This exegetical paper engages with Romans 13:1-7, one of the most problematic and debated passages in the Pauline corpus, which has been quoted by many politicians and religious leaders in different ways to solve the tensions arising frequently between church and state. Accordingly, this paper seeks to reinterpret Romans 13:1-7 based on Paul’s character and behavior mentioned in Acts 16-26.
The first part of the paper deals with exegetical issues, namely the world behind the text, the world in the text, and the world in front of the text. Following this, the paper articulates the relationship between Luke and Paul and the Lukan Paul in Acts. After this, the remainder of the paper will focus on interpretation and reflection. Ultimately, this paper argues that Paul, if based on Luke’s depiction in Acts 16-26, may well not have meant blind obedience—when he speaks of submitting to the governing authorities—but reflective obedience.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- I. The World Behind the Text
- II. The World in the Text
- 1. Literary Analysis
- 2. Paul's Arguments
- 3. Textual Variants
- 4. Interpolation
- 5. Analysis of Key Words
- (a) ovσiais (vv.1, 2a, 3b, 4b, 6b)
- (b) ὑποτασσέσθω and τεταγμέναι (vv.1b, 2a)
- (c) кpíμα and ópyǹv (vv. 2b, 4b, 5b)
- (d) diákovós (vv. 4a, 4b, 6b)
- (e) συνείδησιν (v. 5b)
- III. The World in Front of the Text
- IV. Paul and Luke
- V. Lukan Paul
- VI. Interpretation
- VII. Reflection
Objectives and Key Themes
This exegetical paper aims to reinterpret Romans 13:1-7, a debated passage in the Pauline corpus, by analyzing Paul's character and actions as depicted in Acts 16-26. The paper examines the historical context, analyzes the text, and explores the relationship between Luke and Paul. It seeks to understand the implications of Paul's actions and teachings in Acts for the interpretation of Romans 13:1-7.
- Historical Context of Romans 13:1-7
- Literary and Exegetical Analysis of Romans 13:1-7
- Relationship Between Luke and Paul
- The Character and Actions of Paul in Acts 16-26
- Interpretation of Romans 13:1-7 in Light of Acts
Chapter Summaries
The introduction lays out the paper's objectives, highlighting the importance of reinterpreting Romans 13:1-7 and its application in contemporary discussions between church and state. The first part delves into the historical context, exploring the historical backdrop of Paul's writings and the potential motivations behind his advice to Roman Christians. The second part delves into the world of the text, analyzing its literary features, Paul's arguments, key words, and textual variants. This section will provide a comprehensive understanding of the passage itself.
Keywords
This paper explores the themes of obedience, governing authorities, Paul's teachings, historical context, biblical interpretation, and the relationship between Luke and Paul. It analyzes the meaning of key words and phrases in Romans 13:1-7 and seeks to understand the nuances of Paul's intended message in light of his actions in Acts 16-26.
- Quote paper
- MTS (Master of Theological Studies) Van Lal Mal Sawma (Author), 2017, The Relationship between the Apostles Luke and Paul and the Lukan Paul in Acts. Reinterpreting Romans 13:1-7 in light of Acts 16-26, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/366795
