If You Call Yourself a Jew

"Rodriguez presents a fresh challenge to many stale assumptions about reading Romans. He provides a cogent case that Paul is writing to Gentile Christians, and what is more, that Paul's imaginary opponent who appears throughout the letter is not a Jew but is in fact a Gentile convert to Judaism. . . . It makes for a stimulating volume on Paul's most famous letter."

--Michael F. Bird, Ridley Melbourne Mission and Ministry College, Melbourne, Australia



"Building upon the work of Stanley Stowers and Runar Thorsteinsson, Rafael Rodriguez provides a novel reading of Romans: throughout this letter Paul addresses a judaizing Gentile interlocutor. Those looking to move beyond 'Lutheran' and 'New Perspective' readings of Paul will find in If You Call Yourself a Jew a more historically plausible and theologically fruitful reading of Romans."

--Matthew Thiessen, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO



"Rodriguez joins those Pauline interpreters who have taken seriously Paul's assertion that he writes specifically to Gentiles. What is significant about his approach is that he provides a careful analysis of the diatribe style questions that feature in significant sections of the letter. His radical thesis that the interlocutor is of Gentile ethnicity but views himself as a Jew, and teaches Gentiles, is provocative and challenging but illustrated with sustained argument. A fine volume to spark interest in Paul's skillful rhetoric."

--William S. Campbell, University of Wales Trinity St. David, Lampeter, UK