Chap 1_Romans

Introduction to Romans

Paul wrote in the typical structure of letters of the day. There is a greeting, then a prayer, then thanksgiving, special contents, then salutations and personal greetings. Samples of other secular letters which were discovered followed the same pattern.

Many recovered documents were on papyrus, which was layerd strips of pith taken from a bullrush that grew along the Nile. As long as moisture doesn’t get to it, the paper is preserved. So in a desert climate it could last for 100’ years.

Paul’s letters were usually written as someone writing to a friend or a familiar person. They weren’t academic lessons. Most of his letters content focused on some immediate problem in one of his churches. Often you can see his emotion whether warning or advising his churches.He was not aware that his writings would become historical scripture. He cared for the ones entrusted to his proclamations of the gospel. He is personal in that he mentions others that are with him, or some of the trials he is going through.

Paul also used “dialogue” approach - Socratic approach. Answering hypothetical questions, rhetorical questions, use of aphorisms [ terse truths or astute observation.

Paul followed the common custom of having a secretary who did his writing. One scribe even mentioned himself in Romans 16:20–22 (HCSB)20 .........The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. 21 Timothy, my coworker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow countrymen, greet you. 22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. But in another letter 1 Corinthians 16:21–22 (HCSB)21 This greeting is in my own hand —Paul.

Some of his letters seem to cutoff or jump abruptly, but picture what the situation is. Paul may be pacing and talking while his secretary/court reporter is taking down what he is saying. There is no white out or computer edit available.

Romans is unique as he was not part of establishing the church in Rome. He doesn’t go over some practical problems of the day as in his other letters. Romans isn’t as personal as are his other letters.

Some scholars say that this is close to a theological treatise in that his faith is shown as his distilled.beliefs. And that this writing is to protect the beliefs. He had seen how error would try to encroach on the new belief, so he is sending a letter to the hub of civilization and power and he wants to layout some of the basics. Also though Paul knew only a few believers in Rome, he wanted to set a foundation. The Jews had been kicked out by the Emperor Claudius [52 a.d.] and returned after his death and now replaced by Nero. But the Jewish numbers were still low, so the main potential in Rome were the Gentiles.

Location: He wrote from Corinth in Greece on his 3rd missionary journey [58 a.d.] and said that he finally would get to see Rome on his way to Spain. But first he has to return with offerings to Jerusalem. He actually arrives in Rome about 60 a.d.

Motive behind letter. Paul knew that his personal danger was increasing ... Romans 15:30–32 (HCSB)30 Now I appeal to you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join with me in fervent prayers to God on my behalf. 31 Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that the gift I am bringing to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 and that, by God’s will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you. Earlier in Acts we saw how he was encouraged by Christians coming to him and welcoming him at the main port for Rome. Earlier as we can see he coveted prayers from the church.

He had a yearning to go to Spain Romans 15:27–29 (HCSB)27 ........ 28 So when I have finished this and safely delivered the funds to them, I will visit you on the way to Spain. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

Was this part of his strategy? The great literature od the day was coming out of Spain- Seneca a great Roman stoic philosopher [Nero’s tutor], the poet Lucian. But Paul had planted churches to the west, now by using Rome as a base of operations he could go west to Spain and north to Gaul. And since it was the core of the empire, the gospel must be planted well.

This may have been his strategy, but the Holy Spirit had changed his travel plans before and Paul would listen.

Main theme: 1. righeousness - one who has a good relationship with Jesus.

2. faith - Paul knew that the Jew tried to be righteous through following the law and he was well aware of the failure of that. Plus he abandoned the law upon the personal instruction he received from Jesus?, Holy Spirit shortly after his Damascus encounter with Jesus. It was through surrender to God and trust him. This trust, this enduring faith was the entry into the kingdom; not works or intellectual knowledge.

3. the real Jew was not through circumcision or race, but through faith. He was the true descendent of Abraham.

4. He lays down ethics of the Christian way . Undoubtedly he would be teaching the beatitudes [ Matt 5-7]

Chapter 1 Romans

OOOOOOOOOO Romans 1:1–7 (HCSB) Paul’s Intro 1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and singled out for God’s good news — 2 which He promised long ago through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures— 3 concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh 4 and who has been declared to be the powerful Son of God by the resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness. 5 We have received grace and apostleship through Him to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations, on behalf of His name, 6 including yourselves who also belong to Jesus Christ by calling:

7 To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

OOOOOOOOOO Romans 1:8–17 (HCSB)Paul’s Desire to Visit Rome 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world. 9 For God, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about His Son, is my witness that I constantly mention you, 10 always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I want very much to see you, so I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, 12 that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

13 Now I want you to know, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now ) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry among you, just as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the good news to you also who are in Rome.

OOOOOOOOOO Romans 1:16–17 (HCSB) The Righteous Will Live by faith 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17 For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

OOOOOOOOOO Romans 1:18–20 (HCSB)The Guilt of the Gentile World 18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.

OOOOOOOOOORomans 1:21–23 (HCSB) 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.

OOOOOOOOOO Romans 1:24–25 (HCSB) 24 Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.

OOOOOOOOOO Romans 1:26–32 (HCSB) From Idolatry to Depravity 26 This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. For even their females exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 The males in the same way also left natural relations with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error.

28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong. 29 They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful. 32 Although they know full well God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die —they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.