Forensic Metaphors in Romans and their soteriological significance

摘要

Previous studies on legal references in Paul concentrated almost exclusively on matters of civil law. A study? of? five? important? passages? in Romans and an overview of the rest of Romans? indicate? that? this? letter contains an unusual number of forensic metaphors and? that? Paul,? in Romans, packaged his soteriology within a forensic setting. This? suggests that he deliberately created an implicature, inviting his readers to compare the iustitia Dei with the iustitia romana. Contrary to the latter, which was? expected? to function on the basis of equity and with which Paul?s addressees were all too well acquainted, the iustitia Dei proves to be astonishingly unconventional. This judge operates with grace. Ironical as it may seem, exactly by using? forensic? imagery, Paul completely delegalized the Christian message.