Interpretation and the Claims of the Text: Resourcing New Testament Theology

Chapter 6: Placing Pain in a Pauline frame

73 Chapter 6 Placing Pain in a Pauline frame* Considering Suffering in Romans 5 and 8 Todd D. Still The purpose of this honorific essay is to explore the subject of suffering, or more precisely “Christian” suffering, in Romans 5–8 (a programmatic panel at the center of the letter). I begin this investigation with a literary observation: namely, that Paul takes up this topic as he commences and concludes this section of the letter. Ostensibly, suffering serves as something of an inclusio for this portion of Romans. Having noted that Paul frames Romans 5–8 with the subject of suffering, the second part of this essay examines 5:3-5; 8:17c-18; and 8:35-37 in turn, for it is in these verses that the apostle directly addresses our concern. Such exegetical work will enable a clearer picture of how Paul perceived and presented suffering in Romans. The third part of this study begins by considering the ancient notion of suffering as divine education with special respect to Romans 5:3-5. Thereafter, the article moves beyond this helpful , yet partial, view of suffering to identify and explicate six of the apostle’s * At the outset of a lengthy list of greetings (Rom 16:1-15), Paul commends to Roman believers “our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae” (16:1). In doing so the apostle describes her as a person who had been “a helper of many and of myself as well” (16:2). What Paul says of Phoebe at the close of 16:2 is no less applicable to this volume’s honoree—Professor Charles H. Talbert. Even as he has done much for many over the course of his career, he has done much for me. It is an honor and a pleasure to offer him this article as a token of my appreciation and affection. 74 Todd D. Still theological convictions regarding affliction evinced in Romans 5 and 8. By way of conclusion, I note certain contributions of Professor Talbert and of this essay to the subject of suffering in Romans. Taken together, it is hoped that the components of this piece will work together to strengthen our grasp of Paul’s perception of pain and suffering in and beyond Romans 5–8. Suffering in Romans 5–8 Romans 5:1-11 as transitio and inclusio As signaled above, I, along with no small number of other interpreters of Romans, regard chapters 5–8 to constitute a “distinguishable unit of material ” within the epistle.1 That being said, Romans 5:1-11 serves as something of a “bridge” or “hinge” between 1:18–4:25 on the one hand and 5:12–8:39 on the other.2 Rhetorically, 5:1-11 functions as a transitio, which according to a statement attributed to Cicero, is “a figure which briefly recalls what has been said, and likewise briefly sets forth what is next” (Rhet. Her. 4.26.35).3 There is no pressing reason, therefore, to draw a line in the sand between 4:25 and 5:1. Looking back over the textual horizon, beginning in 1:18 and continuing through 4:25, one is in fact able to identify a number of shared terms between chapters 1–4 and 5:1-11. Leander E. Keck has noted the following:4 Terms 5:1-11 1:18–4:25 Justified 5:1 3:20, 26, 28, 30 By faith 5:1 3:30; 4:16 Grace 5:2 4:16 Boast 5:2, 3, 11 3:27; 4:2 Hope 5:2, 4-5 4:18 Glory of God 5:2 3:23 Blood 5:9 3:25 Wrath 5:9 1:18; 3:5; 4:15 Now 5:9 3:21, 26 God’s Son 5:10 1:3-4 What is true of 5:1-11 relative to 1:18–4:25 is no less true of 5:1-11 with respect to Romans 8, especially verses 14-39. Over sixty years ago now, Nils A. Dahl set forth a synopsis comparing 5:1-11 with 8:1-39. By placing these Placing Pain in a Pauline Frame 75 two passages side by side, Dahl was able to see and to suggest, “[C]hapter 8 contains a fuller development of the themes which are briefly stated in 5:1-11.”5 Subsequent scholarship has shown that 5:1...