What is the cultural background behind Rom 12:20 and its implication for understanding the
passage in its context?
Beletech Menna
Box number: 34
Term Paper 3
Dr. Tekalign Duguma
Scripture and Methods of Interpretation/BS 501
Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology
January 16/2023
The Authorship of Romans epistle
The letter to the Romans was generally accepted as a genuine Pauline epistle by New Testament
scholars.1 Almost nobody disputes that Paul wrote the Romans epistle. Even the early heretics
believed Paul wrote Romans. Paul only used his own name once in the book of Romans, but a
lot of many other internal features lend evidence to his authorship (Rom. 11:1; 16:3); Paul
mentioned the love gift from the churches in Macedonia and Achaia as the reason for his trip
to Jerusalem (Rom. 15:25-27); Paul also made frequent references to his desire to travel to
Rome (Rom. 1:10-13, 15; 15:22-32); in the book of Acts (19:21) also the fact confirmed. In
particular, these reaffirming parallels between Romans and Acts provide credence to Paul's
authorship of Romans epistle.2
The situation and date that the epistle of Romans been written
By the time Paul were write the Romans epistle, the majority of Christians in Rome are likely
Gentiles, possibly as a result of the fact that many Jewish Christian leaders had been
temporarily displaced for a half-decade (cf. Rom 1:5; 11:13; 16:14; esp. 1:13). A Romans
epistle was most likely written by Paul in the years A.D. 55-58, not long after Claudius’s death.
Thus, the majority of the Rome Christian community was mainly composed of Gentiles until
Claudius’s death in A.D. 54, when his order was immediately overturned and when some
Jewish Christians until came back to Rome. (Rom 16:3).3
1
Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second edition (Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press, 2014), 422.
2
John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck, and Dallas Theological Seminary, eds., The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An
Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, Ill: Victor Books, 1983), 435.
3
Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, 423–24.
The recipients of Romans epistle and the thought of Apostille Paul
Regarding the receivers of Romans letter’s identities, there is a valid questioning. Paul didn't
refer to "the church in Rome"; rather, he simply addressed it "to everyone in Rome who are
loved by God and called to be saints" (Rom. 1:7). Probably there were most numerous churches
in Rome; possibly this is why Paul addressed the letter to "the saints" rather than "the church."
In terms of ethnicity, were these Christians in Rome Jews or Gentiles? The response is "both"
For example, Aquila, was a Jew (Acts 18:2), as were Andronicus, Junias, and Herodion,
identified all three of they were Paul's relatives (Rom. 16:7, 11). Josephus and others claim that
there was a sizable Jewish community in Rome (cf. Acts 28:17-28). Rome, however, was a city
of Gentiles and the seat of a Gentile imperial power where all Jews, whether they were believers
or unbelievers, made up a tiny minority. Therefore, it is logical to assume that the majority of
his readers were Gentiles. Paul stated emphatically, "I am speaking to you Gentiles" (Rom.
11:13). Additional texts suggest that some of his readers were Christians from the Gentile world
(Rom. 11:17-31; 15:14-16). At fact, it may be inferred from Rom. 1:5, 13 that Paul thought the
Christian community in Rome was mostly made up of Gentiles.4
The cultural background behind Rom 12:20 and its implication
The phrase "coals on the head" can relate to an Egyptian ceremony in which a participant
carried a burned coal pan on his head to symbolize his repentance.5
Paul uses these passages from Proverbs 25:21–22a to describe how believers should respond
to those who would persecute them. In the Old Testament, the terms "coals" and "fire" are
frequently used symbolically to describe God's mighty presence, particularly his judgment.
4
5
Walvoord, Zuck, and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 435–36.
Walvoord, Zuck, and Dallas Theological Seminary, 490.
Therefore, some academics argue that the Proverbs verse alludes to God's judgment and that
Paul believed that the believers' generosity to their adversaries would ultimately increase the
amount of judgment they would get. However, the context appears to demand that "heap[ing]
burning coals" has a beneficial effect on the unbeliever rather than a harmful one.
So, according to some scholars, the imagery in Proverbs may have its roots in an Egyptian
ceremony in which a penitent carried burning coals of fire on his head as a symbol of his
repentance.6
The mysterious picture of heaping burning coals on the enemy's head provides the justification
for why Christians should be friendly to their enemies. The unique action of not only avoiding
to react but also meeting an enemy's needs may help him see how foolish his actions are and
result in a change in his character, therefore the believer should treat an enemy with kindness.
Therefore, it is likely that Paul is referring to the immediate result of a believer's charity toward
an adversary rather than God's future judgment. Paul's main argument is that having burning
coals on one's head is a very terrible position, but it is also one from which one may easily
escape if one so chooses. The notion is that the opponent would perceive such kindness as a
defeat and be inclined to better feelings.7
As result of above references, the culture of heaping burning coal on one's head is not tied to
Rome culture; rather, it is associated with the ancient Egyptian culture of carrying a pan of
burning coal on one's head in order to express repentance.
6
Douglas J. Moo, Ralph P. Martin, and Julie Wu, Romans, Galatians (Grand Rapid, Michigan: Zondervan, 2016),
166.
7
Frank Thielman, Romans (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2018), 967–68.
Bibliography
Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Second edition.
Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2014.
Moo, Douglas J., Ralph P. Martin, and Julie Wu. Romans, Galatians. Grand Rapid,
Michigan: Zondervan, 2016.
Thielman, Frank. Romans. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2018.
Walvoord, John F., Roy B. Zuck, and Dallas Theological Seminary, eds. The Bible
Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, Ill: Victor
Books, 1983.