ROMANS
Paul remains overwhelmed by God’s nature and character. He says “Oh, the depth of the riches” to show how God’s ability to understand is far greater than man’s. Paul understands that God’s “wisdom” far exceeds man’s comprehension. In many other places God shows that the wisdom of man fails to even grasp God’s wisdom. When Job begins to question God’s nature and character, God responded back to him showing Job’s misunderstanding of God’s ways. As man reads the stories of Joseph, Joshua and Caleb, Judah and Tamar, David and Bathsheba, he remains amiss as seeks the mind of God; however, when one begins to understand God’s ways found in Christ, he is able to reach “even the depths of God.” Hence, Paul’s says with great fervor “how unsearchable are His judgments and His ways!” showing that even the questions of God’s choice in the Jewish nation remains unrivaled. In Romans 11, he answers many of the questions concerning the Jews by using words like “The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened” and “through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous” showing man’s incapacity to contend with God’s ways” (Professor Charles Carpenter)
The Opening Statement
A. Romans is the most systematic and logical doctrinal book of the Apostle Paul. It was affected by circumstances in Rome, therefore, it is an “occasional” document. Something occurred that caused Paul to write the letter. However it is the most neutral of Paul’s writings, in that Paul’s way of dealing with the problem (possibly the jealousy between believing Jewish and Gentile leadership) was a clear presentation of the gospel and its implications for daily life.
B. Paul’s presentation of the gospel in Romans has impacted the church’s life in every age:
1. Augustine was converted in 386 A.D. reading Romans 13:13 – 14..."Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to {its} lusts." (NASB)
2. Martin Luther’s understanding of salvation was radically changed in 1513 A.D. as he compared Psalm 31:1..."In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed; In Your righteousness deliver me." (NASB) to Romans 1:17..."For in it {the} righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS {man} SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (NASB)
3. John Wesley was converted in 1738 A.D. by hearing Luther’s sermon on the introduction to Romans.
C. To know Romans is to know Christianity! The letter shapes the life and teachings of Jesus into bedrock truths for the Church of all ages.
B. Paul’s presentation of the gospel in Romans has impacted the church’s life in every age:
1. Augustine was converted in 386 A.D. reading Romans 13:13 – 14..."Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to {its} lusts." (NASB)
2. Martin Luther’s understanding of salvation was radically changed in 1513 A.D. as he compared Psalm 31:1..."In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed; In Your righteousness deliver me." (NASB) to Romans 1:17..."For in it {the} righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS {man} SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (NASB)
3. John Wesley was converted in 1738 A.D. by hearing Luther’s sermon on the introduction to Romans.
C. To know Romans is to know Christianity! The letter shapes the life and teachings of Jesus into bedrock truths for the Church of all ages.
The Author
Paul was definitely the author. His typical greeting is found in Romans 1:1. It is generally agreed that Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was bad eyesight, therefore, he did not write this letter himself, but he used a scribe, Tertius (Romans 16:22..."I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord." (NASB)). The probable date for the authorship of Romans is 56 A.D. This is one of the few New Testament books which can be dated fairly accurately. This is done by comparing...
Act 20:2..."When he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece." (NASB)
with...
Romans 15:17..."Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God." (NASB)
Romans was probably written at Corinth toward the end of Paul’s third missionary journey, just before he left for Jerusalem.
Act 20:2..."When he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece." (NASB)
with...
Romans 15:17..."Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God." (NASB)
Romans was probably written at Corinth toward the end of Paul’s third missionary journey, just before he left for Jerusalem.
The Recipients
The letter states its destination as Rome. We do not know who founded the church at Rome:
A. It may have been some of the people who were visiting Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost and were converted and returned home to start a church...
Acts 2:10..."Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes..." (NASB)
B. It could have been disciples who fled the persecution in Jerusalem after the death of Stephen...
Acts 8:4..."Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word." (NASB)
or
C. It could have been converts from Paul’s missionary journeys who traveled to Rome. Paul had never visited this church, but he longed to (Acts 19:21..."Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." (NASB)). He had many friends there (Romans 16).
