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The Book of Romans Introduction
Preface
This sixth book of the New Testament includes the most systematic presentation of the gospel of grace through faith, in addition to other aspects of theology, found anywhere in Scripture. Within its pages the apostle Paul clarifies the core concepts of the Christian faith: sin and righteousness, faith and works, justification and election. It covers in detail (1) the sinful condition of man and his need for salvation—1:18 to 3:20; (2) a clear explanation of “salvation of the spirit” or justification before God, which can only be apprehended by faith alone in Christ alone—3:21 to 5:11; (3) a definitive interpretation of Christ’s death on the cross as the basis for salvation—3:24-26; (4) an elaborate explanation of “salvation of the soul (life)” or the process of sanctification—5:12 to 8:39; (5) a discussion of the doctrine of election—9:1-29; (6) an exposition on God’s chosen people the nation of Israel, their past and their destiny—9:1 to 11:36; (7) an extended section addressing spiritual gifts—12:1-8; and (8) instructions on the believer’s relationships to themselves, to the Church, to society (government), and to other believers—12:1-15:13.
The book of Romans is considered to be the most doctrinal book in the Bible. It is useful to both young and mature Christians because it provides a systematic outline of the essentials of the Christian faith. Historically, it has probably been the most influential of canonized Scripture. Augustine was converted (i.e., adopted Christianity as his religion) by reading it (A.D. 380); Martin Luther started the Protestant Reformation upon reading it and realizing that salvation was by faith in Christ and not in works (A.D. 1517); John Wesley received assurance of his salvation when he heard the preface to Luther’s commentary on Romans read in a Moravian house church in London (A.D. 1738); and John Calvin wrote, “When anyone understands this Epistle, he has a passage opened to him to the understanding of the whole Scripture.”
The apostle Paul is the book’s human author. Not only does Paul introduce himself as the author in its first verse, but Romans has been recognized as an epistle of Paul throughout church history. Paul wrote this letter to the church located in the city of Rome, which most likely was established by new believers returning from Jerusalem following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It is evident that the church included both Jews and Gentiles. Evidence in 1 & 2 Corinthians, Romans, and Acts indicates that Paul wrote to the Roman church from Corinth on his third missionary journey, about A.D. 56-58.
While all of Paul’s other letters appear to arise from a particular occasion and/or for a particular purpose, Romans is different in that its content seems to have a more general didactic aim. Although, some have seen the following three purposes associated with the book:
1. To prepare the believers in Rome for his planned visit to them, to enjoy their company and to receive assistance from them for his continued voyage to Spain (15:24).
2. To instruct them in the Christian faith so that they might be established in it and that he might gain spiritual fruit from among them by his ministry of teaching (1:11-13).
3. To exhort Jewish and Gentile believers to live in harmony, since both experience God’s salvation the same way—by grace through faith, and both are one in Christ.
The overall theme of the book of Romans, which is the underpinning of not only the theology of this book but of all of God’s Word, is “the gospel of Christ . . . is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes . . . for . . . the just shall live by faith” (1:17). This theme is the key to both the salvation of the spirit and the soul (life) of man. It is the one all-encompassing means in which man may access and please his Maker.
The below suggested outline is a composite of similar outlines taken from The Nelson Study Bible (997/Thomas Nelson), the Ryrie Study Bible, Expanded Edition (1994/The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago), and the Prophecy Study Bible (1997/Thomas Nelson).
