Eschatology and Ethics: The Future of Israel and the Nations in Romans 15:1-13

Abstract

This essay takes as its starting point the working hypothesis that Paul’s argument in Romans 15:1-3, with its doxological focus, is determined by the Scripture cited therein, interpreted within its own canonical context. Rather than reinterpreting these texts christologically or ecclesiologically, the combination and sequence of quotes in 15:9-12 is shown to provide an outline of Paul’s eschatology in which the future redemption of Israel and judgement of the nations is the content of the Church’s hope and the foundation of her ethic of mutual acceptance.