The Purpose and Promise of Creation According to the Letter to the Romans. A Contribution to Christian Environmental Ethics

This article probes whether and how Paul’s direct and indirect references to creation in his letter to the Romans contribute to ecological ethics. After a brief survey of ecological studies of the New Testament and, in particular, Romans, the article examines Romans 1:19-22; 8:19-23 and 11:25-27. While the former two passages directly understand creation as pointing to the reality and nature of the creator God and to the present state of creation in anguish and in eager expectancy of redemption, the latter passage does not mention creation directly. However, according to Old Testament and early Jewish eschatology, the salvation of God’s people and the coming of God’s deliverer for Zion should have salvific implications for the entire creation. After exegetical treatment of each passage, the article discusses how it can contribute to a Christian understanding of creation and of human responsibility. It argues that people are called to honour and thank God by respecting and caring for all of his creation. They must do all they can not to add to the present suffering of creation. In view of its eschatological restoration, creation should be treated with great care in the present time.