Paul’s Argument against Gentile Circumcision in Romans 2:17-29 Journal Articles

abstract

• The majority of interpreters conclude that in Rom 2:17-29 Paul addresses an ethnic Jew. In contrast, Runar M. Thorsteinsson has argued recently that Paul addresses a gentile, specifically a gentile who has judaized and now thinks of himself as a Jew. This article provides further support for Thorsteinsson’s argument, contending that Paul, contrary to virtually all translations, does not redefine Jewishness in 2:28-29. Additionally, in vv. 21-27 Paul insists that, despite being circumcised, the gentile judaizer fails to keep the very law in which he boasts.

authors

• Thiessen, Matthew

status

• published 

publication date

• September 23, 2014

has subject area

• 2204 Religion and Religious Studies (FoR)

published in

• Novum Testamentum  Journal

keywords

• Arts & Humanities
• Paul and the law
• Religion
• circumcision
• conversion
• ethnicity
• identity
• judaizing

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1163/15685365-12341488

start page

• 373

end page

• 391

volume

• 56

issue

• 4