Romans – The Overall Chiasm and Some Lesser Chiasms
Return to Index or Epistles as Homilies before Eucharist
Note:
You may wish to read Chiastic Structuring: An Introduction first.1. Overall Chiasm:
Romans 1.1-8.17 x 8.18-15.33; 16.25-27
2. 1.17a-d x 1.17e-18
3. 1.21-25c x 1.25d-28
4. 1.18-2.1b x 2.1c-9
5. 5.11-16a x 5.16b-21
6. 5.11b-6.8 x 6.9-23
7. 14.1-11a x14.11b-23
8. 14.5-8 x 14.9-12
1. Overall Chiasm: Romans 1.1-8.17 x 8.18-15.33; 16.25-27
| 1.1-6 | (Paul and Gospel of God) | 16.25-27 | (Recapitulation of 'my gospel') |
| .7b | Peace from God our Father | 15.33 | The God of peace be with you all. |
| .7b | To all in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints | .31 | That my ministration for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints. |
| .9 | I mention you unceasingly in my prayers. | .30 | Strive together with me in your prayers to God for me. |
| .12 | That I with you may be comforted | .24 | I shall have been satisfied with your company. |
| .13a | Oftentimes I purposed to come to you [and was hindered] | .22 | I was hindered coming to you. |
| .13b | To have fruit in you as in rest of Gentiles | .18 | Things Christ wrought through me for obedience of Gentiles. |
| .14 | I am debtor to Greeks, barbaraians, wise and mindless | .17 | My glorying in Christ Jesus |
| .16 | The Gospel: the power of God unto salvation. | .16 | The Gospel of God … sanctified by Holy Spirit. |
| [MEN’S SEPARATION FROM GOD] | [LIFE IN CHRIST] | ||
| 1.18 | Ungodliness, unrighteousness of men, hold down the truth. | 15.14 | You are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able to admonish one another. |
| .19-25 | [Failure of Gentiles to follow God’s Wisdom in Creation] | .9-13 | Mercy to Gentiles. |
| .25c | The Creator who is blessed for ever. Amen. | .6 | With one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| .27 | Lust one toward another | .5 | Be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus. |
| .28 | Refused to have God in knowledge | .4 | Things written aforetime written for our learning. |
| .29-31 | [Vice list] | 15.1-3 & 14.17-23 | Pleasing neighbour, not oneself, as Christ pleased not himself. |
| 14.19 |
Follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another. |
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| .18 | Well-pleasing to God and approved of men. | ||
| .17 | The Kingdom of God | ||
| .32a | Knowing the ordinance of God | .14 | I know … in the Lord Jesus nothing is unclean of itself. |
| .32b | Worthy of death | .15b | Destroy not him for whom Christ died. |
| 1.32c | Consent with them that practice them. | 14.13 | Let no man put a stumbling-block in his brother’s way. |
| [JUDGING OTHERS] | [NOT JUDGING – GOD WILL JUDGE EACH] | ||
| 2.1 | Where in thou judgest the other | 14.13 |
Let us not therefore judge one another any more. |
| .2 | The judgement of God. | .12 |
Each one of us shall give account of himself to God. |
| .3 | The judgement of God . | .10 | We shall all stand before the judgement-seat of God. |
| .4 | The riches of his goodness, forbearance, long-suffering … leading thee to repentance. | .9 | To this end Christ died and lived … that he might rule both the dead and the living. |
| .5-13 | God’s coming judgement of each man according to his works [v. 6] | .1-8 | We are the Lord’s [v. 8], do not judge the household servant of another [v. 4]: varieties of ways of honouring the Lord. |
| .14 | The Gentiles without the Law do the things of the Law and thereby show the work of the Lord written in their hearts. | 13.14 | Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the desires thereof. |
| 2.16 | In The Day [of judgement] when God shall judge. | 13.13 | In The Day [of Salvation] … the night is far spent, The Day is at hand. |
| .19 | Light (φῶς), darkness (σκότος) | .12 | Darkness (σκότος), light (φῶς) |
| .21-22 | stealing (κλέπτειν), adultery (μοιχεύειν), idols | .9 | Covet, steal (κλέπτειν), kill, adultery (μοιχεύειν) |
| .23a | Glorifying in the Law | .8c | fulfilling of the Law. |
| .23b | Transgression of the Law | .8b | love of neighbour is the |
| .25 | A doer of the Law | .8a | Love one another, for |
| .27 | Shall not the uncircumcision, if it fulfil the Law, judge (κρινεῖ) thee? | .4-5 | An avenger for wrath (ἔκδικος εἰς ὀργὴν) |
| 2.29 | Whose praise (ἔπαινος) is not from men but from God | .3d | Thou shalt have praise (ἔπαινος) from him [i..e. God’s ruling minister] |
| 3.5 | God visits with wrath (ὀργή) | 13.2 | They that withstand [God’s ordinance] shall receive judgement (κρίμα) |
| .8 | Let us do evil … that good may come? | 12.21 | Overcome evil with good. |
| .19 | The judgement of God | .19 | Vengeance belongs to me, I will recompense, says the Lord. |
