Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 38:2 (Jun 1995)
Article: A Consideration Of The Function Of Rom 1:8-15 In Light Of Greco-Roman Rhetoric
Author: Marty L. Reid

JETS 38:2 (June 1995) p. 181

A Consideration Of The Function Of Rom 1:8-15
In Light Of Greco-Roman Rhetoric

Marty L. Reid*

In spite of the immense amount of scholarly discussion, why Paul wrote Romans remains a perplexing issue. Part of the difficulty arises from determining how Paul introduces the purpose of the letter.1 C. K. Barrett’s exegesis of Rom 1:8–15 illustrates the problem:

Paul wishes to visit Rome, even though it was not a church of his own founding and it was his custom not to build on foundations laid by others (xv.20). Reasons of a sort for this unusual proceeding are given in vv. 11ff., 15, but the basic reason does not appear till xv.24: Paul is (or hopes to be) on his way to Spain, and for this new field of missionary activity Rome will prove an indispensable base.
The reason is sound enough; but Paul’s plans are sufficiently anomalous to make him embarrassed, and his embarrassment appears in the loose and inaccurate construction of the next verses.2

According to Barrett’s exegesis, Rom 1:8–15 has no real interpretive sig-nificance for understanding the letter. Paul simply composed this text in a clumsy fashion to the point of becoming embarrassed.3

The purpose of this study is to reexamine the problem by considering the rhetorical function of Rom 1:8–15. The analysis seeks to demonstrate how this text, as a well-crafted rhetorical unit, introduces the basic purpose of the argument. Although it is admittedly difficult to target a single reason for Romans, I propose that Rom 1:8–15 commences Paul’s rhetoric of mutuality, which encompasses the various facets of the letter’s purpose. Furthermore I argue that the occasion of Romans was primarily precipitated by the immediate situation of the audience.4 As its conceptual framework the study adopts the methodology of rhetorical criticism outlined by George Kennedy.5 The analysis proceeds in five stages: (1) determination of

* Marty Reid is an independent researcher and writer living at 212 N. Brackenbury Lane, Charlotte, NC 28270.

JETS 38:2 (June 1995) p. 182

the rhetorical unit, (2) establ...