»Die Täter des Gesetzes werden gerechtfertigt werden« (Röm 2,13) – um eine adäquate Perspektive auf den Römerbrief

“The Doers of the Law will be justified” (Rom 2:13) – for an Adequate Perspective on the Epistle to the Romans. In the framework of the ongoing debate about the correct perspective on Paul, the present paper focusses on the remarkable second chapter of Romans. A first element that draws the attention is the “synagogue language” in Rom 2:4–11; another one, in connection with this, the Jewish-sounding phrases about God who “renders to everyone according to his deeds” and about “justification for the doers of the Law” (Rom 2:6, 13). Most interesting in that respect is the comparison with the Epistle of James, where similar expressions are found. Back then to Romans, which seems to be addressing a singular situation among the Pauline letters, as expressed in its unique motto: “...to the Jew first, but also to the Greek”. Extremely important in this respect is the Jerusalem Apostles’ Decree and the rule that Paul often cites in Galatians and other letters in apparent relationship with the Decree: “Circumcision is nothing and being uncircumcised is nothing, but keeping God’s commandments!” Finally, this extraordinary piece of Pauline correspondence is put in the historical perspective of the fatefully deteriorating relationship between Jews and non-Jews between the years 44 and 66 A.D. In taking all these necessary nuances into account, the paper aims at making available a major aspect that Paul’s letter to the Romans also has: its profound message for readers of all times.status: publishe