16 chapters · 236 video commentaries · covered in 32 courses
Romans is Paul's longest and most systematic letter, laying out his understanding of the gospel and God's plan for salvation for both Jews and Gentiles. It addresses fundamental theological concepts such as sin, justification by faith, the role of the Mosaic Law, and the future of Israel.
AuthorRomans is one of the seven undisputed letters genuinely written by the Apostle Paul, who dictated it to a scribe named Tertius.
WrittenMid-50s CE
GenreLetter, theological treatise
AudienceThe Christian community in Rome, which Paul had not yet visited and did not found, composed largely of Gentiles.
PurposeTo explain his gospel message to the Roman Christians, gain their support for his mission further west to Spain, and address potential tensions between Jewish and Gentile believers.
Covered inAgainst the Jews: How Christianity Became Anti-Jewish · Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years · Cities of the Bible · Demons and Ghosts in the Bible · Did Jesus Really Exist? Evidence That Even Atheist Historians Accept · Did Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John Actually Write Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? +26
What our scholars get into
Our commentary on Romans delves into Paul's complex and sometimes contradictory views on salvation, exploring both his 'judicial model' where Christ's death atones for sins, and his 'participation model' where Christ's death destroys the power of sin (Bart D. Ehrman). We examine how Paul's understanding of 'gospel' aligns with, and subverts, Roman imperial rhetoric (The New Testament: Exploring the Christian Bible). You'll find discussions on Paul's philosophical background, drawing on Platonic and Stoic ideas (Bart D. Ehrman), and how his ethical teachings, like 'love your neighbor,' fulfill the Torah despite his emphasis on faith over law (Bart D. Ehrman). We also highlight Paul's radical inclusion of women in leadership roles, such as Junia, an apostle, and Phoebe, a deacon (Must Women Keep Silent? Paul's Real Views on Gender, Desire, and Women).
Introduction drafted from the lecture transcripts by AI, pending the team's edit.
The Book of Acts often presents accounts of Paul's activities and teachings that are at odds with Paul's own letters. For example, Acts does not mention the atonement of Christ as a core part of Paul's message, which is central in his epistles. These discrepancies suggest the author of Acts was not a close companion of Paul.
Summarized by AI · Did Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John Actually Write Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? · Did Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John Actually Write Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? · watch the clip
Pseudonymity and Authentic Pauline Letters
Scholars generally identify seven authentic letters by Paul (Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, Philemon) that provide the most reliable insight into his views. Other letters attributed to him, such as Ephesians, Colossians, 2 Thessalonians (Deutero-Pauline), and 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus (Pastoral/Pseudo-Pauline), are widely disputed or rejected as genuinely Pauline due to stylistic, theological, and historical discrepancies.
Summarized by AI · Must Women Keep Silent? Paul's Real Views on Gender, Desire, and Women · Lecture 1: The Apostle Paul in History and Legend | Apostle to the Gentiles · watch the clip
Consistency of Viewpoint in Pauline Corpus
While a single, consistent viewpoint across the entire Bible might be seen as naive harmonization, it is reasonable to expect a degree of consistency within a specific sub-corpus, such as the letters attributed to Paul. This internal consistency helps identify the works as belonging to a single author, even if minor scribal changes cannot be entirely ruled out.
Summarized by AI · The Bible and the Quran: Comparing Their Historical Problems · Scholarly Dialogue: Lectures 1-4 · watch the clip
Paul's Gospel Definition in Romans
Paul's earliest letters, specifically Romans, provide a foundational understanding of the gospel. He defines it as the good news concerning God's Son, promised by prophets in scripture, descended from David, declared Son of God by resurrection, and leading to the obedience of faith among Gentiles.
Summarized by AI · The Mysteries of the Synoptic Gospels: Discovering Matthew, Mark, and Luke · Lecture 2: Was There a "Gospel" Before the Gospels? · watch the clip
Paul's understanding of 'gospel'
Paul uses the term 'gospel' to mean 'good news' or 'glad tidings,' specifically referring to the proclamation that the Messiah, Jesus, has come and that the kingdom of God is imminent. This aligns with the ancient usage of the term to announce significant, often victorious, news.
