Note: We, along with everyone else in our missions training school, are memorizing Romans 8 this fall semester. Since our desire is not simply to recite words, but to understand and implement what Paul is teaching in this chapter, we will be periodically posting thoughts, insights or questions from a variety of sources to provoke thoughtful interaction.
“At the risk of oversimplifying a complex section and obscuring many other significant connections, we may view the main development of chaps. 5-8 as a ‘ring composition,’ or chiasm:
A. 5:1-11 - assurance of future glory
B. 5:12-21 - basis for this assurance in work of Christ
C. 6:1-23 - the problem of sin
C.’ 7:1-25 - the problem of the law
B.’ 8:1-17 - ground of assurance in the work of Christ, mediated by the Spirit
A.’ 8:18-39 - assurance of future glory”
“In chaps. 5-8, then, Paul invites the Christian to join with him in joyful thanksgiving for what the gospel provides—a new life given to God’s service in this life and a certain, glorious hope for the life to come. …the person who has experienced the gospel as the justifying act of God (cf. 1:17) is assured of finding that gospel to be truly ‘God’s power for salvation’ (cf. 1:16)—power for dedicated Christian services in this life and for deliverance from all the forces of evil and of judgment in the next.”
– Douglas Moo, The Epistle to the Romans, pages 294-295
What do you think of Moo’s understanding of the structure of these chapters? Does this help you understand the flow of thought in Romans 8 any better? Moo splits up chapter 8 into 2 main sections (vv1-17, vv18-39), how do you think they relate to each other?
For anyone interested, Dr Moo has made some of his shorter writings available online at his website (you can also find a link to the right).
danny
bmarchio