Apparently his plan was to visit Rome on his way to Spain (Romans 15:28..."Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain." (NASB)) after his trip to Jerusalem with the “love gift.” Paul felt his ministry in the eastern Mediterranean was finished. He sought new fields (Romans 16:20 – 23..."The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and {so} {do} Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother." (NASB)). The bearer of the letter from Paul in Greece to Rome seems to have been Phoebe, a deaconess, who was traveling in that direction (Romans 16:1..."I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea..." (NASB)). Why is this letter, written on the back streets of Corinth in the first century by a Jewish tentmaker, so valuable? Martin Luther called it “the chief book in the New Testament and the purest Gospel.”
The value of this book is found in the fact that it is an in-depth explanation of the gospel by the converted rabbi, Saul of Tarsus, called to be an apostle to the Gentiles. Most of Paul’s letters are strongly colored by a local situation, but not Romans. It is a systematic presentation of an Apostle’s life-long faith. Did you realize, fellow Christian, that most of the technical terms used today to describe “faith” (“justification,” “imputation,” “adoption,” and “sanctification”) come from Romans? Pray for God to open to you this marvelous letter as we search together for His will for our lives today!
A. It may have been some of the people who were visiting Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost and were converted and returned home to start a church...
Acts 2:10..."Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes..." (NASB)
B. It could have been disciples who fled the persecution in Jerusalem after the death of Stephen...
Acts 8:4..."Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word." (NASB)
or
C. It could have been converts from Paul’s missionary journeys who traveled to Rome. Paul had never visited this church, but he longed to (Acts 19:21..."Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." (NASB)). He had many friends there (Romans 16).
Apparently his plan was to visit Rome on his way to Spain (Romans 15:28..."Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain." (NASB)) after his trip to Jerusalem with the “love gift.” Paul felt his ministry in the eastern Mediterranean was finished. He sought new fields (Romans 16:20 – 23..."The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and {so} {do} Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother." (NASB)). The bearer of the letter from Paul in Greece to Rome seems to have been Phoebe, a deaconess, who was traveling in that direction (Romans 16:1..."I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea..." (NASB)). Why is this letter, written on the back streets of Corinth in the first century by a Jewish tentmaker, so valuable? Martin Luther called it “the chief book in the New Testament and the purest Gospel.”
The value of this book is found in the fact that it is an in-depth explanation of the gospel by the converted rabbi, Saul of Tarsus, called to be an apostle to the Gentiles. Most of Paul’s letters are strongly colored by a local situation, but not Romans. It is a systematic presentation of an Apostle’s life-long faith. Did you realize, fellow Christian, that most of the technical terms used today to describe “faith” (“justification,” “imputation,” “adoption,” and “sanctification”) come from Romans? Pray for God to open to you this marvelous letter as we search together for His will for our lives today!
The Unity
The unity and integrity of The Book of Romans have remained questionable due to chapters 15 and 16 or parts of both. Chapter 16 takes most of the brunt due to the greeting Paul gives to Priscilla and Aquila in verse 3 of this chapter. They where last mentioned / seen settled in Ephesus (Acts 18:19 and 26...v 19 "They came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews." and v 26 "...and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately." (NASB)). However, they had previously lived in Italy (Act 18:2..."And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them..." (NASB)) and left due to an imperial decree. Their return was permissible when circumstances allowed.
The Purpose
A. An appeal for help for his missionary trip to Spain. Paul saw his apostolic work in the eastern Mediterranean finished (Romans 16:20 – 23..."The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and {so} {do} Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother. (NASB)).
B. To address the problem in the Roman church between believing Jews and believing Gentiles. This was probably a result of the expulsion of all Jews from Rome and their later return. By then the Jewish Christian leaders had been replaced by Gentile Christian leaders.
C. To introduce himself to the Roman church. There was much opposition to Paul from sincere converted Jews in Jerusalem (Jerusalem Council of Acts 15), from insincere Jews (Judaizers in Galatians and 2 Corinthians 3, 10 – 13), and from Gentiles (Colossians, Ephesians) who tried to merge the gospel with their pet theories or philosophies.
