ROMANS 1

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LESSON 1 – ROMANS 1 – 5
Reading Assignment:
Bible Reading: Romans 1 – 5, read 5 times at one sitting.
Listen to: Audio Lectures 1 – 5
Memorize: Romans 1:16, 17
INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS
I) Authorship: who wrote it?
A) It is beyond dispute that Paul, the apostle, is the author of Romans
(1:1; 11:1; 15:25-27).
B) Although Paul was the author, Tertius was the secretary (“amanuensis”) who
actually transcribed the letter that was dictated by Paul (16:22).
C) This is Paul’s longest letter, followed by 1 Corinthians
II) Date: when was it written?
A) One clue to solve this question is an offering that Paul collected for the poor
believers in Jerusalem (15:25-29; 1 Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 9:5)
B) Paul wrote Romans while he stayed in Corinth, c. AD 55-57, at the end of his
third missionary journey (Acts 20:3)
III) Audience: to whom was it written?
A) The church was probably begun by Jews and Gentile converts who had
returned from Jerusalem where they had heard the gospel preached by Peter
on Pentecost (Acts 2:10-11). Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews (including
Jewish Christians) in AD 49 (cf. Aquila and Priscilla, Acts 18:2). Apparently
there was never an apostle to lead this vital church.
B) The church in Paul’s day was largely, though not exclusively, Gentile (“For I
speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles,” 11:13; cf.
1:13), probably due to the expulsion. Aquila and Priscilla eventually moved
back to Rome (16:3). Paul addressed his fellow Jews in 2:17; 3:19; and 7:1.
C) Perhaps some of Paul’s converts relocated from Asia Minor and Greece to
Rome and joined the church. Paul extended greetings to his friends and
converts in Romans 16 without mentioning the names of any apostles (as
Peter, so says the Roman Catholic Church).
D) The church in Rome met in believers’ houses. This letter is not addressed to a
house church, but rather “to all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be
saints” (1:7). Later Paul greets “the church that meets at their [Aquila and
Priscilla’s] house” (16:5).
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E) Rome was the center of the world. As the vastest world empire ever, Rome
ruled from Spain to India, and from Britain to Africa. The city of Rome was a
hallmark of beauty and paganism
IV) Theme: why was it written?
A) Paul’s travel plans (15:22-32).
1) Jerusalem
2) Rome
3) Spain
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B) Paul’s pastoral plans.
1) Unfamiliarity with the Roman Church.
(a) The Roman church was one of the churches that Paul did not
plant. Most of the churches mentioned in the NT were founded
directly by Paul
(b) There are no specific problems addressed, as contrasted with
Corinth or Philippi. The content reflects the broad and timeless
theme of the gospel, “God’s good news.”
2) Familiarity with the Gospel (1:16-17)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel,
for it is the power of God for salvation
to everyone who believes,
to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed
from faith to faith; as it is written,
“But the righteous shall live by faith.”
(a) “Righteousness” (dikaiosunh) is used in 1:17; 3:5,21, 22, 25, 26;
4:3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 13,22; 5:17,21; 6:13, 16, 18, 19,20; 8:10; 9:30, 31;
10:3,4, 5,6, 10; 14:17
(b) Others words with the same Greek root are used by Paul:
•
“to justify, declare righteous” (dikaiow) - 2:13;
3:4,20,24,26,28,30; 4:2,5; 5:1,9; 6:7; 8:30,33.
•
“just, righteous” (dikaiov) - 1:17; 2:13; 3:10, 26;
5:7, 19; 7:12.
•
“righteous requirement” (dikaiwma) - 1:32; 2:26;
5:16, 18; 8:4.
•
“justification” (dikaiwsiv) - 4:25; 5:18.
•
“righteous judgment” (dikaiokrisia) - 2:5.
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V) Influence: the impact of this letter throughout church history.
A) Aurelius Augustinius in Milan, Italy (386).
B) Martin Luther in Wittenberg, Germany (1515).
