Romans Introduction

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Last Updated: Friday, 11 November 2016 02:37
Published: Friday, 11 November 2016 02:37
Written by Wilma Zalabak

Romans for Fiends and Nations

Meaning of Name: The people in Rome.
Rome was the fourth kingdom in Daniel 2. Rome had deported Jews (Acts 18:2). Rome is believed to be represented by the name Babylon in 1 Peter 5:13.

Author: Paul was formerly Saul of Tarsus, from the tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1) like King Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin (1 Samuel 9:21). Paul wanted to go to Rome (Romans 1:11; 15:23-25). Paul was always aware of the grace, or chosenness, given him to be minister of Jesus to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15; Romans 15:15-16). Paul loved the Israelites and wanted to see them saved (Romans 9:1-5; 10:1). Paul wanted to preach where no one had before (Romans 15:20). Paul felt woeful if he couldn’t preach (1 Corinthians 9:16).

Time of Writing
After the Letters of Administration: Thessalonians, Corinthians, Galatians (A.D. 50-56)
First of the Letters of Thought: Romans, Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, Philippians (56-61)
Before the Letters of Mentoring: Timothy, Titus (A.D. 64-68)

Complex Reasoning
Long sentences, argument nesting within argument, wordplay, allegory, odd use of the OT

Theme: Justification/Righteousness by Faith in Order to Be Saved; or, What Are the Human and Divine Parts in the Saving of Humans?

Subthemes: Jews and Non-Jews; Israel’s History

Two Outlines: (Defined by Paul’s logical argument)
1. Introduction (1:1-15)
2. Failure of Humans – I Can’t (1-7)
3. Victory of God – God Can (8-11)
4. Practical Applications – I Decide to Let Him (12-15)
5. Conclusion (15:14-16:27)

1. Introduction (1:1-17)
2. The Primary Logic (1:18-4:25)
3. The Progress of the Logic (5:1-8:39)
4. The Puzzle in History (9:1-11:36)
5. The Power for Living (12:1-15:13)
6. Conclusion (15:14-16:27)

Memorable Chapters
Romans 1: Non-Jews are sinners
Romans 2: Jews are sinners
Romans 3: All are sinners
Romans 6: Baptism
Romans 7: Christian struggles
Romans 8: Victory in Christ
Romans 9-10: Righteousness
Romans 12: Spiritual Gifts

Key Verses
Romans 1:17: The just shall live by faith
Romans 3:23: All have sinned
Romans 5:1: We have peace with God
Romans 6:23: Wages of sin is death
Romans 7:12: The Law is holy and just and good
Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation
Romans 8:28: All things work together for good
Romans 10:4: Christ is the end of the law for righteousness
Romans 13:8-10: Love fulfills the law
Romans 14:23: Whatever is not of faith is sin

Key Words
1.    Just, Justify, Justified, Justifier, Justification, Righteousness (dikeo)
      Sanctify (hagiazo) (only in Romans 15:16; also in Job 1:5; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11; 7:14)
      Glorify, Magnify (doxazo) (Romans 1:21; 15:6, 9: toward God; Romans 8:17, 30: toward humans; Romans 11:13: not of interest here)
2.    Impute, Imputed (logizomai) (seven times in Romans 4:6, 8, 11, 22, 23-24; 5:13)
      Counted, Reckoned, Reckon, Think, Conclude, Account, Esteem (logizomai) (Romans 2:3; 3:28; 4:3-5, 9-10; 6:11; 8:18, 36; 9:8; 14:14)
       Impart, Give (metadidomi) (Romans 1:11; 12:8)
3.    Sin (hamartia): Think of many different meanings: act, choice, evil, breaking the law, breaking a commandment, breaking the first commandment, separation from God, habits and education in separation from God, birth in a country separated from God or ruled by evil, children of lawbreaking ancestors, “whatever is not of faith” (Romans 14:23), “transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4), guilt (Romans 4:8; 5:13)
       Transgression, Breaking, (Lawlessness) (parabasis) (Romans 2:23, 25, 27; 4:15; 5:14)
4.    Law (nomos): Think of many different meanings: Torah, system of rule, rule of right, statement of authority, Ten Commandments, laws of nature like gravity, how something works, habits in the mind, heritage, lifestyle, something that always happens, cause and effect of evil, reap what you sow, “law of works” (Romans 3:27), “law of faith” (Romans 3:27), “law in my members” (Romans 7:23), “law of my mind” (Romans 7:23), “law of sin” (Romans 7:23, 25), “law of God” (Romans 7:25), “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:2), “law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2)
       Commandment (entolee) (Romans 7:7-13, 13:9)
5.     Guilt (hupodikos) (Romans 3:19),
       Condemnation (katakrima) (5:16, 18; 8:1),
       Judgment, Damnation (krima) (Romans 2:2-3; 3:8; 5:16; 11:33; 13:2),
       Offense, Fall (paraptomatos) (Romans 4:25; 5:15-20; 11:11-12)
6.    Elect, Chosen, Election (eklogee) (Acts 9:15; Romans 9:11; 11:5, 7, 28) or (eklektos) (Romans 8:33; 16:13)
       Church (ekkleesia) (Romans 16:1, 4, 5, 16, 23)
7.     Save, Saved, Salvation (soteeria) (Romans 1:16; 10:1, 10; 11:11; 13:11)

Quotes and Echoes
*2 Peter 3:15-16: Peter wrote that "brother Paul" wrote some things "hard to be understood"
*Job 9:20; 11:2; 13:18; 25:4; 27:5; 32:2; 33:32: Justification is a theme in Job
*Galatians 2:16, 17; 3:8, 11, 24; 5:4: Justification is a theme in Galatians
*Acts 9:1-31; 13:1-3; 22:3-21; 26:9-18; 28:16-24; Galatians 1:11-2:10: Paul’s story
*Romans 1:3-4; 4:17; 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 3:16: Creed-like statements
*Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4; 1 Peter 4: Spiritual gifts

Questions
1.    Compare and contrast the courtroom with the campfire in terms of the language used and the forms and structure of the discourse. This difference between receiving information and experience, is the difference between reading Romans and Luke.
2    After reading Romans many times, would say you understand the gospel better now than you did before? Could you help someone else read it and understand it better than you did before?
3.    After reading Romans many times describe what you think Paul was like. Would you try to get a chance to walk with him? or would you hang back? or would you try to avoid him?
4.    Whom could you invite to study with you the Epistle to the Romans?
5.    What does the Epistle to the Romans tell you about God? And about you?

Copyright 2016 Wilma Zalabak