D. Paul was accused of being a dangerous innovator, adding recklessly to Jesus’ teaching. The book of Romans was his way of systematically defending himself by showing how his gospel was true, using the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus (the Gospels).
B. To address the problem in the Roman church between believing Jews and believing Gentiles. This was probably a result of the expulsion of all Jews from Rome and their later return. By then the Jewish Christian leaders had been replaced by Gentile Christian leaders.
C. To introduce himself to the Roman church. There was much opposition to Paul from sincere converted Jews in Jerusalem (Jerusalem Council of Acts 15), from insincere Jews (Judaizers in Galatians and 2 Corinthians 3, 10 – 13), and from Gentiles (Colossians, Ephesians) who tried to merge the gospel with their pet theories or philosophies.
D. Paul was accused of being a dangerous innovator, adding recklessly to Jesus’ teaching. The book of Romans was his way of systematically defending himself by showing how his gospel was true, using the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus (the Gospels).
The Outline
I. Introduction 1:1-17
A. Salutation 1:1-7
1. The writer 1:1
2. The subject of the epistle 1:2-5
3. The original recipients 1:6-7
B. Purpose 1:8-15
C. Theme 1:16-17
II. The need for God's righteousness 1:18—3:20
A. The need of all people 1:18-32
1. The reason for human guilt 1:18
2. The ungodliness of mankind 1:19-27
3. The wickedness of mankind 1:28-32
B. The need of good people 2:1—3:8
1. God's principles of judgment 2:1-16
2. The guilt of the Jews 2:17-29
3. Answers to objections 3:1-8
C. The guilt of all humanity 3:9-20
III. The imputation of God's righteousness 3:21—5:21
A. The description of justification 3:21-26
B. The defense of justification by faith alone 3:27-31
C. The proof of justification by faith from the law ch. 4
1. Abraham's justification by faith 4:1-5
2. David's testimony to justification by faith 4:6-8
3. The priority of faith to circumcision 4:9-12
4. The priority of faith to the promise concerning headship of many nations 4:13-17
5. The exemplary value of Abraham's faith 4:18-22
6. Conclusions from Abraham's example 4:23-25
D. The benefits of justification 5:1-11
E. The restorative effects of justification 5:12-21
IV. The impartation of God's righteousness chs. 6—8
A. The believer's relationship to sin ch. 6
1. Freedom from sin 6:1-14
2. Slavery to righteousness 6:15-23
B. The believer's relationship to the law ch. 7
1. The law's authority 7:1-6
2. The law's activity 7:7-12
3. The law's inability 7:13-25
C. The believer's relationship to God ch. 8
1. Our deliverance from the flesh by the power of the Spirit 8:1-11
2. Our new relationship to God 8:12-17
3. Our present sufferings and future glory 8:18-25
4. Our place in God's sovereign plan 8:26-30
5. Our eternal security 8:31-39
V. The vindication of God's righteousness chs. 9—11
A. Israel's past election ch. 9
1. God's blessings on Israel 9:1-5
2. God's election of Israel 9:6-13
3. God's freedom to elect 9:14-18
4. God's mercy toward Israel 9:19-29
5. God's mercy toward the Gentiles 9:30-33
B. Israel's present rejection ch. 10
1. The reason God has set Israel aside 10:1-7
2. The remedy for rejection 10:8-15
3. The continuing unbelief of Israel 10:16-21
VI. The practice of God's righteousness 12:1—15:13
A. Dedication to God 12:1-2
B. Conduct within the church 12:3-21
1. The diversity of gifts 12:3-8
2. The necessity of love 12:9-21 ú
C. Conduct within the state ch. 13
1. Conduct towards the government 13:1-7
2. Conduct toward unbelievers 13:8-10
3. Conduct in view of our hope 13:11-14
D. Conduct within Christian liberty 14:1—15:13
1. The folly of judging one another 14:1-12
2. The evil of offending one another 14:13-23
