Antoine X. J. Fritz

To the Jew First or to the Jew at Last?: Romans 1:16c and Jewish Missional Priority in Dialogue with Jews for Jesus Antoine X. J. Fritz

Many missions to the Jewish people, such as Jews for Jesus, use Romans 1:16 as a text-proof to encourage the evangelization of the Jewish people in priority: ''to the Jew first, and then to the Greek'' (Jewish Missional Priority). Is this a legitimate interpretation? After considering when this idea first appeared, the author exposes and evaluates the arguments commonly used to promote it. His thorough exegesis of Romans 1:16-17 resolves the question. He finally takes the opportunity to explore some possible eschatological implications developed from Romans 9-11 and the parables of Jesus. Will the first be also the last?