Understanding Paul

[Montie_Claunch]

I am going through Pauls epistle to the Romans and I am starting to get a bit lost. On what he means, how it squares with other verses and what not. Does anyone know of any works that could help make Paul a little more understandable? Thanks and God bless.

 

[Fidelis]

Pick up the Navarre Bible Commentary on Romans/Galatians. Not only does it have in depth commentary on the books themselves, but it also has two very in depth articles on each of the books and another on the thought and writings of St. Paul.

After this this in-depth introduction, you can go on to supplement it with other good materials, like the Ignatius Study Bible volume on Romans.

 

[NotWorthy]

Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch have done a study bible for Ignatius, 2nd edition.

Also, there are wonderful on-line services for Romans at:

a) Agape Bible Study: Incidentally, there are about 8 other studies on this site that are all worthwhile.

b) Catholic Culture has a good Commentary on it as well. Again, there are commentaries on all of Paul’s Epistles here.

Good Luck!!!

 

[Verbum]

H’i Montie,

Even St. Peter found Paul difficult. What I did, and what I suggest, is that you get one of those “plain English” bibles like the Good News translation (Catholic edition).

amazon.com/Holy-Bible-Translation-Catholic-Imitation/dp/1581700512

You can get the paperback edition for peanuts. You read Romans, for example, in that translation a couple of times. That will help you get the drift of the epistle. St. Paul always writes because he has something on his mind, usually a problem that has arisen in the community he is writing to. After you have done that, you may be ready to read the epistle in your favorite translation.

Verbum

 

[Contarini]

I am going through Pauls epistle to the Romans and I am starting to get a bit lost. On what he means, how it squares with other verses and what not. Does anyone know of any works that could help make Paul a little more understandable? Thanks and God bless.

Feel lucky. You could be me and several days overdue writing an article about Martin Bucer’s (very long, and very complex, written in difficult Latin) commentary on Romans. . . .

And yes, what am I doing here?

Edwin

P.S. The most notable contemporary Catholic commentary on Romans is by Joseph Fitzmyer, but no doubt you would consider it liberal!