Romans - Introduction (1)

Introduction

Well this should keep us going for a while! Romans is the most systematically theological of all of Paul’s letters, with the most complete and in-depth presentation of the gospel. These notes aren’t a commentary as such so I don’t, for the most part, give references and footnotes. However, I do want to make clear that anything useful I say either comes directly from the work, or is built upon, the work of others. So here are the main sources that I have learnt from:

The commentary that I have made most use of is Epistle to the Romans - Leon Morris. At the moment I am reading Craig Keener’s commentary on Romans. Another commentary I have is Romans - FF Bruce

Other books that have influenced me are:  

Paul, Apostle of the Free Spirit - FF Bruce

Justification: God’s Plan and Paul’s Vision - NT Wright

Paul: Fresh Perspectives - NT Wright

More general sources include my NIV study Bible, my Bible Dictionary, and Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology.

There is virtually no one who doubts that Romans was written by Paul the Apostle. The most likely date for its writing is 57 AD, and was written during Paul’s third missionary journey. He was on his way back to Jerusalem, taking with him a gift from the various Gentile churches to help the church in Jerusalem, which was undergoing hard times. Paul knew that things would be difficult in Jerusalem, and many warned him against going there. After that he wanted to visit Rome, a place he had not been to at that point, and after that to go to Spain. As we know from Acts, things were indeed difficult in Jerusalem, with attempts on his life. However, through all this he did end up going to Rome, though he never made it to Spain. Paul was probably in Corinth, or nearby in Cenchreae, when he wrote the letter.

Unlike letters like Galatians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Philippians etc, Romans is not really dealing with a specific church situation. Rather it is a systematic presentation and explanation of the gospel. It covers:

• the universality of the gospel, ie the need of all people to be saved by Christ;
• the effect of the gospel on our lives;
• the place of Israel in the gospel;
• addressing some practical issues.

In order to understand Romans it can be useful to have the following always in mind:

• Sin is our biggest problem, indeed is the root of all our problems
• We need to be forgiven for our sins (justification)
• We need to be transformed (sanctification, renewal)

Justification and sanctification go together, the Bible knows nothing of one without the other. The notion of someone believing the gospel but not been changed is utterly alien to the Bible.