Introduction to the Book of Romans

Lesson 1 - Romans 1_1

Monday, November 23, 2015

10:22 PM

The Book of Romans is a tremendous study of theology, doctrine and all around practical living. No real significant controversy exists over the author of the Book of Romans. (Hawthorne, Martin, Reid, Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. 1993).

Romans 1:1 states it was written by Paul.

Paul was a tremendous Apostle, Evangelist, and author.

We only have one physical description written by a 2nd century church leader in a document called, "The Acts of Paul" He was fired over the writing because he attributed to Paul some unorthodox teachings.

Stephen Miller wrote in an article for Christianity Today called, "Bald, Blind & Single?" and he paraphrased the description like this,

"He was a bald-headed, bowlegged short man with a big nose, and an unbroken eyebrow that lay across his forehead like a dead caterpillar."

He goes on to write:

"A more literal translation of the description of Paul in Greek reads, “A man of middling size, and his hair was scanty, and his legs were a little crooked, and his knees were far apart; he had large eyes, and his eyebrows met, and his nose was somewhat long.”

This may be little more than imaginative writing from a century after Paul died, but it does not clash with the way Paul’s critics described him: “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive” (2 Cor. 10:10).

Clipped from: https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-47/bald-blind-single.html

The name Paul means: Small; little.

Roswell D. Hitchcock, Hitchcock's Dictionary of Bible Names, WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "Paul".

A few things about Paul: We are introduced to him in the book of Acts, and become better acquainted with him through his own writings.

He was a Jew of Tarsus, a city of Cilicia (Acts 21:39)He was a free-born Roman citizen (Acts 22:28)A Hebrew of the Hebrews, of the tribe of Benjamin (Phil 3:5)A Pupil of Gamaliel, taught according to the perfect law of the Fathers (Acts 22:3, Gal 1:14)A student of Greek, as well as Jewish literature (Acts 17:28, Titus 1:12)A persecutor of the ChurchA Man Converted (Radically) To ChristSaul was his Hebrew name and Paul was his Roman name that's why the name change he went to minister to the gentiles. One of the most important figures in the apostolic church. Made at least three missionary journeys on behalf of the early church. A Man who could write - He wrote 13 of the 27 New Testament books.

Some beliefs of Paul:

The primary sources for discovering Paul’s theology are his own writings and Acts. God is at the center of Paul’s theology. Paul believed that evil is real and influential but will be eternally curbed and punished by God. Paul believed that the Old Testament has application for all people yet condemned legalism. The foundation of the gospel Paul preached was the covenant God made with Abraham. Paul held a high view of Christ not only because of his divine identity but also because he is an expression of God’s concern for sinners. The cross is the means and central symbol of the redemption Christ won. The resurrection is important because the Christian message depends on its truth. Paul’s treatment of the church places it at the heart of his Christology. Paul taught that the gospel transforms believers’ personal behavior and corporate identity. Paul’s theology is closely intertwined with his distinctive ethics and eschatology.

Walter A. Elwell; Robert W. Yarbrough. Encountering the New Testament (Encountering Biblical Studies): A Historical and Theological Survey (Kindle Locations 7484-7499). Baker Books. Kindle Edition.

Thomas Coke the old Methodist commentator said, “THE Epistles of St. Paul form so important a part of the Holy Scriptures, as to be in themselves almost sufficient, under divine grace, to impart a clear and distinct knowledge of all the truths necessary to salvation...”

Dr. R.E.D. White (And that is how it is written) Lecturer of Greek and Philosophy in the Scotland Baptist Theological College gave this word portrait, of the Apostle Paul.

“The Greatest of Christians

Profoundest of Teachers,

Staunchest of Friends,

Most Intrepid of Adventurers,

Most Dauntless of Sufferers,

Most Winsome of Saints—

Paul of Tarsus, Soldier and Slave

And Lover of Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The four Gospels give us the story of the good news or Gospel of Jesus Christ, Acts tells us how that good news spread over the span of more than three decades, and Roman's gives us a technical and yet practical description of this "Good News" or "Gospel" in its 16 chapters.

While Roman's is placed first in the Pauline Epistles it was not written first. They seem to be placed in order by size, longest to shortest. The General Epistles are arranged this way as well. No one knows for sure why this is. Walter A. Elwell; Robert W. Yarbrough. Encountering the New Testament (Encountering Biblical Studies): A Historical and Theological Survey (Kindle Locations 7613-7621). Baker Books. Kindle Edition. Romans was written late in Paul's career around AD 57. It is the consensus of New Testament scholars that Paul wrote his masterpiece of Romans during his three month stay in Greece. Acts 20:2-3 (KJV) 2 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, 3 And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. This was on the last leg of Paul's third missionary journey and right before his last known visit to Jerusalem. Romans 16:23 compared with Acts 19:29; 20:4; 1 Cor. 1:14 suggests that Paul wrote Romans while he was around Corinth as "the letter took shape." (Yarborough & Elwell) Paul confirms this by his "commendation of Phoebe who carried the letter form Corinth to Rome: her home church was in Cenchreae, a small town eight miles from Corinth. (IIBID)

Romans 16:1 (KJV)

1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

Romans has been called by scholars Paul's "Magnum Opus."

Dr. David Jeremiah says of Romans, “Romans presents a sweeping panorama of God’s redemptive plan from sin to salvation to sanctification. To understand the Christian life, the believer in Jesus Christ must understand the truths of the book of Romans.”

The Influence of Romans on Church History

The book of Romans has probably influenced more people than any other single book of the Bible. It has had a dramatic impact on world history.

