Until the final decades of the 20th century, scholars and believers relied heavily, at times almost exclusively, on the Letter to the Romans to learn Paul's theology, but increasingly recognize that it is not a text of systematic theology, but addressed specific problems just as the other letters did. Here contributors identified only by name explore the new understandings. Among the topics are to the churches within the synagogues of Rome, atonement images in Romans, Adam and Christ, the spirit brings Christ's life to life, and the role of Israel in Romans 9-11. The Society of Biblical Literature publishes the paperbound edition; Brill publishes the hardbound. Annotation 2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
