Paul never ceased celebrating the exciting, unprecedented good news of salvation, and was ingenious in finding ways for others to join him. His letter to the fledgling Roman church is a case in point. Paul knows his audience is made up mostly of Jewish-Christians, or at least "God-fearers" (Gentiles who worshipped the One God and kept the commandments). Accordingly, Paul used terms and images with a rich tradition in Jewish history.

Today's epistle lesson is steeped in language and imagery familiar to a first-century, Roman-influenced Jewish audience. Although not part of today's reading, verses12-13 are usually read as a unit with verses 14-17. The distinction made in verses12-13 between those who "live according to the flesh" and those who live "by the Spirit" is made even more graphic b…