Reading Romans in light of social identity theory

ABSTRACT

This essay provides an extended review on William Campbell’s new commentary on the Epistle to the Romans in the T&T Clark Social Identity Commentaries on the New Testament series published in 2023. It evaluates the methodology used in this commentary and highlights some of the fresh insights Campbell’s commentary offers and how social identity theory could be profitably used in understanding the inter-group hostility existing among the various groups addressed in the letter. This essay also considers how Campbell employs social identity theory in resolving the difficulty in reading Romans 9–11 on the question of the status of Israel. Implications of reading Romans through the lenses of social identity theory are also offered.

KEYWORDS:

• Romans
• social identity theory
• New Testament

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kar Yong Lim

Kar Yong Lim is a Lecturer in New Testament Studies at Seminari Theoloji Malaysia, Seremban, Malaysia. He also served as the founding Dean of Seminari Theoloji Malaysia-Kuala Lumpur Centre from 2020 to 2022. His research interests include Pauline studies and social identity formation of Early Christianity. His major publications include The Sufferings of Christ are Abundant in Us (T&T Clark, 2009), Jesus the Storyteller (Armour, 2015), Metaphors and Social Identity Formation in Paul’s Letters to the Corinthians (Pickwick, 2017), and numerous academic essays. Kar Yong is currently working on a major monograph on space and social identity formation in Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians.