Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Seminary
    • Seminary Info
    • Fall 2023 Classes
    • GES Seminary Curriculum
    • GES Seminary Faculty
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Journal Articles
→
Book Reviews
→
Paul’s Letter to the Romans

Paul’s Letter to the Romans

Posted in Book Reviews

Paul’s Letter to the Romans. By Colin G. Kruse. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2012. 627 pp. Hardcover, $52.00.

I had been impressed by a quote I’d seen earlier from Kruse on 2 Cor 5:11. That made me think this commentary would be a good one.

I like this commentary, but a few caveats are in order. First, Kruse takes the normal Lordship Salvation view. He says there is such a thing as final judgment and final justification (p. 183). Paul, in his view, always spoke of everlasting life as a possible future reward for perseverance (p. 287). “Authentic faith for Paul always involved obedience and faithfulness” (p. 75). Second, Kruse’s understanding of the theme of the book is similar to the typical salvation from eternal condemnation view (p. 33, though see comments below). Third, though the author does not fully embrace the new perspective on Paul, he also only has minor reservations to it (pp. 21-22). Fourth, he sees the promise that “all Israel will be saved” not as referring to the nation of Israel, but “by ‘all Israel’ Paul means the Jewish elect of all ages” (p. 443).

However, there is so much to like about this commentary that those weaknesses are, in my opinion, far overshadowed by the strengths. First, Kruse has a goldmine of quotes and references to the current literature. Second, he is not locked in to restating what others say. For example, on the theme of the book he says, “The center, heart, and organizing principle of Pauline theology is the action of God through the person and work of Jesus Christ to deal with the effects of human sin, individually, communally, and cosmically. In brief, as far as Romans is concerned, the centrum Paulinum is the gospel of God comprehensively conceived” (p. 33, italics added). While this is similar to what most say, he goes beyond embracing, at least in part, the view of the theme taken by Lopez, Hodges, and other Free Grace proponents. Third, he has many excellent excurses on things like grace (pp. 185-86), Rom 16:7 and whether Junia was an apostle (pp. 565, 567), and eternal life in the Pauline corpus (p. 287, though he fails to explain the texts he quotes and his summary is incorrect). Fourth, Kruse often indicates how many times Paul uses key words and lists all the other uses, which is very helpful.

I believe this is one of the top commentaries on Romans. I highly recommend it.

Robert N. Wilkin
Editor
Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Corinth, Texas

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
Bob_W

by Bob Wilkin

Bob Wilkin (ThM, PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is the Founder and Executive Director of Grace Evangelical Society and co-host of Grace in Focus Radio. He lives in Highland Village, TX with his wife, Sharon. His latest books are Faith Alone in One Hundred Verses and Turn and Live: The Power of Repentance.

Cart

Recently Added

October 3, 2023

Are You Wheat or Tares?

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Bob Wilkin and Steve Elkins are continuing the current series about kingdom parables. What meaning was Jesus wanting...
October 3, 2023

Do You Need to Know that His Name Is Jesus to Be Saved?

Matt asks a challenging question: While Jesus was telling the Jews to believe in Him for everlasting life, some people were fixated on earning their...
October 2, 2023

What Is the Purpose of the Parables?

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Bob Wilkin and Steve Elkins are continuing a short series about kingdom parables. Why did Jesus speak in...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen on Google Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Faith Alone in One Hundred Verses $15.00 $10.00
  • Tough Texts: Did Jesus Teach Salvation by Works? $15.00 $10.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $5.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.00
  • The Gospel Under Siege: Faith and Works in Tension $15.00 $10.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube