Every once in a while a book comes along that makes a convincing case for a paradigm shift in understanding the Bible: David Rohl's Pharaohs and Kings, for example. And I may have found another in Mark Nanos' The Mystery of Romans.

It is Nanos' contention that modern exegetes have fallen into a "trap" (originating with Martin Luther) of seeing the "weak" in Romans as Jewish Christians tied to the Law, and the "strong" as Gentile Christians. Nanos only agrees generally with the latter, but suggests that the former were not even Christians at all, but rather, non-Christian Jews with whom Christians shared the synagogue prior to the time when a definitive separation was made between the two groups as a whole. Thus, the "authorities" referred to by Paul in 13:1-7 are the synagogue rulers, whom Paul encourages the Christian Gentile converts to obey; thus the "strong" are encouraged to temper their behavior, and respect Jewish sensibilities...why? So that they will not be a "stumbling block" to those who have remained Jews. So that these Jews will find the gospel more attractive. Intriguing...and very difficult to counter once the material is explained and placed in context.