FAKTOR SOSIAL SEBAGAI UNSUR PEMBENTUK MAKNA TEKS: IMPLIKASI SOSIAL MENJADI ORANG KRISTEN BERDASARKAN SURAT ROMA (Tanggapan Atas Tafsir Surat Roma Karangan Robet Jewett)

Abstract

This article is written as a response to the work of Robert Jewett in his commentary of Romans published by Fortress Press in the year of 2007. This book is the best commentary I have ever read so far. Its strength lies in the fact that Jewett is able to interpret the epistle to the Romans on the basis of his presupposition that the epistle to the Romans is a social product. As such its origin does involve not only the role of its original author but the role of the common society of that time as well as the Roman congregation as the recipient of the epistle too.

Particularly important for the present article is Jewett’s remarks that the epistle to the Romans was addressed to the house churches in Rome who were living under the dictatorship of the ruling Roman emperor.  The immediate impact of this socio-political condition was that the Roman congregation tended to behave as client in relation to the ruling power of the day as their patron. Consequently their social conduct was always characterized by the mentality of honor and shame.

This article then will explore how the socio-political condition of the Roman house churches could become a determinative factor for the “meaning-formation” of the epistle to the Romans. Particular focus, as an example, will be given primarily to chapter 12: 1-2.