Father, Son, and Spirit in Romans 8: The Roman Reception of Paul's Trinitarian Theology

Whether Paul teaches or assumes a Trinitarian theology has become a lively question among New Testament researchers in the past few decades. Ron Fay contributes to this debate by viewing Paul’s letter to the Roman church within their own social and religious context. What role do mystery cults, the Capitoline Triad, and the Roman imperial cult play in the reception of Paul’s theology proper?

By borrowing from and subverting the pagan theological landscape, Fay claims that Paul was able to build an argument for and present the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as a triunity in Romans 8. Each performs an overlapping role with the others in the work of re-creation, salvation, adoption, and glorification for those who are “in Christ.”

Table of Contents

1 Introduction
1.1 Problem and Thesis
1.2 Methodology
1.3 Limitations
1.4 Looking Ahead

2 Greco-Roman Concepts of Deity
2.1 The Greatest God: Jupiter
2.2 Gods and Mystery Cults
2.3 Humans as Gods
2.3.1 Religious and Historical Foundation
2.3.2 Emperors as Gods Outside of Rome
2.3.3 Emperors as Gods in Rome: Caligula, Nero, and Domitian as Case Studies
2.3.4 Summary
2.4 Conclusion

3 God and Mankind
3.1 The Context of Romans 8: God’s Gospel
3.2 God and Creation
3.3 God and Recreation
3.3.1 God and Adoption
3.3.2 God and Glory
3.4 God and Salvation
3.5 Summary

4 God and the Son and the Spirit
4.1 Son, Spirit, and Sin
4.1.1 The Law
4.1.2 Law and Sin
4.2 Son, Spirit, and Recreation
4.2.1 Son, Spirit, and Adoption
4.2.2 Son, Spirit, and Glory
4.2.3 Son, Spirit, and Creation
4.3 Son, Spirit, and Salvation
4.3.1 “In Christ” and “In the Spirit”
4.3.2 Life
4.4 Son, Spirit, and God
4.4.1 Son and Father
4.4.2 Son and Spirit
4.5 Triunity?

Conclusion
Bibliography
Index

About the Author

Ron C. Fay (PhD) is Adjunct Professor of New Testament for Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity. In addition to Paul, Dr. Fay has published on Luke-Acts, John, and Greco-Roman religions.