Journal: Tyndale Bulletin
Volume: TYNBUL 73:1 (NA 2022)
Article: Problems And Prospects With Romans 1:13–14 And The Letter’s Implication Of A Gentile Audience
Author: J. David Stark

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Problems And Prospects With Romans 1:13–14 And The Letter’s Implication Of A Gentile Audience

J. David Stark

Winnie and Cecil May Jr Biblical Research Fellow
Kearley Graduate School of Theology, Faulkner University
[email protected]

Abstract

Scholars often consider the implied audience of Romans to have been a mixture of Jews and gentiles, albeit with a gentile majority. Other scholars challenge this thesis, however, and argue that the implied audience is exclusively gentile. Romans 1:13–14 is an important locus in this debate, but four points about these verses require further consideration. These are (1) the case of the elements Paul unites with the τὲ καί constructions in verse 14, (2) the variety of complements Paul gives ὀφειλέτης elsewhere, (3) the explanatory relationship of verse 14 to verse 13, and (4) the clearly personal focus of the language that appears with the τὲ καί constructions in verse 14. Duly considered, these points argue strongly for an exclusively gentile implied audience.

1. Introduction1

Scholars often read Romans as implying an audience of both Jews and gentiles.2 In recent decades, however, this hypothesis has come under increased scrutiny. There are compelling reasons why the mixed-audience hypothesis gives a poorer account of the implied audience’s identity. Additionally, mistaking the implied audience’s identity naturally produces further challenges in the letter’s interpretation in questions like the identity of the dialogue partner in chapter

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2, the significance of the discussion of Israel in chapters 9–11, and the possible identities of the weak and strong in chapters 14–15.

As a corrective, other scholars argue that the implied audience of Romans is exclusively gentile.3 Multiple features in the letter support their view.4 But elements within the gentile-only proposal remain unrefined in ways that do not allow the propos...