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Arland J. Hultgren, Pauls Letter to the Romans: A Commentary.
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,2011.
Chapter Three
The revelation of righteousness of God is the theme of 3:21-4:25
and that s what H. covers inthis, his third chapter.
The theme of the wrath of God is suspended and overcome by his
taking up again thetheme, first mentioned in the overture at 1:17,
of the righteousness of God (p. 149). H. treatsthe topic of the
righteousness of God quite fully in an appendix. He also discusses
in yet anotherappendix the imagery of Romans 3:25 (wherein Paul
discusses the notion of ).
And then, after exegeting 3:21-26, H. again points readers to
still another appendix. This time,
the topic is the Pistis Christou: Faith in or of Christ?
To be fair to the reader of this review Ill merely point out
here in this section a couple of thingswherein H. offers something
new or interesting. Elsewise, said reader can presume that the
material H. proffers is fairly consistent with what other
commentators have said before him.
Of the crux in 3:31 H. notes
This verse has been particularly vexing to interpreters (p.
173).
And that it has! Heres the text merely to refresh your
memory:
. . (Rom 3:31 VonSoden). Or, if you prefer, in Boernerianus-. Or
Sinaiticus-*.1
Of it H. observes laconically that it is a bridge passage which
takes the reader from thepreceding argument to the argument
presented in the next chapter regarding Abraham.
So, given that simple fact, when Hultgren begins his discussion
of Rom 4 he can truthfully say
chapter 4 is best read as one continuous section of the
letterconcerning justification by faith in light of the story of
AbrahamAbraham, he declares, was justified by God while he was
still a
Gentile (!) [Which means] God justifies the ungodly,
thenonpious, those who have nothing to claim before God. Those
who believe his promise are the ones who are the children of
1Pardon my use of multiple texts- Ive just gotten hold of
BibleWorks 9 and Ive found myself enchanted.
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Abraham, and upon whom Gods promise of righteousness rests(pp.
178-179).
Hultgrens observation on page 188 is quite useful as a very good
summary of the section:
OT Type AntitypeAbraham believed Christians believe
In God who in God who
gives life to the dead raised Jesus from the dead
Hultgrens work in his discussion of Abraham is well done, well
executed, and well articulated.But a question is beginning to form
for this reader: is Hultgren a supercessionist?
Only time will tell. But hes following Paul very closely and
Paul was, and can rightly be,accused of being precisely that. Hs
discussion in chapters 9-11 will doubtless answer thequestion.
Until we get there, though, we can only leave such questions in
suspense. We have
plenty to consider in the meanwhile, including the massive next
chapter which treats 5:1-8:39,the New Life in Christ.
Jim West
Quartz Hill School of Theology
