Courtesy of James Earl Jones(Bible Audio)The Book of Romans
Background:The first of 21 letters found in the NT.
They are very important because they give us an inside view of life in the earliest Christian churches and the teaching of their leaders.Paul had not been to Rome when he wrote this letter.It is the most detailed account of an important part of his teaching :that the only way to be accepted by God was to rely on what Jesus did through his death and resurrection,1-8.In Ch9-11Paul expresses the hope that although the Jews have largely refused this teaching they will one day accept it.Romans follows the pattern of most of Paul's letter:the first teaching and the second practical application in real life.Thus ch12-16speaks of how Christians should behave in the church and in the world.
Author:Paul,great apostle to the Gentile.Born Saul in the Cilician city of Tarsus,Paul was Jewish by birth,Roman citizenship,and Greek by culture.Educated as a Pharisee,he was dramatically converted to to Christ,Ac9:22;26and became the foremost evangelist as well as the foremost theologian of the early church.Luke tells the story of Paul's life and ministry in Acts.Paul himself explains the faith in Christ that propelled that ministry in his 13letters(Romans-Philemon).Some scholars believe he also wrote Hebrews
Date and Location:Late winter of AD57 or early spring of 58,22yrs of Paul's conversion during last 3months of his third missionary journey while in Greece,Ac20:3.More specifically,he was probably in Corinth staying with Gaius,16:23;1Co1:14
Recipients:Christians in Rome
Purpose:
-Annonce his plans to visit and enlist their support,15:24,28,29
-teach fundamental doctrine of salvation,in order to fortify the against Judaizers,1-8
-explain the unbelief of Israel and vindicate God's faithful in his dealing with that nations,9-11
-give practical instruction in Christian living,12-16
Unique Features:
-Most complete summary of Christian doctrine
-Romans did quoted the OT more than his 12,excluding Philemon
-Ro1:20,Greek "the invisible must be understood by the visible"That was not a Hebrew idea, it was Greek
Comparison:see Genesis
Gal.,with its discussion of justification of faith,could be called"Romans in shorthand"
Jas.,Ro., shows root of Salvation:faith alone;Jas. the fruit of Salvation:good works
Abbreviations: Rom./ Ro./ Rm
MV: Lk21:19
Bib1Yr: 2Co12My Infirmities
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