A Romans Rap
A Seminary Professor's Attempt at Putting Paul's Letter to
the Romans into Rap verse
Robert A. J. Gagnon, Ph.D.
Associate
Professor of New Testament, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary – May 19,
2010
Video posted July 9, 2010:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtgJX_jWJYk
[Dr. Robert Gagnon of Pittsburgh
Theological Seminary performs "A Romans Rap," a rap version of Paul's
Letter to the Romans on May 19, 2010. The rap was written and performed by
Dr. Gagnon for an End of the Year Awards show put on by students at PTS
just before finals week in order to alleviate tension with comic
performances and build community. Dr. Gagnon was approached to do a rap
since the previous year he had done a short rap called "Luvination" (a
combination of "love" and "predestination") for a spoof entitled "Calvin
Does Casablanca" (with Calvin advising the Humphrey Bogart character in
the final memorable scene with the Ingrid Bergman character). The mode of
the Romans rap was intended to be humorous but Dr. Gagnon did make a
serious effort to represent the distinctive message of Romans accurately
Note: (1) The rap tune, though slightly long for a rap song (at 6 1/2
minutes, though many rap songs approach 5 min.) is certainly not long
enough to do full justice to Romans. (2) The second stanza was supposed to
serve as a refrain but the text was already too long for it to serve that
purpose. (3) At the 3 1/2 minute mark when Dr. Gagnon comes to the text in
Rom 1:24-27 about homosexual practice he says "censored" rather than "no
complementarity" because he was asked not to mention the debated subject
in a community-building gathering. As you can see, the "censored" remark
got a good laugh because the audience suspected what was intended. (4) At
the 6 min. 40 sec. mark Dr. Gagnon mentions the Greek term adiaphora which
means "matters of indifference" (as the next line clarifies).]
Hear me,
my friends … and don’t turn me off!
I
realize I’m not … the usual prof.
Rarely
will you see … a professor like me
Recount
Paul’s Romans … in a rap symphony.
I rap
not for me … but for the tripping rock.
That’s
Jesus Christ … and call me “Snoop Doc.”
It’s a
Romans rap … it’s a Romans rap!
You
might not know it … but it’s a layered trap.
Just
when you think … that you’re off the hook,
God’s
righteousness … makes you take a second look.
There’s
only one real way … that you can boast:
Put your
boast in God … or end up as toast.
Paul
makes clear … that he works like a priest.
He
offers up Gentiles—not a brute beast!
Obedience of faith … is the name of the game;
the
fruit of holiness … by any other name.
Sharing
his gift … is what he’s gonna do;
proclaiming the gospel … to the Romans too.
The
renewal of the mind … not to the age conform;
rather
by the gospel … be fully transformed.
He
starts by saying … that he’s not ashamed
of the
gospel, you know, God’s power to claim
every
life that holds … no rightness of its own
but
rests instead … on Christ’s death to atone
The
righteousness of God … best story ever told.
God’s
faithfulness and truth … to promises of old.
God sent
his very Son … just to make amends
for the
universal sin … that you know offends.
First he
traps the Gentile … then he traps the Jew.
Look
out, bro and sis … the next trap’s for you!
Gentiles
suppressing … the truth in creation,
In God’s
eyes … that’s a big abomination!
Ignoring
God’s power … and great divinity,
They
worshiped human statues … embraced idolatry.
God gave
them over … to their impurity;
so
against nature … no complementarity.
The net
widens further … to arrogance and greed.
It’s
obvious to the Jew … Gentiles are bad seed.
But the
Jew who judges … is also without excuse;
for to
sin against the law … is also an abuse.
Though
he might sin less … and less egregiously,
he knows
more than others … that’s plain for him to see.
And
though he has the law … and the sign of circumcision,
these
things won’t save him—they give no exemption.
Christians who read this … and think they get a pass,
you who
say you know Christ—wait, not so fast!
Just
’cause you’re forgiven … you say “Why not sin?”
But if
sin is your lord … you’re not going to win.
Jesus,
you know … is raised from the dead;
and
you’re baptized … into Jesus as your head.
So if
you live … so that sin is your lord,
“The
wages of sin” … will be your reward.
Let’s
remember this … there’s not one law but four.
The law
of my mind … wants the law of God more.
But then
the law of sin … comes knockin’ on the door.
The
result of all that … is I lose the whole war.
So
there’s a fourth law … it’s really needed now—
the gift
of the Spirit … that empowers you somehow.
It’s
true not just for … the other guy but you:
two ways
still … I’ll tell you what to do.
One way
leads to life … the other leads to death;
life
when you kill … the sinful deeds of the flesh.
Mouthing
the confession … that “Jesus is my Lord,”
when not
led by the Spirit … won’t keep you on board.
Now
let’s all return … to bragging in how good
God and
Christ were … when estranged we stood.
While we
were sinners … Christ died for us.
Do you
think now … he’ll throw you under the bus?
Nothing
outside you … in all material creation
can
separate you … from God’s “lovination.”
But how
could God be right … if most of Israel is lost?
Did he
save the world … at such a horrible cost?
Let’s
get one thing straight: … It’s not God’s fault.
The
Messiah whom God sent … they did not exalt.
Yet does
that mean … that God is through with them?
No, God
will remove … the hardness that condemns.
First
the fullness of … the Gentiles must come in;
then
comes the fullness … of Israel, God’s friend.
Stop to
think, Gentiles, … how easy it would be
to
remove your wild branches … from the olive tree.
So don’t
boast over Israel … but just remember this:
God can
restore them if … in unbelief they don’t persist.
There’s
more that could be said … to you, Paul’s pupils;
instead
I’ll push on now … to an issue of Jewish scruples.
Fighting
in Roman churches … over meat and calendar!
Don’t
you guys get it?—they’re adiaphora;
“matters
of indifference” … to the kingdom of God,
which
consists of righteousness … not pork or scrod.
Now
don’t misunderstand—we’re not talking about sex.
Immorality must be cast off … or face a train wreck.
But
things that don’t matter … please just leave alone;
and
focus on how God … welcomed you all home.
United
praise of God … for pouring out his grace,
that’s
the surest way … for the church to run the race.
We’ve
won something better … than a lottery;
by
divine design, not chance … I think you’ll agree.
Now I’ve
told my tale … of Romans in rap.
It’s far
from perfect … I’m an ordinary chap.
But God
is wonderful … to him doff your hat.
Who’d
have ever guessed … God would do all that!
So glory
be to God … who is the King of kings;
for from
him and through him and to him … are all things.