Sze-kar Wan examines the social and political ramifications of Paul's last and longest letter. By taking seriously Paul's faithfulness to his ancestral tradition, Wan argues that Paul is engaged in ethnic construction by incorporating non-Jews into Ideal Israel. With its claim of universality and the cosmic Son of God installed as king, Ideal Israel stands in pointed opposition to the Roman Empire.
Wan presents the Letter to the Romans as Paul's extended argument to his Gentile audience in defence of Ideal Israel and their place in it, without ignoring such prominent themes as good news, faith and belief, eschatology, and the collection for the poor. By also including a reading of Romans 13 as resistance against absolute authority, at variance with historical interpretations that defended American slavery and German Nazism, Wan gives readers a new perspective on a defiant message that can be marshalled to resist oppressive regimes.

Sze-kar Wan is professor of New Testament at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, USA.

Preface
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Chapter One: How to Read Romans?
Chapter Two: Reading Romans
Chapter Three; Theological Themes in Romans
Chapter Four: Church and States Romans 13.1-7
Chapter Five: Proceed with Caution
Works Cited