Writer: Paul
Date: AD 56-58
Place Written: Corinth
Purpose: To make a comprehensive statement of God’s plan for man and to correct
some problems between Jews and Gentiles in Rome. A possible minor purpose is to
prepare the church in Rome for Paul’s coming visit.
Emphases: Grace, faith, righteousness, justification
Outlines:
1. Sin (1-3)
2. Salvation (4-8)
3. Sovereignty (9-11)
4. Service (12-16)
1. Introduction (1:1-17)
2. Need for Redemption (1:18-3:20)
3. Manifestation of Redemption (3:21-8:39)
4. Redemption and the Jew (9:1-11:36)
5. Practical Aspects of Redemption (12:1-15:13)
6. Conclusion (15:14-16:27)
Other Points:
1. We don’t know anything about
the establishment of the church in Rome. However,
a. It seems fairly certain that an apostle
did not establish the church there (15:20).
b. Acts 2:10-11 mentions visitors from Rome
(both Jew & Jewish converts) at Pentecost. It
is likely that
Jews who were converted at Pentecost returned to Rome and established
the
congregation. However, that is not certain.
2. Paul wrote to a mixed audience (i.e., part of the audience was Jewish and another part was
Gentile).
a. Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome
(Acts 18:2).
b. It seems that prior to this expulsion
there were many Jewish Christians in the church.
1) When the Jews were forced to leave, the
Gentiles then took over.
2) The expulsion did not last long;
Claudius died a few years after he issued the
edict, and by Roman law, the edict was no longer valid.
3) Upon Claudius’ death, many Jews returned to Rome and rejoined the
congregation there.
4) That seems to have been a period of extreme tension in the congregation, for Paul
spends the first three chapters demonstrating that both Jews and Gentiles are
sinners (1:21-23; 2:17-24; 3:9-12).
3. Characteristics
of Romans:
a. This is the most formal of all Paul’s
epistles.
b. It is universal in its scope; i.e., it
discusses both Jews and Gentiles at length.
c. The book is systematic and logical in
its arrangement.
d. Language: great energy, but without
vehemence.
e. The book is profoundly doctrinal—but
it’s mostly about salvation, not so much about
Christ, or the church, or last things.
f. More quotations from Old Testament than in other epistles; someone said there were 61
OT quotations from 14 different OT books.
g. Throughout Christian history, it has been regarded as the cornerstone of Christian
theology.
1) Luther, for example, is quoted as
saying, “If you get Romans, God gets you.”
2) It is often thought of more as a
theological “treatise” or “tractate” than a letter.
This handout includes material from, Kippy Myers, PhD, professor at Freed-Hardeman University, Coy Roper, PhD, retired professor from Heritage Christian University, and some material I have developed.