From the introductory comments to the PTM survey of The Book of Romans, by Greg Albrecht, President of Plain Truth Ministries …
It’s been said that all of the reforms and transformations that have taken place in the church over the past 2,000 years have in some way been connected with the book of Romans. The book of Romans provided the starting point for Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation.
This book, originally a letter written by the apostle Paul, explains who God is, what we can expect from him and how we can relate to him. The original audience to which this book was written was a small group of Christians in the imperial city of Rome, capital of the mighty Roman Empire.
Paul had never been to Rome at the time he wrote the book. He wrote to men and women who had become Christ-followers with little formal instruction, so the book is a guide to basic Christianity — answering some of the most basic questions about God.
These questions still perplex and puzzle men and women today: What is the purpose of life? How can I find God? Does God care about me? Do I matter to God? If God cares, what does he want me to do with my life? How can I please God?
In Romans we have some of the most basic and fundamental teaching about Christianity, but this doesn’t mean the book is simple. Romans is masterfully written to appeal to the person who does not even pretend to follow Jesus and to someone who might not even believe in God.
At the same time Romans is written to a new Christian. It is so profound that mature and veteran Christians are amazed at the new insights they have when they re-study Romans.
In Romans, Paul reasons, argues, gives examples and encourages his readers to be stronger in their faith. Although the apostle wrote this letter to a specific group of people in the first century, this letter has stood the test of time. It is very much a letter to each one of us. Paul was a Jew who had been brought up to know, obey and reverence the law of the Old Testament. Originally, his name was Saul.
As a Jew, Saul believed that his people had a unique relationship with God that no other humans could have. He believed that the Jews had an exclusive franchise with God — and that no one else could know God in the special way they did. This is not so different from many groups today — some who call themselves Christian and some who do not. But Saul believed that he and his fellow Hebrews had this exclusive relationship with God because of their law — and their devotion to that law. Saul had been an enemy of the early Christians. He tortured and killed those who did not agree with him — something this sad old earth has seen happen over and over again—murder and mayhem in the name of God.
Saul was called by God one day as he journeyed to Damascus, a city that still exists in present day Syria. He was en route to persecute Christians. As a result of God’s intervention in his life, this man of zeal accepted Jesus Christ, and became one of the central figures in Christianity — then and now, 2,000 years later. In the process Paul learned the greatest lesson any Christian can learn: Salvation does not depend on what humans do, but on what Christ has done.
From PTM’s Introduction to Romans 1-8 …
- Authorship: The apostle Paul.
- Date: It is generally believed that Paul was in Corinth near the end of his third missionary journey (Ac 20:1-5) when he wrote this letter. This dates Romans around A.D. 58.
- Setting and purpose: Paul was planning to visit Christians in Rome and wrote to prepare them for his arrival. Paul was aware that many of them did not know him because he had not been involved in establishing that Christian community. Perhaps he was eager to reassure Christians in Rome that, in spite of any rumors they may have heard about him, his message was in line with that of the other apostles. He also wanted to get their support for a missionary trip to Spain (Ro 15:24).
Most of the other letters of Paul were written to churches he personally had established. Those letters often deal with local problems, issues and controversies. The Book of Romans has few localized issues. Paul does address some local concerns in chapters 13 through 15, and in chapter 16 he greets some of the Roman Christians, whom he had met in places other than Rome.
The book of Romans is a systematic exposition of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many scholars view Romans as the most important theological book in the New Testament. - Distinctive Features: This is Paul’s most comprehensive outline of the Christian faith. There is something in Romans for every person.
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- For those who do not know Christ, Paul provides a clear exposition of God’s righteous plan for their salvation.
- For those new in the faith, Romans teaches them about their identity in Christ and their victory in life through the power of the Holy Spirit.
- For more experienced Christ-followers, there is ample discussion of a wide spectrum of Christian truths such as sin, salvation, righteousness, holiness and the nature and work of Jesus.
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From The Bible Project …
1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who [a]was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
- What do we learn about how Paul sees himself, based on what he says in verse 1?
- Of the two “offices” he occupied, which seems most important to him?
- What was Paul “separated” to?
- What does verse 1 tell us about the Gospel?
- What, according to verse 2, was promised through the prophets?
- What does that tell us about it?
- According to verse 3, what what the Gospel about?
- In verse 3, what is Paul telling us about Jesus Christ?
- What is verse 4 telling us about Him?
- According to verse 5, what two gifts had Paul received?
- Why do you think Paul was given those two gifts?
- According to verse 6, how did Paul view the Christians in Rome?
7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve [b]with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established — 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel [c]of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
- What is Paul not ashamed of?
- Why would anyone think he should be ashamed?
- Why was he not ashamed?
- What is the “power of God” to salvation?
- Whom is it the “power of God to salvation” for?
- How do you understand the Gospel to be the “power of God to salvation” for everyone who believes?
- What do you understand the phrase “for the Jew first and also for the Greek” to mean?
- What is revealed in the Gospel?
- What do you understand the “righteousness of God” to be?
- What do you think “from faith to faith” means?
- How do the just live by faith?
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who [d]suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is [e]manifest [f]in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and [g] Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like [h]corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their [i] women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the [j] men, leaving the natural use of the [k]woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, [l] sexual immorality, wickedness, [m] covetousness, [n] maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 [o] undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, [p] unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.