| .24-25 | Redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth an expiation through faith by his blood to show his righteousness. | 12.1-2 | Present your bodies a living sacrifice |
| .27 | Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. | 11.36 | To him the glory for ever. Amen. |
| .29 | God of Jews, God of Gentiles also. | .25-26 | Fullness of Gentiles come in, and so all Israel shall be saved. |
| 4.1-25 | [To Jews:] Abraham our forefather according to the flesh – justified by faith in uncircumcised state – father of nations | .13-24 | [To Gentiles:] about standing by faith, grafted in |
| 5.2 | Through whom also we have had our access into this grace wherein we stand. | .11 | By their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles. |
| .10 | We shall be saved in his life. | 11.3 | They seek my [= Elijah’s] life. |
| .12 | Through one man sin entered the world … all sinned. | 10.21 | A disobedient and gainsaying people. |
| 5.21 | Even so might grace reign through righteousness unto life eternal | .9 | Because if confess with thy mouth Jesus Lord and shalt believe in thy heart |
| (5.21) | through Jesus Christ our Lord | (10.9) | that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. |
| 6.1 | What shall we say then? | .8 | What does it say? |
| .8 | But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. | .4 | Christ is the end/goal of the Law unto righteousness to every one that believes. |
| .11 | Alive unto God in Christ Jesus | 10.3 | Subject selves to righteousness of God. |
| .21b | Ashamed | 9.33 | Not be put to shame. |
| .21c | The end of those things is death. | .28 | Lord will execute his word upon the earth, finishing it and cutting it short. |
| 6.22 | Slaves to God | .26 | Sons of the living God. |
| 7.1a | Are you ignorant | .23 | That he might make known |
| Men that know the Law | .22 | To make his power known. | |
| .1-5 | 1: Law (bis) [Pentecost and Sinai]; 2: Law (bis); 3: Law; 4: Law; 5: Law | .18 | [Exod. 4.20 and Deut. 2.20 echoed] |
| .6a | The Law | .17 | The Scripture [Exod. 9.16 quoted] |
| .6b | The letter | .15 | He saith to Moses [Exod. 33.19 quoted] |
| .7 | What shall we say then? … God forbid! | .14 | What shall we say then? … God forbid! |
| .15 | What I hate | .13 | Esau I hated |
| .22 | Delight in the Law of the Lord | .4 | The giving of the Law |
| .23 | Warring in my members | .5 | Flesh (σάρξ) |
| .24 | O wretched man that I am | .3-2 | I could
wish myself were anathema Great sorrow and unceasing pain |
| .25a | I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord | .5b | God blessed for ever. Amen. |
| 7.25c | Flesh (σάρξ) | 9.3 | Flesh (σάρξ) |
| [JEWS – RE LAW] | [GENTILES – RE ASTROLOGY, ETC.] | ||
| 8.1 | No condemnation to them in Christ Jesus | 8.39 | Nothing separates us from love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
| .2 | Made me free from Law of sin and death | .35-38 | [List of powers from which we are unshackled.] |
| .3a | What the Law could not do, weak through the flesh. | .33-34 | God justifies; Christ Jesus that died, was raised, exalted; interceding for us. |
| .3b-4a | God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, that the ordinance of the Law might be fulfilled in us. | .31-32 | God is for us; he that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all. |
| .4b-5 | Walk not after flesh but after Spirit | .30 | Foreordained, called, justified, glorified [i.e. temporal sequence] |
| .6b | Mind of Spirit is life and peace. | .29 | Conformed to the image of his Son |
| .7-8 | Law of God: cannot please God | .27c-28 | According to God; love God; his purpose |
| .9 | If one has not Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. | .27b | The Spirit makes intercession for the saints. |
| .10 | Body is dead because of sin -- . | .26 | Spirit helps our infirmity [of body]. |
| .11 | Shall quicken your mortal bodies | .24-25 | Hope – not yet seen. |
| .12-13 | If by Spirit you mortify deeds of body you shall live. | .22-23 | We and creation groan … having firstfruits of Spirit … redemption of our body. |
| .14 | Led by Spirit: sons of God. | .21b | Liberty of glory of children of God. |
| .15a | Not spirit of bondage. | .21a | Bondage of corruption. |
| .15b | Abba, Father | .19 | Waiting for the revealing of the |
| .16-17a | Children, children, heirs of God, | sons of God. | |
| .17b | Suffer [Isaac typology]……………. glorified {Adam typology] | .18 | Sufferings [Isaac typology] ……….. glory [Adam typology |
Note: This overall chiasm indicates that Romans 16.1-24 is not part of the original letter. Furthermore, since 16. 25-27 stands in relation to 1.1-6, and the former is generally recognised as being of anti-Marcionite origin, so it calls into question how much of the contents of the credal material of 1.1-6 originate directly from Paul.
