AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF ROMANS

Paul's Letter to the Roman Christians was written about 57 A.D. near the close of his third missionary tour (compare Rom 15:25 with Ac 20:16). Some time after Paul wrote Second Corinthians, he is believed to have penned Romans from Corinth. In the Roman letter Paul was informing the Christians there that he planned to visit them. He did so about three years later, however, not under the circumstances that he could forsee--in chains (Ac 28:14-31)!

Although it has been widely asserted that the Apostle Peter had started the first congregation of believers in Rome, there is no evidence of this. In fact, it is quite to the contrary. Why, in a long list of names of Christians (Rom 16:1-23) was Peter's name not mentioned once? The reason is clear--because Peter wasn't there and probably had never been there, even though he traveled a good bit with his wife (1Cor 9:5).

How did the congregation in Rome begin? It is well known that Jews had been broadly dispersed throughout the Roman Empire. They had established synagogues everywhere. A contingent of Jews appeared in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost (A.D. 30), according to Ac 2:10. Doubtless, some of these new believers returned to Rome with their new-found faith in Jesus, the Messiah. At any rate, it is clear that Paul was addressing himself to a non-Jewish audience (Rom 1:13).

In Romans is found the most comprehensive statement about the full meaning of Jesus' cross. And, Rom 1:16 is the most pivotal verse in the whole letter: The gospel (2098-GSN - euaggelion, the Good News about Jesus) is where the power (1411-GSN - dunamis) of salvation (4991-GSN - soteria) is found for ANYONE--Jew or Gentile--who personally makes a commitment (4100-GSN - pisteuo) to Christ.

Paul wrote Rom 1 -8 primarily to educate these new believers about the most fundamental teaching regarding salvation. He systematically explained HOW God makes sinners "righteous" in His presence. Since everyone is a sinner (Rom 3:10,23), all need salvation. And, the only path to forgiveness is through the mercy of God extended in Christ Jesus. One either fully accepts that this offer from God is true or one rejects it (Rom 3:24-25). If a person truly realizes his or her true condition before God, then the heart will melt (Rom 10:9-10) and complete obedience will follow (Rom 1:5; Rom 16:26). However, Paul was quick to point out that personal salvation cannot come through any frail, human attempts to obey any law perfectly (Rom 3:20-21,26-28; Gal 2:16; Gal 3:11; Gal 5:4; Eph 2:8-9). Through Jesus Christ, God is the one who justifies (1344-GSN - dikaioo) sinners (Rom 3:26; Rom 4:5; Gal 2:16). Dikaioo (1344-GSN) appears 15 times in Romans, 8 times in Galatians, and only 16 additional times in the remainder of the New Testament! Dikaioo (1344-GSN) does not refer to the way that this spiritual exoneration is accomplished, but only to the act itself. God makes us "righteous" (Rom 5:19) through the obedience of Christ. God considers the new believer as having legally and morally fulfilled all the demands of law because of the righteousness of Jesus. Though no righteous person (1342-GSN - dikaios) could be located on earth, no unrighteousness (0093-GSN - adikia) could be found in Christ (Jn 7:18).

Then Paul explained what a new life in Christ entails: No longer does an individual need to live under the constant domination of sin, guilt, and death (Rom 7:1-25). God can clear us of the guilt of sin and give us power against this terrible urge. A believer is liberated by the Spirit of God and possesses a serenity of soul, as well as peace with God. All hostilities from God have ceased (Rom 8:1-39). Next, Paul went to great lengths to recount God's original purpose in giving the Law of Moses and how the Jews had been a part of God's master plan to bring all nations home through the grace provided for by the cross of Jesus Christ (Rom 9 -11). Paul concluded with many other practical things about how Christians should live in this world (Rom 12 -16). We must serve one another (Rom 12:4-21). We must be good citizens (Rom 13:1-7). And, we must be tolerant and sensitive to the consciences of others who may not agree with our personal scruples (Rom 14:1-15:3).

Return to Romans