The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary Series is written primarily for the pastor and Bible teacher, not for the scholar. The aim is not to review and offer a critique of every possible interpretation that has ever been given to a passage, but to exegete each passage of Scripture succinctly in its grammatical and historical context.

Each passage is interpreted in the light of its biblical setting, with a view to grammatical detail, literary context, flow of biblical argument, and historical setting. While the focus will not be on application, it is expected that the authors will offer suggestions as to the direction in which application can flow.

In his Romans volume, Frank Thielman explains that Paul proclaimed the gospel to the nations in the multicultural context of Romans, asked for support in his effort to take the gospel west, and asked for the Roman Christians to support with their prayers his task of bringing alms to poverty-stricken Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Paul's defense of his gospel against accusations that it was at odds with Israel's Scriptures and disrespectful toward Judaism was an important, although subordinate, purpose for the letter. He may have been thinking about past charges that he persuaded people to worship God contrary to the law.

The result of these concerns was Paul's longest, most influential letter. It explained the gospel fully and applied its principles to the day-to-day lives of believers in the competitive, complex, and often dangerous capital of the Roman Empire.

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Frank Thielman (PhD, Duke University) is Presbyterian professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, in Birmingham, Alabama. He is the author of Philippians in the NIV Application Commentary series.