| .11b | through our Lord Jesus [Christ] through whom we now received redemption | .21b | grace reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our lord |
| .12 | death through sin | .21a | sin reigned in death |
| .13 | law | .20 | law |
| .14 | Adam a figure of him to come | .19 | as through one man’s disobedience … so through obedience of one |
| .15a | trespass | .18 | one trespass |
| .15b | the grace of God and the gift in grace by the one man Jesus Christ | .17b | the grace and the gift … through the one Jesus Christ |
| .16a | The judgement from (ἐξ) one unto (εἰς) condemnation | .16b | the free gift from (ἐκ) many trespasses unto (εἰς) justification. |
3. Romans 1.21-25c x 1.25d-28
| .21 | knowing (γνόντες) God, they glorified him not | .28 | And even as they did not approve to have God in knowledge (ἐν ἐπιγνώσει) |
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[INVERSION OF STOIC MODEL:] |
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| .21b |
vain in reasoning, senseless heart darkened |
.27b | working dis-order-liness (ἀσχημοσύνην) |
| .22 | professing themselves to be wise (σοφοὶ), they became fools | ||
| .23 | .23 changed (ἤλλαξαν) glory* of incorruptible God for the likeness* of corruptible man … | .26b | changed (μετήλλαξαν) the natural use into that which is against nature |
| .24a | Wherefore God gave-them-up (παρέδωκεν) in lust of hearts that their bodies* should be dishonoured (ἀτιμάζεσθαι | .26a | For this cause God gave-them-up (παρέδωκεν) unto passions of dishonour (ἀτιμίας) |
| .25a | for that they exchanged () | .25f | who is blessed for ever. Amen. |
|
.25b |
the truth of God | .25e | rather than the Creator |
| .25c | for a lie | .25d | and worshipped and served the creature |
| [*N.B.: combination of ‘glory’, ‘likeness’ and ‘body’ (=image of Gen. 1.27-28)] | |||
4. Romans 1.18-2.1b x 2.1c-9
| 1.18a | wrath from heaven revealed | 2.8d-9 | wrath … on every soul of man that works evil |
| .18b | against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness ( ἀδικία |
.8c | obey unrighteousness
(ἀδικία |
| .8ab | to those that … | ||
|
.18c |
truth (ἀλήθεια |
.8b |
truth (ἀλήθεια |
| .19 | that which may be known of God is manifest in them | .7 | to them that … seek for glory
(δόξα |
| .23 | glory
(δόξα |
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| .24 |
God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts (καρδία |
.6 | who will render to every man according to his works |
|
.25-27b |
exchanged (ἀλήθεια) truth for lie … vile passions … lust | .5c | and revelation of the righteous judgement of God |
| .27c | receiving … due recompense of error | .5b | treasures up wrath in day of wrath |
| .28a | and even as they refused to have God in [their] knowledge | .5a | thy hardness
and impenitent heart (καρδία |
| .28b | God gave them up unto a reprobate mind | .4c | goodness of God leads thee to repentance |
| .29-31 | VICE LIST (contrasted to:) | .4ab | the riches of his [i.e., God’s] goodness, forbearance, longsuffering |
| .30b | haters of God | .4a | despise the … of God |
| .32a | the ordinance of God | .3 | the judgement of God |
| .32b | that they which practice (πράσσοντες) such things | .2c | against that that practice (πράσσοντας) such things |
| .32c | are worthy of death | .2b | is according to truth |
| .32d | not only do the same but | .2a | And we know that the judgement of God |
| .32e | also consent with them that practice (τοῖς πράσσουσιν) them | .1f | dost practice (πράσσεις) the same things |
| .1e | for thou that judgest (κρίνων) | ||
| 2.1a | Thou art without excuse | .1d | thou condemnest thyself |
| .1b | whoever thou art that judgest (κρίνων) | .1c | for wherein thou judgest (κρίνεις) another |
5. Romans 5.11-16a x 5.16b-21
| .11b | through our Lord Jesus [Christ] through whom we have now reconciliation | .16b | grace reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord |
| .12 | death through sin | .21a | sin reigned in death |
| .13 | law | .20 | law |
| .14 | Adam a figure of him to come | .19 | As through one man’s disobedience … so through obedience of one |
| .15a | trespass | .18 | one trespass |
