10 - The teleological exposition of Romans 1.16–4.25

Summary

We now move from the whole sector of the hermeneutical circle to the parts. We begin to test our hypothesis by undertaking the detailed teleological reading of Rom. 1.16–4.25, trying to trace the element of meaning in the text which is what Paul was intending the Romans to hear when it was being read to them.

This chapter is written in the present tense about what we find that The Apostle, the implied author, is preaching to The Congregation, the implied audience, mostly via address to The Conservative, the narratee. Only after we have tested our reading shall we be able to refer to it in the past tense as what Paul was intending to say to the Romans. It will be our best answer to that historical question.

We shall take the text in sections, presenting for each a teleological exposition and a methodological commentary. The teleological exposition is an account of what The Apostle is saying to The Congregation or The Conservative, showing how the text works. The methodological commentary is concerned primarily with the way we have arrived at this reading. Interaction with the rest of the scholarly debate will be kept to a minimum. Our goal and questions are different from a commentator's.

The challenge of writing and reading this chapter is to concentrate on the task in hand.