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Originally Posted by Jeffrey
Myth to debunk next: "Romans was written to believers, therefore everything Paul says contains omissions based on the assumption of who is audience was." Hmmm... some of us need to get drunk on some Pauline thought for a moment. In actuality, there were not only times in Romans where Paul addressed unbelieving Jews, but he wrote the letter (though not systematic) in very much a theological form. He discusses the organics of how the things works. I would not even consider that he would "omit" anything at that point based on assumption. That's horrible logic. He included many details one would "assume" believers would know.... so it doesn't work. No one uses that playing card anyway, except a few stragglers trying to minimize the words of Paul and cram their own theology into his mouth, as if he is inadequate to represent himself.
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I wholeheartedly disagree. I am shocked you state this. Exegesis and correct hermeneutics requires us to address the question of whom the writing was given originally and why. There is no assumption of anything. In fact, to miss this vital issue of whom the book was written to will take one precisely in the direction to which you have gone with the very doctrine of salvation! And that chills my bones.
I cannot express how much a person has to realize, especially after reading this thread, of how vitally important it is to know that Romans was written to a church of saved people and reading it with that in mind is absolutely vital, and offers NO ASSSUMPTION whatsoever.
I mean, it is as much error to say otherwise as to read Peters words of how baptism saves and then say baptism is not part of salvation (
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:).
Paul wrote to believing Jews and gentiles, but mostly to the believing Jews who were caught up in the same error that Paul faced in Acts which called for the Council at Jerusalem to deal with the question of Gentiles in the church and circumcision.
Adam Clarke wrote:
Though this epistle is directed to the Romans, yet we are not to suppose that Romans, in the proper sense of the word, are meant; but rather those who dwelt at Rome, and composed the Christian Church in that city: that there were among these Romans, properly such, that is heathens who had been converted to the Christian faith, there can be no doubt; but the principal part of the Church in that city seems to have been formed from Jews, sojourners at Rome, and from such as were proselytes to the Jewish religion.
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finding that they consisted partly of heathens converted to Christianity, and partly of Jews who had, with many remaining prejudices, believed in Jesus as the true Messiah, and that many contentions arose from the claims of the Gentile converts to equal privileges with the Jews, and from the absolute refusal of the Jews to admit these claims unless the Gentile converts became circumcised, he wrote to adjust and settle these differences.
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Therefore, in an epistle directed to Roman believers, the point to be endeavored after by St. Paul was to reconcile the Jewish converts to the opinion that the Gentiles were admitted by God to a parity of religious situation with themselves, and that without their being obliged to keep the law of Moses. In this epistle, though directed to the Roman Church in general, it is, in truth, a Jew writing to Jews. Accordingly, as often as his argument leads him to say any thing derogatory from the Jewish institution, he constantly follows it by a softening clause.
John Gill:
The persons to whom this epistle was sent were Roman saints, both Jews and Gentiles, inhabiting the city of Rome; of which city and church;
Albert Barnes:
Concerning the state of the church at Rome at that time, it is not easy to form a precise opinion. From this Epistle it is evident that it was composed of Jews and Gentiles and that one purpose of writing to it was to reconcile their jarring opinions, particularly about the obligation of the Jewish law, the advantage of the Jew, and the way of justification. It is probable that the two parties in the church were endeavoring to defend each their special opinions, and that the apostle took this opportunity and mode to state to his converted countrymen the great doctrines of Christianity, and the relation of the Law of Moses to the Christian system. The Epistle itself is full proof that the church to whom it was addressed was composed of Jews and Gentiles. No small part of it is an argument expressly with the Jews;
It is a minimalizing of an EPISTLE to a CHURCH, and refusal to deal with the fact that sermons preached to sinners included
Acts 2:38's elements, and insistence on maintaining one's doctrine that one need not be baptized and Spirit filled with tongues, to deny this fact that the epistle was NOT WRITTEN TO SINNERS.
Wow, you guys. God love you, but, wow.
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Originally Posted by notofworks
You're correct, there is content written to unbelievers.
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One thousand times NO! I would make this an issue of fellowship! Really.
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