Romans

Overview

Romans is Paul’s fullest account of the gospel, written to a church he had not founded and hoped to visit. Because he is not putting out a fire, he can lay the whole thing out in order: what is wrong with us, what God has done about it, and what follows.

The argument runs from condemnation to justification to sanctification to glory, takes three chapters on Israel, and only then turns to how redeemed people actually live — with each other, under government, and with those whose consciences differ.

Background

Paul was in Corinth, about to carry a relief offering to Jerusalem, and hoping to go on to Spain with Rome as his base. The letter is partly an introduction of himself and his message to a church that knew him only by reputation.

The Roman church had both Jewish and Gentile believers, and the Jewish members had been expelled from the city by Claudius a few years earlier and were now returning. Chapters 9–11 and 14–15 read differently once you know that.

Key themes

• The righteousness of God, revealed in the gospel and received by faith.
• All have sinned — religious and irreligious alike — and none can be justified by law-keeping.
• Justification is by grace, through faith, on the ground of Christ’s death.
• Union with Christ: dead to sin, alive to God, and no condemnation.
• God has not cast off Israel, and His purposes cannot be frustrated.

Outline

1. The whole world guiltyChapters 1–3

   Gentile, moralist and Jew in turn, until every mouth is stopped.

2. Justified by faithChapters 3–5

   Redemption in Christ, Abraham as the proof, peace with God, and Adam and Christ compared.

3. Life in the SpiritChapters 6–8

   Dead to sin, freed from the law’s condemnation, led by the Spirit, and kept by love.

4. IsraelChapters 9–11

   God’s election, Israel’s unbelief, and the promise that all Israel shall be saved.

5. Living it outChapters 12–15

   Bodies presented, gifts used, government honored, and the weak not despised.

6. GreetingsChapter 16

   Twenty-six people named, including Phebe who carried the letter.

Key passages

• Romans 1:16-17 I am not ashamed of the gospel — the just shall live by faith.
• Romans 3:23-24 All have sinned, and are justified freely by his grace.
• Romans 5:8 While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
• Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death; the gift of God is eternal life.
• Romans 8:1 No condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.
• Romans 8:28 All things work together for good to them that love God.
• Romans 10:9-10 Confess with thy mouth, believe in thine heart.
• Romans 12:1-2 Present your bodies a living sacrifice; be not conformed to this world.

Christ in Romans

Romans sets out what the cross accomplished: propitiation, redemption, justification, reconciliation. Christ is the second Adam whose obedience undoes the first man’s ruin, the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes, and the Lord whose love nothing in all creation can separate us from.

Reading it

• Read 1–8 straight through before stopping to study; the argument is one long chain.
• When Paul asks a question and answers "God forbid", he is anticipating your objection — note it.
• Chapter 12 begins with "therefore": everything practical rests on the eleven chapters before it.