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Paul's Gospel in Romans: Vertical, Horizontal, and Cosmic Dimensions
In this book, Jarvis J. Williams argues that Paul's gospel in Romans is the announcement of good news that by Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, God has fulfilled all his redemptive promises for Jews, Gentiles, and the world. He further argues that Paul's gospel has at least three vertical, horizontal, and cosmic.
Williams explains that the starting point for Paul's gospel is Christ's cross and resurrection. The vertical dimension refers to the saving benefits Jews and Gentiles receive from God through faith in Jesus, including justification by faith, forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and the salvation of all the elect within Israel. The horizontal aspect relates to individual and relational transformation of those in Christ. Through the Spirit, God transforms those who have died with Christ to live a righteous life in the power of the resurrection, which enables both unity between Jews and Gentiles in Christ and their love for their neighbors. The cosmic component relates to the liberation of the entire creation from its slavery to sin's power. This liberation includes a bodily resurrection, the transformation of the current universe, and a future inheritance of a new creation for all Jews and Gentiles whom God has redeemed in Christ.
This fresh articulation and defense of Pauline theology from an evangelical perspective will be useful for seminary students, scholars, pastors, and study groups.
Williams explains that the starting point for Paul's gospel is Christ's cross and resurrection. The vertical dimension refers to the saving benefits Jews and Gentiles receive from God through faith in Jesus, including justification by faith, forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and the salvation of all the elect within Israel. The horizontal aspect relates to individual and relational transformation of those in Christ. Through the Spirit, God transforms those who have died with Christ to live a righteous life in the power of the resurrection, which enables both unity between Jews and Gentiles in Christ and their love for their neighbors. The cosmic component relates to the liberation of the entire creation from its slavery to sin's power. This liberation includes a bodily resurrection, the transformation of the current universe, and a future inheritance of a new creation for all Jews and Gentiles whom God has redeemed in Christ.
This fresh articulation and defense of Pauline theology from an evangelical perspective will be useful for seminary students, scholars, pastors, and study groups.
184 pages, Paperback
Published March 24, 2026
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May 1, 2026
Overall, pretty basic overview of certain theological themes in Romans. Had issues with Williams’ take on Romans 2:13 and other related issues to final justification, that I think are harmful and mix the law/gospel distinction in salvation matters
However, I did think his three dimensional approach to the gospel is a helpful means of understanding it and for evangelism:
- The gospel is vertical good news about how one can be personally reconciled to God on the basis of Christ’s representation, merits, and union with the believer.
- The gospel is horizontal good news about how humans can be reconciled to one another by Christ’s blood breaking down the wall of hostility that divides humans across ethnic and cultural lines and be unified in one family of God.
- The gospel is cosmic good news about how even though this world is full of sin, brokenness, and death, because of Jesus’s resurrection the new creation is coming and is already-present in Christians who are new creatures in Christ. This world isn’t all that there is and there is a new one coming that will be restorative and renewed. Good news indeed
However, I did think his three dimensional approach to the gospel is a helpful means of understanding it and for evangelism:
- The gospel is vertical good news about how one can be personally reconciled to God on the basis of Christ’s representation, merits, and union with the believer.
- The gospel is horizontal good news about how humans can be reconciled to one another by Christ’s blood breaking down the wall of hostility that divides humans across ethnic and cultural lines and be unified in one family of God.
- The gospel is cosmic good news about how even though this world is full of sin, brokenness, and death, because of Jesus’s resurrection the new creation is coming and is already-present in Christians who are new creatures in Christ. This world isn’t all that there is and there is a new one coming that will be restorative and renewed. Good news indeed
Displaying 1 of 1 review