Christ the Gift and the Giver

“With clarity and erudition, Enoch Okode convincingly explains how Paul’s Letter to the Romans creatively deploys the Roman social construct of royal benefaction to mark out the unexpected act of God in his Son which transforms his beneficiaries’ character and strengthens hope through adversity. Okode’s is a vital contribution on which future work can and must build.”


—Jon C. Laansma, Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor of New Testament Greek and Exegesis, Wheaton College, Illinois





“Timely, important, and rewarding. Enoch Okode brings a new coherence to Paul’s logic in Romans by situating the gospel, grace, and loyalty in the context of ideal kingship and benefaction. Our understanding of Paul’s theology of salvation has been greatly enriched.”


—Matthew W. Bates, author of Salvation by Allegiance Alone





“Enoch Okode offers a compelling and fresh reading of Romans 5:1–11 (and 5:12—8:39) in light of the Greco-Roman benefaction system. He persuasively argues that Paul portrays Jesus Christ as the supreme royal benefactor to whom believers must respond with faith, through suffering, in anticipation of glorification. Okode makes a valuable contribution to the growing literature addressing Paul’s messianism in light of Greco-Roman discourses of benefaction and reciprocity.”


—Constantine R. Campbell, author of Paul and the Hope of Glory