Romans Through the Centuries

Presents a theological, literary, and cultural reading of Romans across the centuries of Christian thought

Romans Through the Centuries offers a groundbreaking commentary that invites readers to engage with the Apostle Paul's letter not only as a theological text but also as a dynamic and evolving voice that resonates across history and culture. In a format that reflects the complexity of both the letter itself and its enduring legacy, Paul S. Fiddes divides each passage into three distinct yet interconnected lenses: Paul's own speaking voice as he dictated the letter, the rich tradition of its interpretation through major historical epochs, and its influence on literature, visual art, and socio-political thought.

This commentary is distinctive in tracing Paul's argument as a “mind in motion,” acknowledging the oral nature of the letter's composition and offering a literary reading that takes seriously the nuances of thought developed in conversation. Fiddes brings theological voices from early Christianity, the medieval West, the Reformation, and contemporary global scholarship into dialogue, providing a comprehensive reception history without overshadowing Paul's original voice. In its final movement, the commentary broadens further, illuminating how Romans has shaped the cultural imagination beyond ecclesial contexts.

A flexible and deeply informed guide to Paul's most influential letter, Romans Through the Centuries:

• Integrates literary analysis with theological exegesis, treating Paul's letter as an evolving, spoken argument
• Provides readers with flexible entry points to focus on theological development, historical context, or cultural relevance
• Features a wide-ranging reception history from Patristic writers to twenty-first-century global scholars
• Includes cultural case studies in literature, visual art, and political discourse influenced by Romans
• Incorporates the most current scholarship on Romans and critically engages with alternative readings

Part of the acclaimed Wiley Blackwell Bible Commentaries series, Romans Through the Centuries is an essential resource for those seeking to understand the layered legacy of Romans through theological inquiry, literary insight, and historical perspectives. It is well-suited for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in New Testament studies, Pauline theology, and the cultural reception of Scripture, and serves as a valuable resource for clergy, scholars, and advanced students engaged in research.

PAUL S. FIDDES is Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of the British Academy. He is Emeritus Principal and Senior Research Fellow at Regent’s Park College, Oxford, and Director of the Love in Religion research project. A leading voice in contemporary theology, his works include The Creative Suffering of God, Participating in God, and More Things in Heaven and Earth: Shakespeare, Theology and the Interplay of Texts.