It is one of the most controversial books in the Holy Bible; some say its theological underpinnings are responsible for launching the Protestant Reformation, blaming the Jews for the problems in the world, and challenging the cultural conflicts of today’s post-modern society. But right in the middle of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the churches in Rome is the summation of Christianity, its power, its hope in a Spirit filled life, and the edict that nothing can separate us from God’s love! On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, renowned New Testament scholar Dr. NT Wright unpacks his book on the eighth chapter of Romans, called “Into the Heart of Romans: A Deep Dive Into Paul’s Greatest Letter”. Paul wrote a great portion of the New Testament, and his letters to the early churches show their struggles and their triumphs. And they’re much the same as they are for us today. Only now we have two-thousand years of post-Resurrection living to fall back on. The early Church had the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament, and how to understand the Law. Wright sheds light on all of this and informs us about the conflict going on in Israel today, as the Jewish land is once again under siege from its adversaries. It’s a call to lament, for the pain of history is a heavy weight that the entirety of the world must bear.
Chapters:
0:00:00-Biblical Narrative and the Middle East
0:11:29-Understanding Romans 8 and Its Importance
0:22:05-Led by Spirit, Embracing Old Testament
0:36:24-Romans’ Impact on Paul’s Letter
0:40:51-Fresh Readings of the Pauline corpus
