Abstract
The application of the construct of new creation as the narrative substructure of Paul's letter to the church at Rome provides a coherent framework for drawing together the various motifs in the letter. Paul roots the story of Jesus Christ in the symbolic world of Israel's Scriptures and resocializes the Christ-movement into the symbolic world of new creation inaugurated in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Drawing intertextually from Isaiah (Genesis and the Psalms), Paul depicts Jesus Christ as embodying the promises of YHWH, construed as his return and reign, to liberate Israel from exile, summon the nations to pledge allegiance to his absolute lordship and kingship, and transform natural creation. Three dimensions to the meta-narrative of new creation are identified: sociological, political, and ecological. In this article the sociological dimension will be discussed. In a subsequent article the political and ecological dimensions will be addressed.