Whether Paul teaches or assumes a Trinitarian theology has become a lively question among New Testament researchers in the past few decades. Ron Fay contributes to this debate by viewing Paul's letter to the Roman church within their own social and religious context. What role do mystery cults, the Capitoline Triad, and the Roman imperial cult play in the reception of Paul's theology proper?

By borrowing from and subverting the pagan theological landscape, Fay claims that Paul was able to build an argument for and present the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as a triunity in Romans 8. Each performs an overlapping role with the others in the work of re-creation, salvation, adoption, and glorification for those who are "in Christ."