IMPORTANCE
The book of Romans is the most comprehensive presentation of Christianity in the New Testament. It was at the heart of the Protestant Reformation and is the most important letter ever written.
AUTHOR
Paul (Ro 1:1). This authorship is challenged by almost no one. Paul wrote half of the New Testament. He was the greatest missionary of the first century.
Evidence
Internal evidence
He called himself Paul (Ro 1:1)
He described himself as only Paul could (Ro 11:13 [cf. Ga 2:19]; Ro 15:15-20 [cf. Ga 1:15-17]).
External evidence
Early Christian writers
Literary style Pauline
Consistent with his doctrinal views elsewhere in his writings
Lessons from authorship
Agony for Jews (Ro 9:1-5; 10:1)
Personal attachments (Ro 16:3-16)
Missionary (Ro 1:8-13; 15:20-24)
RECIPIENTS
Paul did not address the epistle “to the church at Rome,” a single church, but to “all that be in Rome.” Rome probably had several churches, although no apostle had yet visited that city. There were different places of worship: Ro 16:5, 14, 15.
Second, Paul aimed to present a comprehensive statement about Christianity to the most crucial city in the world (Ro 1:15). Most of the readers were Gentiles. However, there were some former Jews in the church (Acts 2:10). Many were likely converts from other cities whom Paul had led to faith.
Their faith was well known to believers in other cities (Ro 1:8; 16:19).
DATE AND PLACE OF WRITING
Romans was written from Corinth, Greece (Ro 16:1), in AD 57-58, at the end of Paul’s third missionary journey (Ac 20:2, 3). He wrote Romans shortly after the writing of Second Corinthians.
SITUATION
Paul addressed Romans to believers (Ro 1:7) from a mainly Gentile background (Ro 1:5, 6, 13; 11:13; 15:15, 16). Paul had never been to Rome, yet Christians had been there for many years. Paul wanted the Romans, located in the principal city of the world, to have the most systematic presentation of Christianity ever set forth.
STYLE OF WRITING
This style emphasizes propositional statements in the book of Romans.
BACKGROUND AND SETTING
Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire and was founded in 753 BC. The population was over one million in Paul’s day, but many were slaves. Tradition says Paul was martyred in Rome during Nero’s reign (AD 54-68).
PURPOSES
Phoebe (Ro 16:1) was about to leave for Rome on business, so Paul took this opportunity to write Romans so she could deliver the book personally.
Paul wanted to announce his plans to visit the area after a trip to Jerusalem (Ro 15:24; 28-29; cf. Acts 19:21).
Paul aimed to provide the most comprehensive and systematic treatment of Christianity to believers residing in the world’s most important city.
Paul wanted to justify his mission to the Gentiles (Ro 15:16).
Paul presented a gospel that rose to the standard of God’s absolute righteousnes.
THEME
The veracity and vindication of God. Romans argues for theology proper—the righteousness of God.
KEYWORDS
Righteousness, just, justify, justification, imputation, propitiation.
KEY VERSES:
Ro 1:16,17
CHARACTERISTICS:
The book of Romans is the magnum opus of Paul’s epistles.
It is a systematic treatise on Christianity.
It is the most theological/doctrinal of Paul’s epistles.
It is the longest of Paul’s letters.
It is the most formal Paul’sl’s letters, but it is more than abstract.
It focuses on the absolute righteousness of God.
The book is universal in scope.
Paul uses a significant number of Old Testament quotes.
Some say it is the most essential book in the Bible.
It was written to a church Paul did not found.
Paul mentions 35 people in the sixteenth chapter; 27 lived in Rome at the time of writing.
Romans contains more salutations than any other book (chapter 16).
Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews all expound Habakkuk 2:4.
The church in Rome was spiritually healthy (Ro 1:8; 15:14; 16:19).
The phrase “of God” occurs 59 times in Romans.
DOCTRINES
Justification, conciliation, imputation, propitiation, and sovereignty.
TONE
Romans is not polemical but systematic in its treatise. The first 11 chapters form a theological argument about God’s integrity.
OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION (1:1-17)
Salutation, 1:1-7
Author, 1:1-5
Destination, 1:6-7a
Greetings, 1:7b
Occasion, 1:8-15
Theme, 1:16-17
THE PRINCIPLE OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS (1:18-chapter 11)
The need of those who fall short of God’s righteousness (1:18-3:20)
Gentile need, 1:18-32
Moralist need, 2:1-16
Jewish need, 2:17-3:8
Universal need, 3:9-20
Provision God’s righteousness by justification (3:21-5:21)
The facts of justification, 3:21-31
Illustrations of justification, 4:1-25
Results of justification, 5:1-25
Effects God’s righteousness manifested in sanctification (6-8)
The outer circle of positional truth, 6:1-23
Spiritual conflict, 7:1-25
Divine dynamic, 8:1-39
A theodicy of God’s righteousness (9-11)
Divine sovereignty, 9:1-29
Human responsibility, 9:30-10:21
Final purpose, 11:1-36
THE OUTCROPPING OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE LIVES OF BELIEVERS (12:1-15:13)
Principles of the Christian walk, 12:1-2
Practice of the Christian walk, 12:3-15:13
In general, 12:3-21
Special, 13:1-15:13
Government, 13:1-7
Neighbor, 13:8-14
Liberty, 14:1-15:13
CONCLUSION (15:14-15:33)
Paul’s personal plans, 15:14-29
Prayer requests, 15:30-33
EPILOGUE (16:1-27)
Greetings, 16:1-24
Benediction, 16:25-27
