The study of the book of Romans is the greatest conversation that has ever taken place and Dr. Doug Moo has a seat at the table.
Imagine a great banquet hall in an ancient castle with a vast round table in the center. Huge torches light the room, which has stadium seating surrounding it. Placed in the center of the table is Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, written from Corinth in 57 AD, inspired by the Holy Spirit: God’s Word.
The Greatest Conversation began in the first century when the historical church began to consider Romans. Indeed, the observing crowd is the historical church. Men and women from all ages look down at the table and listen intently to this great conversation.
Gathered around the table, one by one, men and women, first listen and then stand and speak about Romans. Their thoughts are careful and measured, and when they speak wisely the audience murmurs in appreciation—knowing that the statements made by one voice may be considered for the next thousand years and even eternity.
We can review only a few high points from this great conversation:
In the late fourth century, John Chrysostom, one of the greatest preachers of the early church—known as the golden mouthed—says Romans is so remarkable he has it read to him twice very week.[1]
Around that same time, Augustine of Hippo speaks. He shares his personal story of how he was living an immoral, sinful life, yet one day, wrestling with profound agony in the depths of his soul while seated in his garden he heard the voice of a child saying, “Take up and read,” and so he began reading Romans and “there the truth of God in Christ flashed upon him, and he was converted and saved, and became a guiding light in the Christian church.”[2]
When Pelagius stood and attempted to introduce error, Augustine countered him through careful teaching from Romans and the Pelagian heresy was silenced.
Over one thousand years later, on October 31, 1517, dressed in a monk’s habit, Martin Luther nails his theses to the table with a hammer. He then shares how in lecturing on Romans he understood the doctrine of justification: that we are saved by faith alone. Even as Luther speaks a great noise builds until there is deafening tumult as the meaning of Romans becomes clearer, and the current and direction of all of history changes.
On May 24, 1738, John Wesley is “strangely warmed” when he hears Luther’s voice in his preface to Romans. Wesley begins to preach in the open air, and the Great Awakening resounds in England and echoes all across North America.
In 1919 Karl Barth jolts sleepy modern theologians awake by listening to Paul in Romans.[3]
The Scotsman John Murray loses an eye in World War I but gives a lifetime to study which includes a major commentary on Romans. The Welsh medical doctor turned London preacher, Dr. David Martyn-Lloyd Jones preachs 14 volumes worth of Romans in London.
In our current day, E.P. Sanders, James D.G. Dunn, Tom Wright, and others have sought a New Perspective on what Paul was saying in Romans even as John Piper has replied. In the last ten years, the New Perspective on Paul has an elevated sense of the Greatest Conversation ever to a new level of urgency as theologians sharpen one another’s thinking about what Paul meant.
There is no question that as the Great Conversation on Romans continues, Doug Moo is one of the central voices being heard. He is, arguably, the most evenly appreciated Romans scholar in the world today. If you take the New Perspective debate I referenced earlier – - N.T. Wright and James D.G. Dunn are on one side of the table. John Piper and Tom Schreiner are on the other side. Both sides would recommend Doug Moo’s commentary.
Dr. Moo is the Blanchard professor of New Testament at Wheaton. He was on the faculty at Trinity for over 20 years. Dr. Moo and his wife have 5 grown children.
Prayerfully keep this picture in mind. It is now our turn to look at Romans, which is positioned in the center of the table. We also have the opportunity to listen to the theological dialogue that has taken place as Romans has been studied throughout church history.
This morning, our modest little church has been invited to come down to the front row of the greatest conversation that has ever taken place and listen to someone who has been called by God to have a seat at the table.
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