An Intertextual Commentary on Romans Volume 1: Romans 1:1-4:25

An Intertextual Commentary on Romans is an exhaustive treatment of the hundreds of Old Testament citations allusions and echoes embedded in Pauls most famous epistle. As many scholars have acknowledged to understand Pauls engagement with Israels Scriptures is to understand Romans. Despite this acknowledgment there is a dearth of reference works in which the primary focus is how the Old Testament impacts Pauls argument from Romans 1:1 to 16:27. This four-volume commentary aims to provide just such a reference. The interplay between Romans and its vast sea of Old Testament pre-texts produces unstated points of resonance that illuminate Pauls rhetorical argument from the letters opening to its closing doxology. Volume 1 examines the Old Testament pre-texts in Romans 1:1-4:25. Although the citations of Habakkuk 2:4 and Genesis 15:6 in this section of the letter often dominate intertextual discussions several other Old Testament pre-texts though often overlooked support the intertextual subtext of the letter and thereby illuminate various features of Pauls argument. In this commentary each of these pre-texts is examined from a variety of perspectives. The overarching aim of the commentary is to provide scholars interpreters and students with verse by verse analysis of how Israels Scriptures impact almost every clause of Pauls most famous letter.