Outline of Romans
Part One: The Revelation of the Righteousness of God (1:1-8:39)
I. Introduction—Salutation & Theme (1:1-17)
A. Greeting (1:1-7) B. Paul’s interest & intention (1:8-15) C. Theme (1:16, 17)
II. The Need for God’s Righteousness—Sin & Condemnation (1:18-3:20)
A. Condemnation of mankind—Gentiles—in general (1:18-32) 1. Cause of condemnation—willful ignorance (1:18-23) 2. Consequence of condemnation—divine abandonment (1:24-32) B. Condemnation of the moralist (2:1-16) C. Condemnation of the Jew (2:17-3:8) 1. By not keeping the law of God (2:17-29) 2. By not believing the promises of God (3:1-8) D. Condemnation of mankind—both Jews and Gentiles (3:9-20)
III. The Imputation of God’s Righteousness—Justification (3:21-5:21)
A. Righteousness described—justification by faith (3:21-31) B. Righteousness illustrated in Abraham (4:1-25) 1. Apart from works (4:1-8) 2. Apart from circumcision (4:9-12) 3. Apart from the law (4:13-15) 4. Only by faith in God (4:16-25) C. Righteousness advantage—its benefits (5:1-11) 1. Peace with God (5:1, 2) 2. Joy in tribulation (5:3-8) 3. Spirit and soul salvation (5:9-11) a. Justified and delivered from God’s wrath by Christ’s death (5:9) b. Sanctified by Christ’s life (5:10) c. Present and permanent reconciliation with God (5:11) D. Righteousness application—extended to all mankind (5:12-21)
IV. The Impartation of God’s Righteousness—Sanctification & Separation (6:1-8:39)
A. Sanctification and sin (6:1-23) 1. Death to sin in principle (6:1-14) 2. Death to sin in practice (6:15-23) B. Sanctification and the law (7:1-25) 1. The law’s replacement (7:1-6) 2. The law’s incapability (7:7-25) C. Sanctification and the Holy Spirit—its power/its key (8:1-39) 1. Delivers from the power of the flesh (8:1-11) 2. Insures sonship (8:12-17) 3. Assures future glory (8:18-30) 4. Assures final victory (8:31-39)
Part Two: The Vindication of the Righteousness of God (9:1-11:36)
V. Israel’s Past—Their Election by God (9:1-29)
A. Paul’s sorrow (9:1-5) B. God’s sovereignty (9:6-29)
VI. Israel’s Present—Their Rejection by God (9:30-10:21)
A. Because they rejected faith (9:30:33) B. Because they rejected the Messiah Jesus Christ (10:1-15) C. Because they rejected the prophets (10:16-21)
VII. Israel’s Future—Their Restoration by God (11:1-36)
A. The extent of Israel’s rejection (11:1-10) B. The purpose of Israel’s rejection (11:11-24) C. The duration of Israel’s rejection (11:25-32) D. The mark of God’s wisdom, knowledge, and judgments of God (11:33-36)
Part Three: The Application of the Righteousness of God (12:1-16:27)
VIII. Righteousness Practiced—Its Application & Service (12:1-15:13)
A. In relation to one’s self (12:1, 2) B. In relation to the Church (12:3-8) C. In relation to society (12:9-21) D. In relation to government (13:1-14) E. In relation to other believers (14:1-15:13) 1. Principles of Christian liberty (14:1-23) 2. Practices of Christian liberty (15:1-13)
IX. Paul’s Personal Messages and Benediction (15:14-16:27)
A. His plans (15:14-33) B. His personal greetings (16:1-16) C. His concluding admonition and benediction (16:17-27)
Paul’s Timeline (Approximate)
A.D. 33 Paul’s conversion 47-48 Paul’s first missionary journey 49-50 Jerusalem Council; Galatians written 49-52 Paul’s second missionary journey 51 1 & 2 Thessalonians written 54 Nero becomes Roman emperor 55-56 1 & 2 Corinthians written 56-58 Paul’s third missionary journey & Romans written 60-61 Paul under house arrest at Rome 67 Paul martyred 70 Destruction of Jerusalem
Paul finally did reach Rome around A.D. 60, but not in the way he expected. He came as a prisoner for Christ Jesus. The book of Romans is a classic. To the unsaved it offers a clear exposition of their sinful, lost condition and God’s righteous plan for saving them. New believers learn of their identification with Christ and of victory through the power of the Holy Spirit. Mature believers find never-ending delight in its wide spectrum of Christian truth: doctrinal, prophetical, and practical. (Believer’s Bible Commentary, William MacDonald, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995) |