Book of Romans

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed though faith for faith, as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans, 1:17). The Apostle Paul wrote several letters, in the New Testament, to cities that he visited trying to help them grow and flourish. In this letter he doesn’t want to state what they have done wrong, instead he talks about the salvation that is offered through Christ. This letter is the most important of his writings. Most of the letters he wrote were to the churches that Paul established. In this letter he wrote to a church that he had never been to. Paul is arrested before he could make the trip, and coincidentally, sent to Rome to stand trial. In this letter Paul makes his point in his assurance of salvation. (Romans, 12:12)

Paul, who was originally named Saul, was born ten to fifteen years after Jesus as a Roman citizen. He was raised as a Jew, but the was a Roman citizen too. He more than likely had the upper hand in an argument with a Jew. He was educated by his father. Paul was converted to Christianity on the road to Damascus. This is when his named was changed from Saul to Paul. The Jews were not too excited about this conversion experience. He later went on several mission trips to help early churches grow and flourish. The Church’s beliefs are based on Paul’s theology. (Harris, 464)

During Paul's time, Rome had a population that exceeded one million people, most of which were slaves. Paul wanted to attend Rome’s empire and he wanted to bring the information of Christ “to all ends of the earth”. (Acts, 1:8) Around 49 CE Jews were told to leave Rome because of Christian disturbances. Later, under Emperor Nero, the Jews were allowed back into Rome. Gentile Christians began to look down upon Jews, because the believed that Jews were no longer God’s people. (Wikipedia, Epistle to the Romans)

The letter to the Romans was written at Corinth. Paul was said to have written this letter during his visit to Greece. During this time, Jews covered a substantial amount of the population in Rome. The Gentiles were able to become informed with the story Jesus of Nazareth through the Jewish synagogues. Thus, a church was formed in Rome, which was composed of Jews and Gentiles. (Wikipedia, Epistle to the Romans)

Paul’s style is unique throughout this letter to the Romans. This is one of the longest letters that Paul wrote. Paul’s style was, in his time, called a “diatribe”. The letter was more of a sermon to the church than an actual letter. Paul’s overall tone was sympathetic to Jews because a lot of the Jewish Christians lived there and were the majority of the population of the Roman church. The style is much more difficult to understand than any other letter in the New Testament. The letter is set up as a series of arguments. Paul’s arguments are shifted from addressing the Jewish members of the church, to the Gentiles, to the church as a whole. (Wikipedia, Epistle to the Romans)

The content of this letter consists of a salutation, thanksgiving, body, paranesis, and closing. Throughout the body of the letter, Paul states that he is not ashamed of his gospel. He also talks about the judgment of God and his own judgment of hypocrites. Everyone knows the Romans road, which is in Paul’s assurance of salvation and transformation of believers. (Christian in Connect, outline)

In Paul’s introduction he provided some general things about himself. He tells about his apostleship and his notes about the gospel he wishes to preach to the roman church. Paul’s goal was not only to spread his teachings to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles. He also speaks about the problems he has encountered as his reason for not previously visiting Rome. Paul praises the Romans for their faith. (Wikipedia, Epistle to the Romans)

Paul is unashamed of his gospel that he preaches, because he believes that it holds power. He notes in this section that he is talking to the Jews first. Paul begins the body of the letter by telling the people that some among them have became ungodly and wicked and the consequence will be the wrath from God. (Romans, 1:18) He states that they have taken the image of God and made him an idol. Paul uses heavy teachings from the Jewish Book Wisdom of Solomon. Paul uses the idol worship system for the same reason that he used the Jewish law later in the Gospel, which was to unite people under Christ. (Wikipedia, Epistle to the Romans)

In Paul’s judgment of hypocrites he calls out Jews who are putting down others who are following the law, as where they are not following the law either. In Paul’s assurance of salvation, he argues in chapters five though eight that believers can be assured of their salvation, because they have been freed from the bondage of sin.