Summarized by AI · The New Testament: Exploring the Christian Bible · Lecture 18: Rethinking Paul | New Perspectives on an Ancient Apostle · watch the clip
Undisputed Pauline letters are consistent and show no internal copying
Seven letters attributed to Paul (Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, 1 Thessalonians, Philippians, Philemon) are generally considered genuine because Paul was known to write letters, and these texts do not show signs of literary copying from one another. They exhibit consistent thought and surfaced early without ancient questioning, forming the bedrock for understanding Paul's theology.
Summarized by AI · The New Testament: Exploring the Christian Bible · Lecture 22: In Paul’s Name | The Disputed Letters · watch the clip
Paul's Letters and the Gospels
Paul's letters, written in the 50s CE, do not mention the Gospels, suggesting they were not yet widely circulated or even written during his travels. This observation supports the later dating of the Gospels by scholars.
Summarized by AI · The Unknown Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John · Lecture 1: A Bird's Eye View · watch the clip
Paul's use of 'good news' for his message
The Apostle Paul uses the Greek term 'euangelion,' translated as 'good news' or 'gospel,' to describe the message he delivers in his letters. This usage aligns with the term's general meaning of reporting significant information, as Paul is reporting on the good news to the various groups he addresses.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · "Gospel" was a loaded word when Christians adopted it. · watch the clip
Absence of Death Accounts in Paul's Letters and Gospels
Paul's letters, which are the earliest available evidence, do not describe his own death, nor do they provide accounts of what happened to James or Peter. Similarly, the Gospels do not detail the deaths of these figures. This lack of information in the earliest biblical texts means that later church traditions developed to provide narratives about their fates.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Did Peter, Paul, & James really die as martyrs? · watch the clip
Paul's Relationship with the Roman Church
Paul's letter to the Romans indicates he had never met them, which is an unusual detail for an authorizing figure. A second-century forger aiming to establish Paul's authority would likely have presented him as having a direct, established relationship with such an important community, making the existing letter's content less probable as a forgery.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Were Paul��s Letters a 2nd-Century Forgery? · watch the clip
Paul's emphasis on Jesus' teachings, not miracles
Paul's letters, the earliest Christian evidence, do not emphasize the historical Jesus' miracles. While Paul acknowledges Jesus as a teacher of the law, citing teachings like 'don't commit adultery,' he never mentions specific miracles such as multiplying loaves and fishes or healing the hemorrhaging woman. This suggests that for Paul, Jesus' miraculous deeds were not central to conveying his status as the Son of God or Messiah.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Did the Historical Jesus Perform Miracles? · watch the clip
Seven Undisputed Pauline Letters
Out of the 13 letters attributed to Paul in the New Testament, scholars widely agree that seven were genuinely written by him. These are often referred to as the 'Undisputed Pauline letters' because their authorship by Paul is rarely contested among scholars, despite the technicality that all scholarly points are debatable.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Is the New Testament Actually *Filled* with Forgeries? · watch the clip
Acts' Portrayal of Paul Differs from Paul's Own Accounts
The book of Acts presents a narrative of Paul's missions, teachings, and life that contains discrepancies when compared to Paul's own letters. These differences suggest that the author of Acts shaped the historical account to align with their theological agenda, rather than simply recording events as they happened.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Can Christians Study the New Testament Honestly? · watch the clip
Authorship of Pauline Letters
Critical scholars generally agree that only seven of the thirteen letters attributed to Paul in the New Testament were actually written by him. Conservative evangelicals, however, often maintain that Paul wrote all thirteen. This difference in scholarly consensus impacts what letters can be used to argue for Paul's theology in academic publications.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Can Christians Study the New Testament Honestly? · watch the clip
Comparing Acts with Paul's Letters
Unlike the Gospels, the Book of Acts lacks parallel narratives for comparison. However, scholars can compare Acts' portrayal of the Apostle Paul with Paul's own letters to assess the historical accuracy of Acts and understand how its author might have shaped the narrative.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · New Testament Scholarship for Non-Scholars · watch the clip
Pauline Letters: Undisputed vs. Disputed
Out of the 13 letters attributed to Paul in the New Testament, only seven are considered 'Undisputed Pauline letters' by scholars, meaning their authenticity is widely accepted. The remaining six are debated, with many scholars believing they were not written by Paul due to inconsistencies in style, theology, and historical context compared to the undisputed letters.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Faking It: Is the Bible Full of Forgeries? · watch the clip
Paul's Use of the Septuagint
Paul likely quoted from a Greek form of the Old Testament, as he probably did not read Hebrew or know Aramaic. While some passages in his letters resemble a Greek translation of the Hebrew more than the standard Septuagint, the complexity arises from the existence of various Greek translations of the Old Testament during that period, not just one definitive Septuagint. Other New Testament authors, also Greek speakers, similarly quoted from Greek Old Testament versions.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Our One-Year Anniversary! A Live Q&A with Bart. · watch the clip
Thomas's Rejection of 'Christ' Title
The Gospel of Thomas notably avoids using the title 'Christ' (Christos) for Jesus, a term central to Paul's writings and the canonical Gospels. Instead, Jesus is primarily referred to as 'the living one.' This deliberate choice suggests a different theological emphasis, possibly shifting focus away from Jesus's death and resurrection towards his ongoing presence and teachings.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Bart Interviews Mark Goodacre about the Gospel of Thomas · watch the clip
Background and context
Jesus' Resurrection as a Sign of the End Times
Paul interpreted Jesus' resurrection as a definitive sign that God's kingdom was imminent, despite the continued presence of normal times. This event confirmed Jesus' message and indicated that the end was truly at hand, reinforcing Paul's eschatological convictions.
