Arland J. Hultgren, Pauls Letter to the Romans: A Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2011.

Chapter Eight

14:1-15:13, the weak, and the strong. The discussion of the weak and the strong is lengthy and for that and other reasons it is of major importance for the letter as a whole (p. 495). That may be a bit of an overstatement, given the location of the discussion within the letter. Furthermore, length of discussion doesnt necessarily equate to importance. Rather, Paul could simply be striving for clarity. Sometimes a fish is just a fish, in other words, and need not imply something more. However, when H. observes It is odd that, when speaking to either the weak or the strong, Paul does not address them in the plural He addresses a concept, not a group of people (p. 502) he is on to something. Paul had not visited Rome, wouldnt have known at first hand the weak from the strong, and probably wouldnt want to insult them by denominating them weak in any event. I very much like the fact that Hultgren understands Pauls letter as a preparatory introduction (see the first part of this review series). I think it holds water and especially so in this section of the letter. Furthermore, concerning the terms the weak and the strong Pauls use of the terms the weak and the strong appears in a letter addressed to a community of Christians that he has neither founded nor visited previously. To call some within that community the weak would seem to be counterproductive. But one is free in diatribe to create the cast of characters desired to carry on an argument (p. 504). Quite true indeed. I have not, to this point, really had a reason to call into question Hultgrens translation of the text of Romans. That because hes done a very fine job of it indeed. Until, that is, we come to 15:1 which he renders

But we who are strong ought to accommodate the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves (p. 523). Accommodate is strikingly odd as a rendition of . Bearing is not the same as accommodating. Bearing carries the connotation, doesnt it, of helping one to carry something along. Accommodating, on the other hand implies allowing room for failure and permitting it. It hardly seems reasonable that Paul would suggest that room be made for failure when he is quite capable of insisting on mutual aid. The emphasis, then, of isnt on making failure easier or even in enabling it by accommodationism; it is on helping the weak move forward to maturity. Furthermore, there simply isnt any lexical reason to translate as Hultgren has. And although he attempts to support his rendition as follows One accommodates them, i.e., makes room for them, within the Christian community (p. 525) no such rendition is legitimate since simply never means make room. As Bschel remarks in TDNT
Found in the NT 27 times, 8 in Luke, often par. with or . Relatively rare in the LXX, the equivalent of as is of .Corresponding Heb. terms acc. to Schlatter are and .The basic meaning is uncertain.2 In the NT it means a. to lift up (Jn. 10:31), b. to bear away (Jn. 20:15), to pilfer (Jn. 12:6; cf. Jos. Ant., 1, 316: Laban to Jacob: ). Since carrying is an exertion of power and thus includes an exercise

and application of will, the word takes on ethical and religious significance, as in Epict. Diss., III, 15, 9: ; The metaphor originally denotes the outward carrying of the cross by Jesus (Jn. 19:17), then the personal attitude of the disciples (Lk. 14:27). Similarly at Ac. 15:10. Often the meaning is to bear (Jn. 16:12; R. 15:1; Gl. 5:10; 6:2, 5). In (Gl. 6:17) means the same as to have on oneself; cf. Rev. 7:2; 9:14; 13:17; 14:1; 16:2, where the reference is to the bearing of the seal (sign) or name of God (or Christ) or Antichrist. In Ac. 9:15 is the service of the missionary for Jesus, the steadfast confession of Him as the Lord. Here again is very close to . In spite of v. 16 there is no idea of a burden. And Swanson (bastaz): vb.; Str 941; TDNT 1.5961. LN 15.188 carry, bear an object (Mk 14:13); 2. LN 15.201 remove, carry away from a place (Jn 20:15); 3. LN 25.177 endure, bear up under (Ac 15:10); 4. LN 35.32

provide for, support (Ro 11:18); 5. LN 90.80 undergo, experience a grievous, hard situation (Gal 5:10); 6. LN 31.55 accept, implying the truth being difficult to comprehend (Jn 16:12); 7. LN 23.51

(h koilia bastazei), be pregnant with, formally, the womb bears (Lk 11:27+); 8. LN 33.210 (bastaz onoma), inform, formally, bear the name (Ac 9:15+); 9. LN 24.83 (bastaz ton stauron), suffer unto death, formally, bear the cross (Lk 14:27; Jn 19:17+); 10. LN 90.84 (bastaz stigmata), experience being slave of, formally, bear the marks (Gal 6:17+). And so on in the standard lexica. Hultgrens reading is ingenious, but unsupportable lexically since the verb simply doesnt suggest make room. H. closes off the chapter and so his exegesis of Romans 15:13 with this interesting and theologically insightful note: Whoever has been welcomed by Christ should be welcomed by all (p. 529). Indeed. On to chapter nine of H.s engaging volume next.

Jim West Quartz Hill School of Theology