Arland J. Hultgren, Pauls Letter to the Romans: A Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2011.

Chapter Ten This useful and well written commentary concludes with Hultgrens discussion of the 16th chapter of Romans and a series of appendices on everything from the textual history of Chapter 5:1, to homosexuality as discussed in the epistle, to house churches (i.e., 8 appendices in all). Hultgren first sets about, in his discussion of Chapter 16, to disabuse readers of the false notion that this chapter is not intrinsic to the letter. He then reminds readers of what he suggested in the introduction that is, that Phoebe was the bearer of the letter and that there is no good reason aside from male prejudice among some to suggest she was not a deacon. Still he does recognize that The degree to which the term designated an actual office at the time Paul wrote Romans is not so clear. But the fact that Paul uses the term also at Philippians 1:1 indicates that it has begun to take on an official meaning (p. 570-571). Fair enough but we need to all confess that we still no far too little about the very early Church to be dogmatic either way. She may have occupied an office or she may simply have been a servant of the church. Claims in the extreme either way tend to be ideologically based. About the gender of , (in 16:7) however, there simply can be no doubt whatsoever. She was a woman. When it comes to a discussion of the many persons Paul lists in Chapter 16 Hultgren introduces the reader to a range of 6 potential explanations. Readers are free to choose whichever theory they see as most likely, because they are all simply theoretical (again because we just dont know enough about the situation to say). However, when we arrive at the end of the book of Romans Hultgren does in fact set aside as secondary the closing doxology. He describes it as a deuteron-Pauline addition and he comes to that conclusion because the section (16:25-27) contains phrases not found elsewhere in the undisputed letters of Paul [and because it] is written in the style of Ephesians and the Pastoral Epistles (p. 601). And so ends the volume. Is it worth reading? Yes, very much so. Does it break new ground? No, not really. Is it worth buying? Certainly. Will students and Pastors benefit from it? Absolutely. It is to commentaries on Romans what the good old reliable BMW 520i is to driving. Its delightful and sensible and driveable and at the end of the day thats really all one needs in order to get from point A to point B.

Jim West Quartz Hill School of Theology