“THIS EPISTLE IS THE CHIEF PART OF THE NEW TESTAMENT AND THE
VERY PUREST GOSPEL, WHICH INDEED DESERVES THAT A CHRISTIAN
SHOULD NOT ONLY KNOW IT WORD FOR WORD BY HEART, BUT DEAL
WITH IT DAILY AS WITH THE DAILY BREAD OF THE SOUL, FOR IT CAN
NEVER BE READ OR CONSIDERED TOO MUCH TOO WELL, AND THE
MORE IT IS HANDLED THE MORE DELIGHTFUL IT BECOMES AND THE
BETTER IT TASTES.”
C) John Wesley in London, England (1738).
D) Robert Haldane in Geneva, Switzerland (1816)
E) Karl Barth in Switzerland (1918)
VI) Outline: a broad description of the letter:
I. Introduction (1:1-15).
II. Theme: The Righteousness of God Revealed (1:16-17).
III. The Need for Righteousness: Condemnation (1:18-3:20).
IV. The Gift of Righteousness: Justification (3:21-5:21).
V. The Fruit of Righteousness: Sanctification (6:1-8:39).
VI. The History of Righteousness: Israel the Nation (9:1-11:36).
VII. The Practice of Righteousness: Transformation (12:1 - 15:13).
VIII. Conclusion (15:14-16:27).
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ANALYSIS OF ROMANS
I) Introduction (1:1-15).
A) Greetings (1:1-7).
B) Paul’s Relationship to the Roman Christians (1:8-15).
1) Thankful.
2) Prayerful.
3) Wishful.
4) Hopeful.
II) Theme: The Righteousness of God Revealed in the Gospel (1:16-17).
A) Confidence - “I am not ashamed.”
B) Power - “It is the power of God for salvation.”
1) For salvation.
2) By believing.
3) For Jews first.
4) For Greeks
C) Righteousness - “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed.”
1) Defined
2) Obtained
3) Defended
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III) The Need for Righteousness: Condemnation (1:18-3:20).
A) Gentile People are Condemned (1:18-2:16).
1) Reasons (1:18-23).
(a) Suppress known truth.
(1)
(2)
(b) Worship anything but truth.
(1)
(2)
(3)
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2) Results (1:24-32).
(a) Impurity.
(b) Perversion.
(c) Depravity.
3) Excuses (2:1-16).
(a) Inconsistencies.
(b) Judgment. “A person’s habitual conduct, whether good or evil,
reveals the condition of his heart” (Witmer, p. 445)
B) Jewish People are Condemned (2:17-3:8).
1) Inconsistencies
2) Advantages
C) All are Condemned (3:9-20).
IV) The Gift of Righteousness: Justification (3:21-5:21)
A) Justification Provided by God (3:21-31).
•
Justified
•
Redemption
•
Propitiation
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B) Justification Illustrated by Abraham and David (4:1-25)
1) The Men of Faith (1-8)
2) The Sign of Faith (9-12)
3) The Nature of Faith (13-22)
4) The Application (23-25)
C) Justification Enjoyed (kauxomai) by Believers (5:1-1 1)
1) In Hope.
2) In Troubles.
3) In God.
D) Justification Illustrated by Adam (5:12-21)
“All people. . . stand in relationship to one of two men, whose actions determine
the eternal destiny of all who belong to them” (Moo, p. 326).
ADAM
ROMANS 5
JESUS CHRIST
Sin &death
12
Transgression
15a
Free gift
Many died
15b
Many receive grace & gift
Judgment & condemnation
16, 18
Gift & justification
Death reigns
17
Believers reign in life
Many made sinners
19
Many made righteous
Sin increased
20
Grace abounded
Sin reigned in death
21
Grace reigns to bring eternal life
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HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
After sufficient review, open Test Packet #1 and take the test. This is a closed book
test. You may not use your bible, notes, or syllabus. When you have completed the test,
send it to:
Internet Bible Institute
Box 21
12 South Bridge
Edinburgh Scotland UK
EH1 1DD
Be sure to sign Test 1 where indicated and also indicate completion of all reading for
this lesson.
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