| .15b | the grace of God and the gift in grace by the one man Jesus Christ | .17b | the grace and gift … through the one Jesus Christ |
| .16a | The judgement from (ἐξ) one unto (εἰς) condemnation | .16b | the free gift from (ἐκ) many trespasses unto (εἰς) justification |
6. Romans 5.11b-6.8 x 6.9-23
| 5.11b | our Lord Jesus [Christ] | 6.23b | Christ Jesus our Lord |
| .12 | sin … death | .23a | The wages of sin is death |
| .12-14 | Through one man sin entered the world-- … all sinned, death reigned | .20-21 | When you were slaves of sin |
| .15-16 | The free gift: justification | .19 | So now present your members as servants to righteousness unto justification. |
| .17d | The gift of righteousness | .18b | You became slaves of righteousness |
| .17e | Reign in life through the one, Jesus | .17d | That pattern of teaching whereunto you were delivered. |
| .18 | One act of righteousness. | .16d | Obedience unto righteousness. |
|
.19b |
Obedience of the one. | .16a | Slaves to obedience. |
| (.20-21 | Law … sin … grace | .14c-15 | sin … grace … law) |
| 6.1 | What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin? | .15a | What then, shall we sin? |
| .1b | that grace may abound | .14c | under grace |
| .2b | We died to sin | .14a | Sin shall not have dominion over you |
| how shall we any longer live therein? | .13b |
Present yourselves as instruments of righteousness to God |
|
| .3 | We were baptized into Christ Jesus, into his death | .13a | Present yourselves to God as alive from the dead. |
| .4a | Buried with him through baptism into death | .12b | Not obey the desires [of mortal body] |
| .12a | Therefore let not sin reign in your mortal body | ||
| [6.4-8 | We: baptized into Christ’s death, may live with him, shall be raised | 6.9-11 | Christ died and was raised] |
| .4bc | Christ raised, glory of the Father | .11c | To God in Christ Jesus |
| walk in newness of life | .11b | but alive | |
| .5 | Likeness of his death, united | .11a | Reckon selves to be dead to sin |
| [by likeness] of his resurrection | .10d | he lives to God | |
| .6 | Our old man crucified with him | .10c | the life he lives |
| body of sin done away | .10b | He died to sin once | |
| no longer in bondage to sin | .10a | The death he died | |
| .7 | He that has died is justified from sin | .9c | Death has no more dominion over him |
| .8 | But if we died with Christ, | .9b | dies no more |
| we believe that we shall also live with him. | .9a | Knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, |
7. Romans 14.1-11a x 14.11b-23
| .1 | Faith | .23 | Faith |
| .3 | Not Judge | .22b | Judge not self |
| .4a | Judging servant of another [i.e. God's] | .22a | Have faith to self before God |
| .4b | He shall be made to stand | .21 | Whereby thy brother stumbleth |
| .5 | One man esteems | .20 | That man who eats with offence |
| .6 | Regard day to Lord, eat with thanks to God | .19 | Follow things that make for peace |
| .7 | None lives to self | .18b | approved of men |
| .8 | Live and die to Lord as Lord's | .18a | Serve Christ. well-pleasing to God |
| .9 | To this end Christ died to be Lord | .15c | him for whom Christ died |
| .10a | Judge thy brother | .15ab | If by meat thy brother grieved, thou walkest not in love |
| .14 | Nothing unclean but to whom unclean | ||
| .10b | Set at nought thy brother | .13 | No man stumbling block to brother |
| .10c | Judgement seat of God | .12 | Account of self to God |
| .11a | Every knee bow to Lord | .11b | Every tongue confess to God |
(Back)
8. Romans 14.5-8 x 14.9-12
| .5b | Let each man | .12 | So then each one of us shall give account to God. |
| .6a | Regardeth day to Lord | .11 | As I live, saith Lord, to me every knee |
| .6bc | Eat to Lord, not eat to Lord | shall bow and every tongue confess to God | |
| .6d | Giveth God thanks | .10c | We stand before judgement seat of God |
| .7a | None liveth to self | .10b | Why set at nought thy brother |
| .7b | None dieth to self | .10a | Why judge thy brother |
| .8a | To Lord—we live—we live | and living | |
| .8b | To Lord—we die—we die | dead | |
| .8c | We are the Lord’s—we die—we live | .9c | Lord of |
| .9a | For to this end | .9b | Christ died and lived |