The way of imagination

  “ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God… the gospel concerning his Son…Jesus Christ our Lord…   I am not ashamed of the gospel ; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1.1-4, 16-17)        There can be no doubt about it – Paul’s letter to the Romans is concerned with one thing – the gospel.   As we shall see, as he writes to the Christians of the imperial capital, Paul is concerned especially with how the gospel is to be both understood and lived out in community – one composed of both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles).   The communities of Jesus-followers which were scattered throughout the Eastern end of the Roman empire were a unique phenomenon in the history of the world.   That is to say, a first-century local “chur

  Remember when Paul shared his travel plans with the Christians in Rome (cf. Rom. 15.22-33)?   Well, this is the story of how he actually got to the imperial capital… Rome or bust .   Ever since Acts chapter 19, when Luke told us that Paul “had to” see Rome, we have known where all this travelling was going to end (cf. 19.21).   Thanks to his appeal to the Emperor, Paul is finally bound for the imperial capital.   Over against the pretensions of the emperors (inscribed on Roman currency) who proclaimed themselves the “saviours” and “lords” of the world, Paul has been traveling the eastern end of the empire proclaiming “another king” by the name of Jesus (cf. Ac. 17.7). Paul “had” to get to Rome, and circumstances “conspire” to get him there… 1.      Paul goes to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost (Ac. 20.16). 2.      Paul’s rescue from the mob/arrest by the Tribune Lysias (Ac. 21.31-36; 24.7). 3.      Lysias sends Paul to Felix the Governor at Caesarea to protect him from the

  “ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,  the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles… To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints…” (Romans 1.1-7)      What was Paul trying to accomplish?   We have seen, in one of the final passages in his letter to the Romans, just how driven he was, desiring to proclaim the gospel in Spain, the western frontier of the known world.   But why ?   Was it simply that Paul was restless, somewhat of a lone ranger, happiest on the road, accompanied by a few close friends?   While there is no doubt more than a grain of truth

  “ In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God.   For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed… by the power of the Spirit of God …I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else’s foundation…This is the reason that I have so often been hindered from coming to you. But now… I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while...” (Romans 15.17-24)      They say not to tell anyone your plans; rather, they say, show people your results.   Well, true to form, the apostle Paul did both. [1]   Paul was nothing if not ambitious (Rm. 15.20; cf. Gal. 1.13-14; Phil. 3.4-6).   It seems that even in his previous life as a Pharisee (Ac. 23.6), S/Paul had always be