Summarized by AI · Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years · Lecture 4: Beginnings | Paul, the Pagan's Apostle · watch the clip
Unity of Old and New Testament God
Origen contended that the God of the Old Testament, who gave the Law and sent the prophets, is the same God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the God revealed in the Gospels. He supported this by noting frequent allusions to the Old Testament by Jesus and his apostles.
Summarized by AI · Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years · Lecture 15: Christian Paideia | Origen of Alexandria on God and the Universe · watch the clip
Augustine's Unique Incarnation of Christ
Augustine believed Christ was genuinely incarnate and rose in his fleshly body, but this flesh was qualitatively different from all other human beings. It was free from the stain and guilt of sexually transmitted original sin, making Christ's incarnation unique and his flesh a special kind of human flesh.
Summarized by AI · Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years · Lecture 20: The End of Ancient Christianity · watch the clip
Lack of Pre-Matthew Bethlehem Tradition
There is no evidence of a pre-existing tradition about Jesus being born in Bethlehem before Matthew's Gospel. Earlier Christian writings like Paul's letters and Mark's Gospel are silent on the matter. This suggests that the Bethlehem birth narrative might not have been a widespread belief in the earliest Christian communities.
Summarized by AI · Face to Face on the Bible: The Birth of Jesus · Was Jesus Really Born in Bethlehem? Bart Ehrman and Jimmy Akin · watch the clip
Paul's Hellenistic and Apocalyptic Blend
Paul's theology is a unique combination of Hellenistic Judaism, as seen in texts like the Wisdom of Solomon, and apocalypticism. His statement in Romans, that God's eternal power and divine nature are understood through creation, reflects the natural theology found in Hellenistic thought, indicating its importance alongside apocalyptic themes for understanding his teachings.
Summarized by AI · Judaism Before Jesus · Lecture 16: The Egyptian Diaspora · watch the clip
Jesus' Resurrection as Divine Favor
Paul reinterpreted Jesus' death and resurrection, concluding that God's act of raising Jesus from the dead signified divine favor and choice. This meant Jesus was a special envoy of God, despite his crucifixion, which was not a sign of being cursed but rather a unique act of atonement.
Summarized by AI · Must Women Keep Silent? Paul's Real Views on Gender, Desire, and Women · Lecture 1: The Apostle Paul in History and Legend | Apostle to the Gentiles · watch the clip
Salvation as a Future Event
For Paul, 'salvation' is a technical term referring to a future event at the end of time. It signifies being saved from God's final destruction of His enemies, a deliverance that followers of Jesus will experience. This contrasts with the broader theological use of the term today, which often encompasses the entire process of being restored to a right relationship with God.
Summarized by AI · Paul and Jesus: The Great Divide · Lecture 5: The Gospel of Paul · watch the clip
Early Mentions of Jesus in Ancient Texts
The earliest texts to mention Jesus are the writings of Paul, specifically his letters. Narrative accounts of Jesus's life first appear in the Gospels, which were written approximately half a century after Jesus's death.
