she could be wrong in her thinking as she is not God, but she feels that when Paul talks of the gospel including all people, he means all people. She ends with four questions to help the reader process through her thoughts. This ending helps the reader come to their own conclusions rather than take her opinions as truth.
