Paul’s Stoicizing Politics in Romans 12-13: The Role of 13.1-10 in the Argument

Abstract

This article argues for the intrinsic coherence of Rom. 12-13 by considering the meaning of the transitions between the various sections of the text. In this light, the article proposes an understanding of Paul’s politics that draws on Stoic ideas in two important places: 13.1-7 (compared with Seneca, De Clementia 1.1-4) and the transition between 13.7 and 13.8 (drawing on the Stoic and Pauline idea of (see pdf for character), ‘as if not’). As a formula for Paul’s Stoicizing politics in Rom. 12-13, the note suggests the following: engagement in this world and disengagement from it but total engagement elsewhere.