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Encountering Biblical Studies
Encountering the Book of Romans: A Theological Survey
An engaging and user-friendly survey of the Book of Romans
240 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2002
About the author
Douglas J. Moo
104 books91 followersDouglas J. Moo (PhD, University of St. Andrews) is Kenneth T. Wessner Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College Graduate School in Wheaton, Illinois. He is the author of commentaries on Romans, James, 2 Peter and Jude, and Colossians and Philemon and coauthor of An Introduction to the New Testament. He also headed the committee on Bible translation for the NIV revision.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 22, 2015
Full review is here http://mydigitalseminary.com/encounte...
Encountering the Book of Romans does what it says on the box, batteries included. It is a textbook theological survey of Paul’s letter, written by one of the ablest Pauline scholars and author of arguably the greatest modern commentary available. While it would be a fine introduction to Romans to the earnest reader, it is best used as a textbook for undergraduate students.
Encountering the Book of Romans does what it says on the box, batteries included. It is a textbook theological survey of Paul’s letter, written by one of the ablest Pauline scholars and author of arguably the greatest modern commentary available. While it would be a fine introduction to Romans to the earnest reader, it is best used as a textbook for undergraduate students.
July 22, 2020
This is The textbook for my Romans class. Overall, it’s one of the best books that I’ve ever read on Romans. It was very readable and engaging. I like how Moo dealt with the difficult passages head on and connected them with the overall argument presented in Romans. He clearly stated his position, while respectfully presenting the opposite position. Just like anyone else I didn’t agree with everything, but almost. The main reason that I didn’t give it five stars is bc Moo seems to be infatuated with the NIV. How a scholar of Moo’s caliber could be so intrigued by a thought for thought translation is puzzling.
July 12, 2026
This book was a required text for a doctoral course I was enrolled in. The commentary, by Douglas Moo, is a part of the Encountering Biblical Studies series and is geared for the Christian who would desire a commentary that is accessible and less academic. For a more academic treatment of Paul's letter to the Romans Moo has a full length, academic commentary that is much more detailed than this volume. The full length commentary is targeting one type readership while the EBS volume is directed to another.
I found the commentary helpful in that Moo gives an easy to follow interpretation of the various sections of Paul's letter. Where merited he presents the various understandings of more challenging texts, before giving his own view; and he also gives practical ways that Romans applies for the modern reader. I rated the commentary a '3', NOT due to any shortcoming in the work, but because it is targeting a more general readership and I prefer more scholarly works at this point in my life—but for a lay person desiring a simply yet helpful overview of Romans, I would rate the work '4' stars..
I would recommend the book to believers seeking to gain a basic understanding of Romans. His treatment of the context of the Roman church, Paul's relationship with them, and how that shaped what Paul wrote in his introduction to the letter was very helpful as was the comments throughout, for the most part. On the other hand, Moo's perspective on the second part of Romans 7 and who Paul was referring to was—well—interesting and will require further thought. I have always understood that section of the letter in one way, while Moo presents three possible meanings and settles in a place where I would not. This is not bad, however—but it does make one think and also dig deeper to try and determine authorial intent.
I found the commentary helpful in that Moo gives an easy to follow interpretation of the various sections of Paul's letter. Where merited he presents the various understandings of more challenging texts, before giving his own view; and he also gives practical ways that Romans applies for the modern reader. I rated the commentary a '3', NOT due to any shortcoming in the work, but because it is targeting a more general readership and I prefer more scholarly works at this point in my life—but for a lay person desiring a simply yet helpful overview of Romans, I would rate the work '4' stars..
I would recommend the book to believers seeking to gain a basic understanding of Romans. His treatment of the context of the Roman church, Paul's relationship with them, and how that shaped what Paul wrote in his introduction to the letter was very helpful as was the comments throughout, for the most part. On the other hand, Moo's perspective on the second part of Romans 7 and who Paul was referring to was—well—interesting and will require further thought. I have always understood that section of the letter in one way, while Moo presents three possible meanings and settles in a place where I would not. This is not bad, however—but it does make one think and also dig deeper to try and determine authorial intent.
December 14, 2019
Very articulate and does a great job of explaining the book of Romans by the different themes throughout.
April 23, 2020
Solid abridgment of Moo’s linger treatment on Romans. Very good book. Recommended
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November 8, 2021The book of Romans is a very large piece of literature and this commentary served as a great help in studying it. Very in-depth. Loved it!
February 14, 2012
This is the same review I posted for Romans
Really like Moo's style. Romans is a difficult book to grasp unless you look only at the broad overview. Paul is so "wound up" when he writes this. He definitely has a point to make, and he makes it over and over, step by step, and then step by step again. Even a casual read of Romans reveals the intensity Paul feels when he writes this letter. Moo helps decipher it, while pointing out the various doctrines (sometimes contrary to each other) that have sprung from this letter. I've become a fan of Moo after going through this commentary. He is very thorough, very balanced, and very fair. He points to all sides, sometimes indicates his own, and lets us know when he's abstaining from a position. Reading this commentary, I ended up also purchasing Encountering the Book of Romans: A Theological Survey and Moo's Pillar edition of The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon. I have the Pillar version of The Letter of James on order, and can't wait to read it. The Pillar series has a lightly different tone than either of the Romans commentaries, pointing out more of the nuiances of the Greek text and how it's translated from version to version, plus Moo's own interpretation, and although I didn't particularly seek a commentary that dwelt on the Greek, I find it to be an added bonus to my studies.
Really like Moo's style. Romans is a difficult book to grasp unless you look only at the broad overview. Paul is so "wound up" when he writes this. He definitely has a point to make, and he makes it over and over, step by step, and then step by step again. Even a casual read of Romans reveals the intensity Paul feels when he writes this letter. Moo helps decipher it, while pointing out the various doctrines (sometimes contrary to each other) that have sprung from this letter. I've become a fan of Moo after going through this commentary. He is very thorough, very balanced, and very fair. He points to all sides, sometimes indicates his own, and lets us know when he's abstaining from a position. Reading this commentary, I ended up also purchasing Encountering the Book of Romans: A Theological Survey and Moo's Pillar edition of The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon. I have the Pillar version of The Letter of James on order, and can't wait to read it. The Pillar series has a lightly different tone than either of the Romans commentaries, pointing out more of the nuiances of the Greek text and how it's translated from version to version, plus Moo's own interpretation, and although I didn't particularly seek a commentary that dwelt on the Greek, I find it to be an added bonus to my studies.
June 8, 2015
Very easy to read and I would certainly recommend to anyone who finds any kind of reading hard or laborious.
May 14, 2016
Fairly basic and straightforward. Better used for a survey of the book, rather than a deeper study.
June 20, 2016
A solid theological overview of Romans from an excellent, insightful, and seasoned Evangelical expositor.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews