Romans with Douglas Moo's commentary, Introduction (day 2 of 14)

(pp. 4-5)

   It is impossible not to notice how well this introductory material is divided between text and footnote.  If we want to look up the exact sources for various primary data, whether Suetonius or Philo, we can see that the writer has found them and documented them for us.  How important is the make up, percentage-wise, of those to whom Paul writes Romans, between Jews and Gentiles? 

   From the letter itself, with its detailed Scriptural argument and quotation, the recipients of the letter could hardly have been unaware of the authoritative Old Testament from which Paul quotes so much.  The detailed timing arguments in chapter 4 of his letter, not to mention the classic one-of-a-kind marker of Jewish piety, their own Scriptures being their own best critic, makes Paul's remarks in Romans 2 and 9-11 earmarked for his fellow Jews.