Augustine who lived from 354-430 was in trouble. He resisted his mother's pleas to become Christian. He lived as a pagan intellectual and was a very immoral man.

He writes, that he, "most eagerly seized upon… the works of the apostle Paul."

As he began to read this immoral man came upon Romans 13:13-14

Romans 13:13-14 (KJV)

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

He later wrote, "I had no wish to read further; there was no need to. For . . . it was as though my heart was filled with a light of confidence and all the shadows of my doubt were swept away.”

Augustine tried to fill his empty life with all of those things but he found out that carousing, drunkenness, sexual immorality, sensuality, or intellectualism satisfied his heart. But when he turned to Christ he found what he was looking for.

He went on to become Bishop of Hippo in Algeria the Great North African intellectual and Church Leader.

He later wrote a famous prayer I would encourage all to memorize, "You have made us for yourself, Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you."

"Augustine's writings exerted a profound influence on European civilization for a thousand years, and his ideas still command respect today."

Over a thousand years later in 1483, less than 10 years before Columbus would discover America, a young man was born and raised in poverty and later went to college to study law.

During a storm, a lightning bolt crashed very near to him, throwing him from his horse and in great fear he cried out, "Help me St. Anne, I will become a monk."

Young Martin Luther struggle for years to find assurance of forgiveness of sins. He pondered as he said, "night and day" how he, a sinner, could ever stand forgiven before God, who is perfectly righteous and will one day judge all people. It was while reading Romans 1:17 that his life was changed forever: "The just shall live by faith."

He is known as the founder or leader of the Reformation.

About 200 years later in England a young man, zealous for God and trying to walk in all the light he could, attended a church meeting according to his own words, "UNWILLINGLY" on May 24, 1738, and listened as the leader read from Luther's preface to his Romans commentary.

Wesley wrote about this experience later, "While he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt that I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for my salvation: And an assurance was given me, that he had taken my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sins and death."

Some Historical setting -

ROME - In the first century, was the center of the Mediterranean world. "It was the greatest city of classical antiquity in the West." (Elwell & Yarbrough) It was the capital of the vast Roman empire and during the 1st Century probably home to 1 million people.

Rome is mentioned in the New Testament eight times.

Acts 19:21 and 23:11 give two times that Paul mentions he wants to go and preach at Rome.

Paul did not start the church at Rome however, in fact we don't know for sure how the church was founded. It is believed by some that on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 when a thousand souls were added to the church, that one or some of those converts perhaps even Aquila and Priscilla went to Rome and started the church.

Paul has never been to Rome but seems to know many of the Christians there.

There also seems to be many small churches in Rome not one big church as sometimes we are led to believe.

So what is the Purpose of the Book of Romans? This is disputed and argued - but I would submit to you there are several purposes for the book of Romans.

In AD 49 the Jews were expelled from Rome by the emperor Claudius, which also took in the Jewish Christians. Acts 18;2 Acts 18:1-2 (KJV) 1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. This left a Gentile church in Rome. About five years later these Jews including the Christians were allowed to return to Rome. Now we have a completely different dynamic for church. For five years the Roman Gentiles have had control of the church and probably still have the majority, but now the Jews are reintroduced who bring some of their Jewish belief with them namely circumcision and a few others. So it would seem that one purpose for Paul to write the letter of Romans is to bring a unity to the churches at Rome. Especially chapter 14-16 Another reason Paul writes the letter to the Roman's is to tell them he is coming and would like them to help him reach Spain. We get a tentative itinerary of Paul in Chapter 15Romans 15:24-29 (KJV)

24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.

25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

b. Paul wants to come to Rome and show his slides and take up an offering for his planned mission trip.

3. A third reason Paul writes the letter to the Romans has traditionally been believed to "teach about salvation and further Christ's kingdom in the world."

a. Many scholars do not believe this to be a "serious option today"

b. they fall between 1 of two options

1. That Romans is primarily a letter about Paul's own concers

2. That Romans is primarily occupied with the concerns of the Roman Church.

C. I personally in reading the Book of Romans subscribe to the traditional view.

Now to get into the Word of Romans -

The Introduction of Romans (1:1-17) - {The Need To Say Hello}The Apostolic Greeting (1:1-7) - The longest of all of Paul's introductory statements. Called a salutation. - Remember this is written as a letter. Paul introduces himself - Remember he has never been to Rome, he did not start the church and now he is giving his right to write an epistle to them. Paul's métier /ˈmāˌt-e-ā/ {occupation/ calling} As a servant of Jesus Christ -

"the background for the concept of being the Lord's “slave” or “servant” is to be found in the Old Testament scriptures. For someone who was Jewish this concept did not connote drudgery, but honor and privilege. It was used of national Israel at times (Isa 43:10), but was especially associated with famous OT personalities, including such great men as Moses (Josh 14:7), David (Ps 89:3; cf. 2 Sam 7:5, 8) and Elijah (2 Kgs 10:10); all these men were “servants (or slaves) of the Lord.”

NET Bible.

As an apostle (1:1)Separated unto the gospel of GodWhat is the "Gospel of God?" - I think we will cover this next session - but to be brief it is far more than the salvation story. Paul's Message as an Apostle (1:2-4)Paul's message promised in the Old Testament (1:2)Paul's message is revealed in Jesus Christ (1;3 –4)Paul's mission as an apostle (1:5-6)The Apostolic Greeting (1:7)

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Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, Daniel G. Reid, ed., Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "Romans, Letter to The".