Paul's Theology of Mission to the Nations in Romans

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The book of the gospel of God as Paul's mission to the nation in the letter to the Romans. The work with an explanation of the topic and its Importance in the mission contex, which sets the stage for the main body of the book As evidence to this purpose, this work first explores the epistolary frame of the letter and contends that Paul basically had a missionary purpose for writing the Romans. The letter opening and closing affirm this divine commission and authority for preaching the gospel to all the nations. Paul skillfully establishes the universal significance of the gospel he was called to preach. Then it further examines God's identity in Paul's mission ta- the nations, God is the foundation and starting point for Paul's mission to the nations. Paul frequently uses descriptive statements regarding God's acts. He has made it plain that God's true identity is bounded by His actions for His people. These statements clearly demonstrate that the biblical God is not only the divine being, who encompasses divine attributes and nature. He is additionally the One who acts, which forms the distinct Christian identity of God, revealed fully and only in Jesus.

This scholarly work further considers Paul's mission in the context of his missionary function. Paul was commissioned to preach the gospel, and specifically his call was to be an apostle to the gentiles, he was set apart for "the gospel of God." The gospel's authority lies with God, who owns it and originated it. The preaching of the gospel concerns God's Son, a promise God made in the Old Testament, which is now fulfilled in the incarnate, crucified, risen Christ. Paul's) missionary calling was bringing the nations, both Jews and gentiles, together as one people of God by preaching the gospel. The ultimate goal of Paul's missionary task was joining the Jews and the gentiles in praise and worship of God.

It is evident from this research that Paul's calling and commission were serving as a missionary to the nations. This calling was an integral part of God's redemptive plan, which was marked by the promise of blessing for the nations. Thus, Paul's worldwide mission underscores the Rumans' purpose.

Rev. Dr. Subhro Sekhar Sircar, Associate Professor of New Testament, has been teaching New Testament in Faculty of Theology, Serampore College since 1998. Prior to joining Serampore College, he served as pastor for number of years in several independent churches as well as in his home church, Raghabpur Baptist Church. Besides this, he also served as Coordinator for Church Planting Training and Missions Research with National Fellowship, Kolkata, and as Mission Research Coordinator for the State of West Bengal first with Council on National Service (CONS) India, then People India, and The Bible League India for a decade.

He also served as Visiting Professor in Calcutta Bible College and Bishop's College, Kolkata. He has earned his M.Th. in New Testament from Serampore College (University) under NIIPGTS, and Ph.D. in New Testament from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, USA. His doctoral work was done on the Epistle of Paul to the Romans from mission perspective.

He has published several articles and essays in journals and books. He also served as Vice- Principal (Theology), and Coordinator, Bible Translation Studies, and serving as one of the Editors of Indian Journal of Theology. He is married to Susanna Sircar, who is specialized in Biblical Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy Counseling, a counseling practitioner and a freelance speaker, and they are blessed with a daughter Gracia Shobhana (B.S. Chemistry with Pre-medical) and a son Jonathan Shobhan (B.S. Math Junior) in William Carey University, Mississippi, USA.

Paul's Theology of Mission to the Nations in Romans by Rev. Dr. Subhro Sircar, Serampore College is a scholarly piece of work which investigates the preaching of the gospel of God as Paul's mission to the nations in the letter to the Romans. Paul basically had a missionary purpose in writing to the Romans which clearly affirms the divine authority and commission for preaching the gospel to all the nations. Thus, Paul skillfully establishes the universal significance of the gospel and emphasizes the decisive acts of God for his people which are revealed in Jesus, the incarnate, crucified and risen, Christ. It is the gospel of God' that is preached and the gospel authority lies with God. Dr. Sircar makes it clear that Paul's missionary calling was to bring the nations, both Jews and others, together as one people of God, united in praise and worship of God.

The research makes it quite evident that Paul's call and commission had the purpose of serving as a missionary to the nations involving in a worldwide mission bringing blessing to the nations. In the letter to the Romans, we find the main thrust of Paul to bring the Christian community back to its earlier enthusiasm for evangelism and mission actively leading them forward to a new commitment to Christ and his purposes. The theology of Romans has its central focus on the mission theme, the mission of proclaiming the gospel will for Paul always articulating the theology of life and death, receiving and/or rejecting the gospel.

Paul establishes an inclusive category of Jew-Gentile: Jews and other believers are on the same footing within the church and are brought to the same status and Paul challenges them to get united for their mission responsibility towards all. Both Jews and Gentiles are justified on the ground of faith in Christ, who has kept the law for all. The Romans must start sharing the evangelistic zeal which has the cosmic scope of what God has done in Christ. Paul's challenge is to be faithful in the mission of God leading a life of obedience of faith among the nations to the glory of God.

In this thorough and penetrating study of Paul's letter to Rome, Dr. Subhro Sekhar Sircar examines Paul's own expression of his purpose and aim as the apostle to the nations. He shows in wonderful detail how this calling as apostle was deeply rooted in Paul's understanding of God and of the Scriptures as he read them in the light of Christ the risen Lord. Just as the apostle to the nations cannot be separated from the Gospel given to him, so the "Gospel of God" cannot be separated from the apostle and his calling to the nations. As Dr. Sircar rightly underscores, Paul's apostolic calling to the nations determines the identity of the church, just as it determined his own identity. Both corporately and individually we are agents of mission in the world. This new study drives us toward fresh appropriation of Paul's message.