Book Review: Conversations with Scripture: Romans

Abstract

Conversations with Scripture: Romans. By Jay Sidebotham. Anglican Association of Biblical Scholars Study Series. York: Morehouse Publishing, 2015. xiv + 126 pp. $18.00 (paper).While Jay Sidebotham acknowledges the historical significance of the encounters of Martin Luther and Karl Barth with Paul's letter to the Romans, he is not intimidated by the voluminous commentaries of these two. His own reflection on the letter is much more brief, but features a variety of delightful attractions. For those readers who feel the works of Luther and Barth too formidable to enter, Sidebotham offers an amiable choice.Sidebotham s conversation with the letter to the Romans is oriented toward pastoral perspectives. leading question of this book is How is it that we change? (p. 1), expressing a concern for seeing transformation occur, both in individual life and in the faith community. Accordingly he has shown an extraordinary sensitivity to the concept of power that emerges throughout the text of the letter. To his observations, Paul is actually articulating a story beginning with the universal tragedy of human beings held captive by the power of sin, which in the death and resurrection of Jesus has then been overcome by the power of God's grace, which in turn delivers the power of transformation into every aspect of human life.Such a specific focus does not prevent Sidebotham from giving a comprehensive expounding of the letter. Following an introductory chapter, he divides the text of Romans into six parts, with the title for each chapter highlighting the subject and purpose of the portion of the letter under consideration: How Paul Introduces His Letter (Romans 1:1-17); What's the Problem? (Romans 1:18-3:20); Christ Addresses the Human Condition (Romans 3:21-4:25); New Life Available (Romans 5:1-8:39); God on Trial: Mystery of the Plan for Salvation for All (Romans 9-11); and The SoWhat Factor (Romans 12-16). Each chapter, except the fifth, starts with an overview that marks out the major themes of the text in concern. Here Sidebotham often evaluates the indispensability and significance of this part of the text, and alerts the reader to the tensions and issues that might be involved.Then the text is further divided into several passages, each dealt with in a section. Like the chapters, all sections are also headlined. Walking through these sub-headlines thus becomes a handy way of grasping Sidebotham's outline. For illustration, in chapter 6 we have the following sub-headlines: The Problem of Israel's Unbelief' (Romans 9:1-5); Has God's Promise to Israel Failed? …