With its soaring affirmations and profound statements of salvation in Christ, Romans 8 is a high point in Pauline theology. But what does Paul mean when in 8:29 he speaks of being "e;conformed to the image of his Son"e;?Remarkably, there has been little scholarly attention awarded to this Pauline statement of the goal of salvation. And yet in Christian piety, preaching, and theology, this is a treasured phrase. Surprisingly, its meaning has been variously and ambiguously expressed. Is it a moral or spiritual or sanctifying conformity to Christ, or to his suffering, or does it point to an eschatological transformation into radiant glory?In Conformed to the Image of His Son, Haley Goranson Jacob probes and reopens a text perhaps too familiar and a meaning too often assumed. If conformity to the image of the Son is the goal of salvation, a proper understanding is paramount. Jacob points out that the key lies in the meaning of "e;glory"e; in Paul's biblical-theological perspective and in how he uses the language of glory in Romans. For this investigation of glory alone, her study would be valuable for the fresh understanding she brings to Paul's narrative of glory. But in introducing a new and compelling reading of Romans 8:29, this is a study that makes a strong bid to reorient our understanding of Paul's classic statement of the goal of salvation.

Foreword by N. T. WrightPreface1. Introduction1.1 Getting to This Point1.2 A Few Notes on Methodology1.3 Outline and Agenda for Each SectionAbbreviationsPart I: The Hope of Glory in Romans 5-82. Glory and Glorification in Jewish Literature2.1 A Discussion of Semiotics2.2 Glory and Glorification in the LXX2.3 Glory and Glorification in Apocalyptic Literature2.4 Conclusion3. Humanity's Glory and Glorification in Romans3.1 Humanity's Glory and Glorification in Romans: Current Approaches3.2 Humanity's Glory and Glorification in Romans: Considerations3.3 Paul's Anthropological "Narrative of Glory" in Romans3.4 Conclusion4. Participation in Christ's Glory4.1 Participation as a Foundational Motif in Pauline Literature4.2 Participation Elsewhere4.3 ConclusionPart II: Romans 8:295. Image of the Son5.1 Son of God Backgrounds5.2 Christ as Messiah-A Presupposition5.3 Son of God as the Davidic Messiah5.4 Son of God as the New Adam5.5 Conclusion6. Participation in the Firstborn Son's Glory6.1 Adoption into God's Eschatological Family: The Basis of Conformity6.2 Participation in the Son's Inheritance and Glory in Romans 8:176.3 A Reglorified Humanity in Romans 8:306.4 Conclusion7. Purposed for Conformity7.1 God's Eternal Decree: Called with a Purpose: Romans 8:28-307.2 Called with a Present Purpose: Romans 8:17-307.3 Conclusion8. Conclusion8.1 Alternative Proposals8.2 Chapter Conclusions8.3 Summary of the ArgumentBibliographyName IndexSubject IndexScripture Index