An Introduction To The Book of Romans

The Book of Romans has been said to be one of the favorites in the New Testament.  It has ties to the Old Covenant as well as the New Covenant. Here is an introduction to the Book of Romans.

The Author of Romans

Clearly, Paul was the author of the Book of Romans.  There are historical facts about Paul’s life that are found in this book that are not found in many of his other letters, including the Prison Epistles and the Pastoral Epistles.  Romans was written around A.D. 57, most likely during his third missionary trip.  He probably wrote this from Corinth or very near there, perhaps in Cenchrea (see Romans 16:1) living with Erastus (Rom 16:23). This book is one of the most theologically rich all the books in the Bible and contains dozens of references to the saints of the Old Testament.  Paul wrote this to help the church at Rome understand what the gospel is in the context of the Old Testament.  He gives dozens of references to the Patriarchs, the fall of mankind, the nature of man, and that the plan of redeeming mankind started long before Jesus’ virgin birth. Paul was a Roman citizen, a Hellenistic Jew, and also a Pharisee so he had a tremendous intellect and many scholars believe that he may have been the most intelligent man living at that time.  This is attested to by the fact that he likely wrote Romans purely from the sources he carried from his education and experience.

The Audience

The church at Rome were the intended recipients but the recipients have continued long after Paul’s death after this book was canonized and included as part of the New Testament.  Philip Melanchthon believed Romans to be a summary of all Christian doctrine and he appears to be correct when the book is read from beginning to end.  By the time Paul arrives in Rome there was already a large church established there and certainly in more than a few locations (Acts 28:13-15).

The Purpose

Paul wanted the Christians in Rome to know that God’s plan of salvation included Gentiles and Jews and was not restricted to Jews only (Rom 1:18, 9:24-26, 10:9-13, 11:11-24) and that salvation is a righteousness imputed or given by faith (Rom 1:17). Since Paul had not yet been to Rome, he wanted the church there to understand what the gospel truly is and how those who are not saved presently stand before God (Rom 3:23, 6:23).  Even those who have never professed a belief in God know that there is a God (Rom 1:19-22).  Many of the Roman Christians were undergoing severe persecution so Paul wanted them to know that eventually God will serve justice for their persecutions (Rom 12:19).  Even in death, those who trust in Christ shall not be lost again and “that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39).   This reassurance comes right after he tells them that even he struggles with sin on a daily basis (Rom 7:27) and the things that he really knows that he should do, he doesn’t always do (Rom 7:15, 18) and the “wretched man” that he is cannot possibly deliver himself but that deliverance can only come “through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 7:24-25).

Roman’s Outline

1:16-17 The just shall live by faith.

1:19-22 God obviously exists so no one really has any excuse not to believe (1:20).

2:1 God will judge hypocrites.

2:6 God will judge everyone according to their own works.

3:9-10 Not one of us is righteous or does good.

3:20 Even trying to keep God’s law, which is impossible to do, will never justify anyone.

3:23 Every single human ever born sins and falls far short of God’s glory.

4:3 Abraham believed God and his faith in God was accounted to him as righteousness.

5:1 The only way we can have peace with God is through our faith in Him.

5:8, 10 Jesus died for us while we were still sinners and enemies of His.

6:16 We are slaves to whomever we obey; either to sin which leads to (eternal) death or to obedience which leads to righteousness (and eternal life).

6:23 Everyone has earned the death penalty, which are the wages of our sins, but we are offered eternal life through Jesus Christ.

7:15-20 Christians struggle with sin every day; we do what we know to be wrong and then don’t’ do what we know we ought to do.

8:18 What the Roman Christians and what we presently suffer through cannot compare to the day that the glory is revealed in us.

8:28 Everything that happens, even bad things, ultimately works out for our own good.

8:29 Those who He has predestined He has called, those He has called will be justified, those He has justified He will glorify.

8:38-39  Nothing can ever separate us from the love of God including; death, powers, breadth, height, angels (even fallen ones), rulers, and this means anything or anyone (as Paul adds “nor any created thing” which covers what he didn’t mention).

9:14-16 God is always fair in choosing whom He chooses and it doesn’t depend upon human will or works.

10:9-13 To be saved, one simply has to profess belief in Christ, believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, Jew or Gentile, and this applies to anyone who calls on the name of the Lord.

11:4, 19 A remnant of Israel will be saved but salvation is also available to Gentiles.

12:1-2 Believers are to be a living sacrifice and are given this ability by the renewal of their minds.

12:3 Don’t think too highly of yourself.

12:9 True Christians love one another and hate anything sinful or evil.

12:19 Trust God to avenge those who persecute you and don’t take things into your own hands and seek revenge.

13:1-4 Submitting to authorities is actually submitting to God Who placed those in author over us by His perfect, sovereign will.

14:1, 10 God will judge those hypocrites who condemn others while doing the same things that they condemn in others.

14:12 Every person who has ever lived will stand before God and give an account of their life.

14:13 Judging others puts stumbling blocks of offense before those we judge.

15:1-2 Believers are command to please others and not simply satisfy themselves; instead we are to build others up.

15:9-12 God, long ago, planned to include the Gentiles in salvation.

16:1-16 Since Paul cannot be there in Rome, he writes personal greetings to many who have helped him in the churches there.

16:17 Paul gives a final warning about those who create divisions within the church and teach doctrines that are contrary to the gospel that they have been taught.

Conclusion

The Book of Romans has been used to save many a soul.  Some call it the Roman Road to salvation.  There are many great memory verses in the Book of Romans that are powerfully used to share the gospel (Rom 3L23, 6:23, 10:9-13).  Chapter 7 reassures us that we are not alone in our struggles over sin but chapter 8 reveals that we can have final victory over sin and that no one can be separated from God who has put their trust in Him (Rom 8:38-39) because “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom 8:37).  That is why Paul said “I am sure” (Rom 8:38a).  Are you?

Another Reading on Patheos to Check Out: What Did Jesus Really Look Like: A Look at the Bible Facts

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book  Blind Chance or Intelligent Design available on Amazon