Category Archives: Romans

Governing Authorities as Servants

Posted on August 29, 2011 by

I found the following paragraph to be an especially helpful way of debunking the idea that Paul, in Romans 13, was telling Christians to obey the government absolutely. The author also hints at just how radical Paul’s notion of “governing … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, political theology, Romans, state | 2 Comments

A fabulous definition of sin…and grace

Posted on February 8, 2010 by

Barth isn’t generally known for saying something with an economy of words. But this sentence on the nature of sin seems to get it just right: [S]in is that interchanging of God and man, that exalting of men to divinity … Continue reading →

Posted in Karl Barth, Romans, sin

Barth, Credo – “In God”

Posted on January 11, 2010 by

Karl Barth, “In Deum”  Credo, 11-18. Barth begins his exposition of the content of the creed by paying attention to the phrase “in God” (Latin, In Deum). He argues that this first word of the Creed may also be understood as … Continue reading →

Posted in Credo, faith, Karl Barth, natural theology, Romans | Tagged

Cut-out Cops

Posted on February 4, 2009 by

I fully expect that readers of Theommentary are an upright, law-abiding bunch of citizens. But speaking from a purely hypothetical perspective, would you be deterred from committing a crime in the presence of a cut-out cop–a life-sized cardboard replica of … Continue reading →

Posted in ethics, Romans, sin | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Praying with the Sick

Posted on September 28, 2008 by

A good friend of mine is taking the terrible journey through terminal cancer. He is not the first person close to me to have been attacked by this roaring lion of a disease. While some fend it off for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Dietrich Bonhoeffer, prayer, Romans, sickness | Tagged | 2 Comments