3. The importance of pleasing one another 15:1-6
4. the importance of accepting one another 15:7-13
VII. Conclusion 15:14—16:27
A. Paul's ministry 15:14-33
1. Past labors 15:14-21
2. Present program 15:22-29
3. Future plans 15:30-33
B. Personal matters ch. 16
1. A commendation 16:1-2
2. Various greetings to Christians in Rome 16:3-16
3. A warning 16:17-20
4. Greetings from Paul's companions 16:21-24
5. A doxology 16:25-27
A. Salutation 1:1-7
1. The writer 1:1
2. The subject of the epistle 1:2-5
3. The original recipients 1:6-7
B. Purpose 1:8-15
C. Theme 1:16-17
II. The need for God's righteousness 1:18—3:20
A. The need of all people 1:18-32
1. The reason for human guilt 1:18
2. The ungodliness of mankind 1:19-27
3. The wickedness of mankind 1:28-32
B. The need of good people 2:1—3:8
1. God's principles of judgment 2:1-16
2. The guilt of the Jews 2:17-29
3. Answers to objections 3:1-8
C. The guilt of all humanity 3:9-20
III. The imputation of God's righteousness 3:21—5:21
A. The description of justification 3:21-26
B. The defense of justification by faith alone 3:27-31
C. The proof of justification by faith from the law ch. 4
1. Abraham's justification by faith 4:1-5
2. David's testimony to justification by faith 4:6-8
3. The priority of faith to circumcision 4:9-12
4. The priority of faith to the promise concerning headship of many nations 4:13-17
5. The exemplary value of Abraham's faith 4:18-22
6. Conclusions from Abraham's example 4:23-25
D. The benefits of justification 5:1-11
E. The restorative effects of justification 5:12-21
IV. The impartation of God's righteousness chs. 6—8
A. The believer's relationship to sin ch. 6
1. Freedom from sin 6:1-14
2. Slavery to righteousness 6:15-23
B. The believer's relationship to the law ch. 7
1. The law's authority 7:1-6
2. The law's activity 7:7-12
3. The law's inability 7:13-25
C. The believer's relationship to God ch. 8
1. Our deliverance from the flesh by the power of the Spirit 8:1-11
2. Our new relationship to God 8:12-17
3. Our present sufferings and future glory 8:18-25
4. Our place in God's sovereign plan 8:26-30
5. Our eternal security 8:31-39
V. The vindication of God's righteousness chs. 9—11
A. Israel's past election ch. 9
1. God's blessings on Israel 9:1-5
2. God's election of Israel 9:6-13
3. God's freedom to elect 9:14-18
4. God's mercy toward Israel 9:19-29
5. God's mercy toward the Gentiles 9:30-33
B. Israel's present rejection ch. 10
1. The reason God has set Israel aside 10:1-7
2. The remedy for rejection 10:8-15
3. The continuing unbelief of Israel 10:16-21
VI. The practice of God's righteousness 12:1—15:13
A. Dedication to God 12:1-2
B. Conduct within the church 12:3-21
1. The diversity of gifts 12:3-8
2. The necessity of love 12:9-21 ú
C. Conduct within the state ch. 13
1. Conduct towards the government 13:1-7
2. Conduct toward unbelievers 13:8-10
3. Conduct in view of our hope 13:11-14
D. Conduct within Christian liberty 14:1—15:13
1. The folly of judging one another 14:1-12
2. The evil of offending one another 14:13-23
3. The importance of pleasing one another 15:1-6
4. the importance of accepting one another 15:7-13
VII. Conclusion 15:14—16:27
A. Paul's ministry 15:14-33
1. Past labors 15:14-21
2. Present program 15:22-29
3. Future plans 15:30-33
B. Personal matters ch. 16
1. A commendation 16:1-2
2. Various greetings to Christians in Rome 16:3-16
3. A warning 16:17-20
4. Greetings from Paul's companions 16:21-24
5. A doxology 16:25-27
Map Locations to Plot
1. Rome, 1:7..."...to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called {as} saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (NASB)
2. Cenchrea, 16:1..."I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea..." (NASB)
2. Cenchrea, 16:1..."I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea..." (NASB)