Romans 7

Background

Paul is towards the end of his 25+ year ministry. He wants to get a church to support him in what would be his last missionary journey—to Spain. He’s never been to Rome.

Timeline

AD 33: "Visitors from Rome (both Jews and Converts)” were converted at Pentecost. Acts 2:10

This Jewish/Gentile mix likely went back to become the church in Rome.

~AD 50: Emperor Claudius expelled Jews from Rome. The church in Rome continued among Gentiles.

AD 54: Nero becomes emperor and allows Jews to return to Rome.

AD 56: Paul writes Romans.

AD 57: Paul arrested in Jerusalem. Acts 21:27

The Roman historian Suetonius mentions early Christians and may refer to Jesus Christ in his work Lives of the Twelve Caesars. One passage in the biography of the Emperor Claudius, refers to agitations in the Roman Jewish community and the expulsion of Jews from Rome by Claudius during his reign (AD 41 to AD 54), which may be the expulsion mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (18:2). In this context "Chrestus" is mentioned. Some scholars see this as a likely reference to Jesus, while others see it as referring to another person living in Rome, of whom we have no information.

In Claudius 25 Suetonius refers to the expulsion of Jews by Claudius and states (in Catharine Edwards' translation):

Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he expelled them from Rome.

Suetonius goes on to later describe how Nero persecuted Christians in AD 64.

Chapter 1: Humanity's Universal Sinfulness

Chapter 2: God's Righteous Judgment

Chapter 3: Universal Need for Righteousness

Chapter 4: Abraham’s Faith and Righteousness

Chapter 6: Freedom in Christ

Have you ever made a significant life change (e.g., a new job, healthier lifestyle, etc.)? What motivated you to make that change, and how did it impact your daily life?

Romans 7:1–3 CSB

Since I am speaking to those who know the law, brothers and sisters, don’t you know that the law rules over someone as long as he lives? For example, a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law regarding the husband. So then, if she is married to another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then, if she is married to another man, she is not an adulteress.