Summarized by AI · The New Testament: Exploring the Christian Bible · Lecture 2: From Scrolls to Scripture | How the New Testament Was Handed Down · watch the clip
Christian use of 'gospel' in a Roman key
Early Christians, including Paul, adopted the term 'evangelion' to describe the proclamation of events in Jesus's life, framing them as glad tidings. This use of language, praising Jesus as a savior and God whose birth or life beginnings brought good news, parallels the language used for Roman emperors, suggesting a deliberate co-opting or adaptation of Roman imperial rhetoric.
Summarized by AI · The New Testament: Exploring the Christian Bible · Lecture 4: Studying the Gospels | Mark from Historical Perspectives · watch the clip
Christianity's Existence Independent of Biblical Inerrancy
The belief in Jesus's divinity and the existence of Christianity are not dependent on the Bible being inerrant. Christianity existed for centuries before the New Testament canon was finalized, and billions of Christians today cannot read the Bible. The argument that errors in the Bible undermine Christian faith is a modern fundamentalist assertion, which the speaker believes is flawed and harmful. Paul, for instance, believed Jesus was God and converted people without a New Testament.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · What Moody Bible College Didn't Prepare Me For · watch the clip
Paul's Letters as Foundational for Christian Doctrine
Paul's letters became a crucial starting point for discussions on how to structure the institutionalization of Christianity and its central tenets in the second, third, and fourth centuries. They provided a basis for developing church doctrine, as seen in ongoing debates about interpreting passages like Romans 1.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Would There Be Christianity Without Paul? · watch the clip
Moses' Faithfulness and the Continuation of the Covenant
Following Abraham, Moses' faithfulness is presented as crucial for the continuation of the covenant. His leadership in bringing the people out of exile and establishing the commandments furthered God's plan.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Is ��Faith in Jesus Christ�� a Mistranslation? · watch the clip
Gentiles moving away from idolatry, not converting to Judaism
Paul asks Gentiles to abandon practices associated with their former Gentile identity, such as animal worship, as described in Romans 1. However, he does not require them to adopt Jewish law, making it debatable whether this constitutes a 'conversion' in the modern sense, as they are not becoming Jewish but rather joining a new family temporarily before the world's end.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Did Paul Convert Gentiles · watch the clip
New Testament view of the New Covenant as fulfillment, not change
Paul and other New Testament authors did not believe God changed the rules with the New Covenant; rather, they saw it as the fulfillment of what was predicted in the Old Testament. The New Covenant in Jesus was presented as a continuation and culmination of God's plan, not a deviation from the original covenant with the Jews. This perspective emphasizes continuity and fulfillment of scripture.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Was Jesus Really Born in Bethlehem? · watch the clip
Diversity of Beliefs in Early Christianity
Even within the New Testament period, Christianity exhibited significant diversity. Paul's letters, among the earliest Christian writings, suggest he had numerous adversaries among Christians who held differing beliefs. By the early 2nd century, this diversity expanded to include groups whose beliefs and practices would be considered non-Christian by most modern standards.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Where Was Christianity on its 100th Birthday? · watch the clip
Marcionite Rejection of Jewish God and Scripture
Conversely, other groups, such as the Marcionites, argued that Christianity was entirely separate from Judaism. They believed the Christian God was distinct from the Jewish God and rejected the Hebrew Bible as Christian scripture. For them, Paul was a hero, and the gospels favored by Jewish Christians were deemed heretical and anti-Jewish.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Where Was Christianity on its 100th Birthday? · watch the clip
Paul as the First Literate Christian
Paul is identified as the first known literate Christian. His extensive education and ability to write letters, many of which are preserved in the New Testament, demonstrate his high level of literacy. Paul's conversion occurred approximately three years after Jesus' death, suggesting that literacy among early Christians before him is largely unevidenced.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Was Jesus Literate? · watch the clip
Oral Traditions in Paul's Letters
Oral traditions are not limited to narratives about Jesus or the apostles. Passages in Paul's letters, which are not narrative books, appear to quote theological statements that Paul inherited by word of mouth rather than formulating himself, indicating the presence of oral traditions even in non-narrative texts.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Stories about Jesus Before the Gospels: Oral Traditions in the Early Church · watch the clip
