Thank you for the question on the theological complexity of a Biblical narrative, “Which story in the Bible do you find difficult to read due to its theological complexity?”
One of the most complex theological biblical narrative is Romans 1:8–11:36. As one reads the biblical text, the grammar and sentence structure in Greek is complex and complicated by its translation into another language. Not only one has translation difficulties, but there are interpretation difficulties as theologians debate the intended meaning of the verse.
Romans 5:12–14 on the doctrine of sin.
A debated topic is the imputation of sin. Romans 5 says this in the NIV, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.”
Scholars debate the interpretation of the phrase, because all sinned. Is the interpretation that Adam represented all mankind or that all mankind was in Adam? Would one say that a baby is born a sinner or becomes a sinner? If an “innocent” baby/infant dies, does that infant go to heaven or hell? If a person becomes a sinner, then can he become perfect in this life so as to earn his own salvation? On the flip side, how is it possible that all mankind was in Adam when he sinned? It appears to be unfair as one would say that s/he wasn’t even born yet! Is the doctrine of imputation of sin a biblical teaching? Scholars have debated that topic for centuries and each person must do his/her due diligence in studying the Scriptures.
The above passage affects one’s understanding of the nature of man, the ability or inability of earning salvation, the redemptive plan of God for salvation of man, and the judgment upon man and the bases from which God judges man.
SUMMARY: The theology of Romans 5:12–14 will reflect whether one believes in total depravity of man or in the divine spark within man.
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