In this episode of The Bible in a Year, hosts Katie Langston and Kathryn Schifferdecker sit down with Dr. Jenny Pietz, Associate Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary, to explore justification by faith in Romans. Dr. Pietz walks through the letter’s historical context, its thesis in Romans 1:16-17, and how Paul’s core message of the gospel unites Jews and Gentiles as one body in Christ. The conversation also touches on Paul’s likely reasons for writing to a church he had never visited, and how his own life and eventual martyrdom underscore the stakes of the gospel he proclaimed.
The discussion moves through some of Romans’ most memorable passages, including chapter 8’s assurance that nothing can separate believers from the love of God, and Romans 12’s call to be transformed by the renewing of the mind. Dr. Pietz also highlights the influence of Romans on Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation, and points to women named in the letter — including Phoebe and Junia — as early evidence of women in gospel ministry. Whether you are new to Paul’s letters or returning to Romans again, this episode offers a rich, accessible entry point into one of the most theologically significant books in the New Testament.
Scripture References:
- Romans 1:16-17
- Romans 3:21-24
- Romans 6
- Romans 8, especially verses 35 and 37-39
- Romans 12-15
- Romans 16 (Phoebe, Junia, Priscilla and Aquila)
- Acts 18 and 28
- Galatians (referenced for comparison)
Resources Mentioned:
- Dr. Jennifer Vija Pietz, Mary Magdalene, La Malinche, and the Ethics of Interpretation (Lexington Books and Fortress Academic, 2022)
Bible Bingo:
- Rome
- Gospel
- Dying and rising with Christ
- Love one another
- Women ministers of the gospel
Seven Word Summary
Justified by God’s grace, love one another.
