RLGN 301
Rebecca Watts
4/17/20
Thesis: In writing to the Roman Church, Apostle Paul uses old testament citations cites to help
shows how the universality of sin and the universality of righteousness and salvation through
Christ alone.
Outline
I. Paul’s Old Testament Citations
A. In Romans 5:12-17 the apostle Paul references Adam and explains how sin was
brought into our world.
B. Paul references Abraham in Romans 15:6 to show that Abraham was promised to
be the father of all people, not just Jews.
II. Paul’s writing on the universalness of sin why it is a problem and who is affected by it,
Mark Rapinchuk writes, “Paul’s main point in Romans 1-5 is to establish the universal
(without ethnic distinction) problem of sin and the universal (without ethnic distinction)
solution to the problem.”
A. Paul outlines why sin and is a problem, and who is affected.
B. Sin brings about death and hopelessness for Jews and Gentiles alike.
III. Paul’s writing on the universalness of righteousness and need for salvation in the book of
Romans and that is attained through Christ.
A. Despite universal sin, God has made a way for universal Salvation.
1. Romans 5:17-21 explains that though sin entered through Adam,
righteousness and salvation comes through Christ Jesus.
2. Romans 11:17-27 talks about the grafting in of all people to be with God
B. In Romans Chapter 4, Paul cautions the Jews about boasting in their own
righteousness because their salvation is now attained through Christ.
1. Some argue that there is an alternative plan of Salvation for those Jews
who reject the Gospel and God has a plan for Coexistence between the
Jews and Gentiles (Stendhal)
2. Dr Campbell breaks down Romans 11 where Stendahl basis this belief,
even Paul himself, as a Jew was preaching Salvation through Christ alone
and unity between Jew and Gentile.
C. All people are in need of salvation through Christ alone.
1. Since there is sin which leads to death, there is need for salvation that
brings life.
2. Romans 1:16-17 shares how all who believe will be saved by the power of
the gospel.
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Annotated Bibliography
Mshanga, Vitalis, The Ecumenical Vision of the Apostle Paul and Its Relevance for
Contemporary Search for Full Unity of All Christians. Exchange 40 no 2 (2011): 4/18/20 144–
169. doi:10.1163/157254311X562026
This article provides insight into Paul’s passion and writings about unity. The author specifically
mentions Romans and the unity regardless of race that Paul referred to. Pages 154-155 support
my outline point A.2 talking about being grafted into Christ, Christians are universally part of
one body because of the grafting in work done by Christ. This source echoes other sources that I
am using to point out the importance of understanding that being grafted into Christ is for any
person. It is not a work that a person does, but rather a work of God that is for all people. When
talking about righteousness being universal, this is an important point to make because knowing
who brings people into the family of God keeps a person from thinking of themselves better then
another based on differences such as Jew or Gentiles. The weakness of this source is that not all
of it aligns theologically, as it is written from a catholic perspective. There are references to
books of the Bible such as Maccabeus that are from the Catholic Bible but do not coincide with
the Bible. After careful analysis, I still believe that this is a strong source to be used. The paper’s
greatest strength is the examples the Apostle Paul gives about unity and the universalness of
Christianity.
Kangas, Ron. One Body in Christ’: The Reality and Practicality of the Body of Christ as
Revealed in the Book of Romans. Affirmation & Critique 18: 3–14. (2013) Retrieved 4/18/2020
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https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=lsdar&AN=ATLA0001961246&site=ehost-live&scope=site
This article speaks from a position of helping understand the need for salvation and what
it looks like when we live life that is intertwined with the divine. This source has a couple of
strengths that drew me to it, the first one is the way that Ron Kangas explained being grafted in
with Christ and what it means to live a grafted life. He breaks down Romans 12 and explains it
clearly and in a way that is concise and easy to understand. The second thing is how he explained
how sin and redemption are for all people regardless of similarities or differences. There are
many portions of this source that apply in trying to answer the question posed by the research
question. This source does not have much weakness to it. It is well thought out and well written.
The biggest weakness of this source is that it is goes far broader than just answering the research
question. It has limited direct information from the book of Romans which is where the answer
to the question is coming from. It is not specific to Paul’s writing to Jews and Gentiles and
focuses on a bigger picture. This article not only supports that we are universal sinners, but also
that we are grafted in with Christ.
Harrington, Daniel J.,S.J. Paul's use of the Old Testament in Romans. Studies in Christian-Jewish
Relations 4, no. 1 (2009): Retrieved 4/18/202 CP1-8, http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?
url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/docview/2099846146?accountid=12085.
Daniel Harrington’s article follows the importance of the old testament usage within the
context of Romans. He analyzes the significance of the old testament references that Paul uses
and explains how this appeal is to the Jewish community. He refers Jesus is the answer to the old
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testament scriptures. He also is confident that Paul’s writings in Romans make all of the rules of
the Torah makes sense and sum up them up as love others. This article is strong in explaining
how Paul appealed to Jews and Gentiles. It supports the paper by explaining Paul’s writing on
universal sin, and the significance of the use of the old testament in the book or Romans. The
article clearly explains the reason for the references to Adam and Abraham. It also echoes most
of the other sources in explaining the significance of being grafted in. This source can support
the paper in citing the significance of the old testament writings as well as the understanding of
sin being universal. This source has many strong points, however the weakness of it is that it
leaves out the truth of the gospel. There are many observations made and many points about the
significance of Paul’s writings, but it leaves out Paul’s writings about righteousness and being
made right through Christ alone.
Stendahl, Krister. Final Account : Paul’s Letter to the Romans . First Fortress Press edition.
Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1976.
