The Book of Romans vs the Hebrew Bible

Paul’s epistle to the Romans has been called a masterpiece of theology. It lays out the apostle’s understanding of sin, faith and salvation. Frans Hansen’s audit asks a different question: do Paul’s arguments align with the Torah? By analysing Romans line by line, he shows where Paul redefines key terms like “law,” “righteousness” and “faith,” and where he quotes Hebrew scriptures out of context to support his points.

Hansen points out that Paul often frames the Torah as a failed covenant—something impossible to keep—while presenting faith in Jesus as the only solution. To make this case, Paul cites passages from Genesis, Deuteronomy and Psalms but omits their surrounding context or alters their meaning. The audit traces how Paul’s rhetorical style smuggles theology into legal language, turning sermons into statutes.

The book encourages readers to evaluate whether Paul’s redefinitions are warranted. Does Abraham’s faith really overturn the covenant of circumcision? Does quoting “there is none righteous” ignore the Psalmist’s conclusion that God delivers the righteous? By holding Romans up against the Hebrew Bible, Hansen invites us to see the epistle with fresh eyes.

Related Books

Further your exploration with these volumes:

• THE BOOK OF ROMANS VS. THE HEBREW BIBLE — Romans under stable Torah categories: where definitions can’t shift mid-argument and citations can’t be ripped from covenant context.
• THE BOOK OF ROMANS VS. THE HEBREW BIBLE — Romans under stable Torah categories: where definitions can’t shift mid-argument and citations can’t be ripped from covenant context.