Paul as a Gnostic Teacher
The Apostle Paul was popular in some Gnostic circles because they believed he was a Gnostic himself, teaching Gnostic doctrines. This interpretation led to significant conflict with proto-orthodox church fathers, who used the same Pauline epistles but interpreted them literally, while Gnostics claimed to possess secret knowledge of their true, hidden meanings.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Decoding Gnosticism: Secrets of a Heretical Christian Belief · watch the clip
Post-Jesus Shift to Atonement
After Jesus' death, his followers, initially disappointed, came to believe in his resurrection. They then reinterpreted his death as a sacrifice for sins, making atonement the central tenet of Christianity. This shifted the focus from Jesus' teaching of forgiveness to the belief that his death provided the necessary atonement for humanity's sins, a different solution than what Jesus himself proclaimed.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Where Did Original Sin Come From? · watch the clip
Multiple Independent Sources for Jesus' Existence
The belief in Jesus' existence is supported by multiple independent sources, including the Gospels of Mark and John, the 'Q' source used by Matthew and Luke, additional unique sources for Matthew and Luke, the Book of Acts, Paul's letters, and the writings of Josephus. The convergence of these diverse accounts on similar details about Jesus' life and actions makes it difficult to argue against his historical existence.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Our One-Year Anniversary! A Live Q&A with Bart. · watch the clip
Translating 'Doulos' (Slave/Servant)
The Greek word 'doulos', meaning 'slave', presents a significant translation challenge due to its historical and theological implications, especially in the context of American slavery. While scholars often prefer a consistent translation as 'slave' or 'enslaved person' to accurately reflect the socio-historical context of the New Testament, some church bodies, including historically Black congregations, object to this consistency. They argue that applying 'slave' to figures like Paul (e.g., 'slave of Christ') or Mary (e.g., 'female slave' instead of 'handmaid') could imply God condones slavery or that Paul desired literal enslavement. As a result, translations like the NRSV Updated Edition often use 'servant' in such contexts, while retaining 'slave' for literal depictions of enslaved persons, often with footnotes indicating the original Greek.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · How to Translate the Bible: Problems and Pitfalls · watch the clip
Inclusive Language for 'Adelphoi' (Brothers/Siblings)
The Greek word 'adelphoi', often translated as 'brothers', poses a challenge for inclusive language. In Greek, 'adelphoi' can refer to a group of men or a mixed group of men and women, with the masculine form being used even if only one woman is present. Recognizing that the early Jesus movement included women, the NRSV and its updated edition aimed for inclusive language. The NRSV Updated Edition decided to consistently translate 'adelphoi' as 'brothers and sisters' when referring to members of the Jesus movement, to better reflect the likely presence of women, even if the original NRSV sometimes used terms like 'believers'.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · How to Translate the Bible: Problems and Pitfalls · watch the clip
Courses that cover Romans
Against the Jews: How Christianity Became Anti-Jewish
Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years
Cities of the Bible
Demons and Ghosts in the Bible
Did Jesus Really Exist? Evidence That Even Atheist Historians Accept
Did Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John Actually Write Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John?
Did Peter Hate Paul? Apostolic Conflict in the Early Church
Digging Up Eden: The Immortality of Adam and Eve
Earliest Christian Heresies
Face to Face on the Bible: The Birth of Jesus
Holy Pain: Why Early Christians Embraced Suffering
Jesus and the Old Testament
Jesus the (Actual) Son of Joseph: Evidence from the New Testament Itself
Judaism Before Jesus
Luke's Maverick Gospel
Must Women Keep Silent? Paul's Real Views on Gender, Desire, and Women
Paul and Jesus: The Great Divide
The Bible and the Quran: Comparing Their Historical Problems
The Genius of the Acts of the Apostles
The Genius of the Gospel of Matthew: What Scholars Say About the First Gospel
The History of Biblical Interpretation
The Mysteries of the Synoptic Gospels: Discovering Matthew, Mark, and Luke
The New Testament: Exploring the Christian Bible
The Other Virgin Births in Antiquity
The Parables of Jesus: Jewish Insights into Gospel Ethics, Humor, and Provocation
The Scribal Corruption of Scripture: How the Bible Was Changed and Why Readers May Never Know
The Ten Commandments
The Unknown Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Through the Eye of a Needle: Jesus's Teachings on Wealth and Their Modern Relevance
What the Hell? Jesus' Teachings on the Afterlife
Why I am Not a Christian: How Leaving the Faith Led to Life of More Meaning and Purpose