This source comes from the theological standpoint that the Jewish people have an
alternative way then the gentile Christians. That is, if they choose to reject the gospel God still
has an alternate plan of salvation for them that does not include a need for Jesus. This source is
contrary to what other sources have deemed to be truth within the Apostle Paul’s writings. In
order to have a strong paper it is important to include viewpoints that are counter to the
viewpoint of the writer. This source adds depth and controversy to the paper and gives an
opportunity to answer a counter viewpoint. It supports the paper under the universalness of
righteousness in an inverse way. Being able to evaluate a different viewpoint and then
reconciling it to answer the questions being raised will add depth and credibility to the paper.
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Although differing viewpoints can add strength to an argument, it can also be a weakness in
source selection. It is important to understand what the author is saying in order to be able to
rebut the weakness of the source. This source could be difficult to efficiently tie into the research
paper.
International Congress on Biblical Studies Oxford, Papers on Paul and Other New Testament
Authors /. Sheffield, Eng. :: Department of Biblical Studies University of Sheffield, 1980. Pages
65-72.
This article written by Dr Campbell evaluates the theological argument of alternative Salvation
that is proposed by Krister Stendahl. He offers a look into what Romans has to say and evaluates
the passage that Krister is referring to when he proposed an alternate plan of Salvation. He
refutes it with the argument that all people are saved the same way and that in Christ, there is no
distinction between jew and gentile. The strength of this source is the methodical evaluation of
Krister’s claims and the break down of the passage that is in question. Also, a strength within
Campbell’s article, is his how much he stresses the need for Christ for salvation for all people
including the Jews. There is unity in the need for righteousness and redemption, not separation.
The weakness of this source is that some of the original Greek that Campbell uses in his
argument is not well explained and is incredibly difficult to quote. There is little context with
some of his explanation which requires further research to fully understand. His article supports
the research paper with his view of universal salvation and righteousness and the need for
salvation through Christ rather then an alternate plan.
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Koenig, John T. The Jewishness of the Gospel: Reflections by a Lutheran. Journal of Ecumenical
Studies 19 Volume 1: (1982) 57–68. Retrieved 4/21/2020 https://search-ebscohost-
com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lsdar&AN=ATLA0000793907&site=ehost-
live&scope=site
John Koenig evaluates some of the old testament references made by Paul and the
significance of them in promoting the universalness of sin and righteousness and salvation. He
looks at the Jewish roots of salvation by examining Abraham and the promises that God made to
him. “This means that God's expanding love for Gentiles becomes effective in the world only
insofar as it continually springs from God's choice of Abraham, with his physical descendants,
and from Christ's ongoing role as Israel's servant. Seen in this way, the gospel becomes God's
expression of our Jewish-Christian partnership in grace and the mutual work of redemption.”
This quote is a summary of what Koenig was trying to communicate. He argues that we cannot
fully embrace the gospel for what it is until we truly understand where it is rooted. The strength
of this article will support the first section of my paper, why the old testament references are
important, what was the significance of Paul citing it. The weakness of this source is I found
Koenig’s viewpoint of salvation of the jewish people to be somewhat confusing. It was hard to
distinguish whether he was arguing for unified salvation or separate salvation.
Magee, G. S. PAUL'S GOSPEL, THE LAW, AND GOD'S UNIVERSAL REIGN IN ROMANS
3:31. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 57 Issue 2, 341-350. (2014) Retrieved on
4/22/2020 from http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-
com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/docview/1545898891?accountid=12085
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This journal article examines what Paul meant when he wrote Romans 3:31. It breaks down the
three most popular views and then offers an alternative viewpoint of the scripture through
exegetical breakdown of the verses that are closest to it. The strength of this source is the focus
that God is God over both the Jewish people and of the gentiles. The author makes a point that
when Paul was writing to Rome he was affirming that Jesus and does affirm the SHEMA (basis
of Jewish rules) and that he had not come to abolish the law but rather he came to enhance it.
This writing by Paul supports the idea that humanity universally needed Jesus. Magee explains it
like this, “Paul’s appeal to the Shema fits in as a crucial part of a broader story that still has
plenty of room for the universal sinfulness of humanity revealed by the law, the many other
instances in which the Law and Prophets point forward to God’s saving work for all people, and
the fulfillment of the law of love through Spirit-enabled believers.” This article supports the
research paper in the universalness of salvation and sinfulness. The weakness of the source is
that the topic is much broader than the question that needs to be answered. It will take careful
evaluation to use contextually accurate quotes without detracting from the outline of the paper.
Rapinchuk, Mark. Universal Sin and Salvation in Romans 5:12-21, Journal of the Evangelical
Theological Society 42 issue 3: 427–41. (1999) retrieved on 4/22/2020 from https://search-
ebscohost-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=lsdar&AN=ATLA0000911669&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
This source evaluates the theology of universal sin verses the theology of original sin
from Romans 5:12-21 which is all have sinned vs inherent sin. He also evaluates the doctrine of
absolute universal salvation. He distinguishes that although salvation is made available to all, it
must be accepted and is therefore not an absolute for all people, though it is offered for any who
will believe. He distinguishes that the universalism is referring to people of all ethnicities have
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sinned, and people of all ethnicities can be redeemed. In Romans, Paul referred to the Jews and
gentiles as the universal beneficiaries of salvation because of their universal sin. The strength of
this paper is the close examination of what universalism means and what it does not mean. I will
be using it to support the universalism of sin and righteousness within the paper, and also the
need for salvation for all people because of the hopelessness that sin has left humanity in. The
weakness of this source is that it has a slightly different focus then the research paper, part of it is
hard asses and examine without giving too much context and bringing up something unrelated to
answering the research question.
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