Romans - Introduction

When I started this blog, back in October 2008, I was part way through Romans, so began in chapter 6 of Romans. I will now do the first part of Romans to make up this gap. Actually the real reason is that Romans is such a magnificent book, and I may well go over some of the chapters I have already blogged on again.

There is no doubt whatsoever that Paul wrote Romans, and it is the fullest exposition of the theology of the gospel that there is. He probably wrote it in about AD 57 while on his way to Jerusalem. The fact that Paul was on his way to Jerusalem maybe why chapters 9-11 focus on the way that the Jews fit into God's plan. Paul had discovered the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ, yet most of his countrymen were hostile to the good news. This must have exercised him greatly.

The central theme of the book is the righteousness of God. The book relates how God's grand plan works out in Christ. The book has in view the overall scheme of salvation and God's plan, and how it works out in an individuals life, and we need to keep both in view.

The following is a list of books I have read which are relevant to Romans, and will no doubt have influenced my thinking:

1. Leon Morris - The Epistle to the Romans (1995)
2. F F Bruce - Epistle of Paul to the Romans (Tyndale Commentary) (1986)
3. Tom Wright - Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision (2009)
4. N.T. Wright - Paul: Fresh Perspectives (2005)
5. J Piper - The Future of Justification: A response to NT Wright (2008)
6. D.A. Carson - Scandalous, chapter 2 (2010)

Wright emphasises the overall plan of God, whereas the typical evangelical approach is to emphasise the forgiveness of sins. In Romans we find both the overall plan, and the application to the individual (see especially chapter 7), and I will try and bring both perspectives together.