Romans.
The Author. Paul, the author, was a Hebrew by descent, a native of
Tarsus in Cilicia, and educated by Gamaliel, the great Pharisaic
teacher. He was one of the most unmerciful persecutors of the early
Christians, but was converted by the sudden appearance to him of the
risen Lord. He began preaching at Damascus, but on account of
persecution went into Arabia. Returning from Arabia he visited
Jerusalem and Damascus, and then went to Cilicia, where he doubtless
did evangelistic work until Barnabas sought him at Tarsus and brought
him to Antioch, where he worked a year with Barnabas. After this they
went up to Jerusalem with contributions for the brethren. Upon return
to Antioch he was called by the Holy Ghost to mission work in which he
continued till his death, making at least three great missionary
journeys, during which and afterward he suffered "one long martyrdom"
till his death.
Paul's Epistles. Paul's epistles are commonly put into four groups as
follows: (1) _The Eschatological group_, or those dealing with the
second coming of Christ. These are I. and II. Thessalonians and were
written from Corinth about 62 to 63 A. D. (2) _The Anti-Judaic group_,
or those growing out of controversy with Judaistic teachers. They are
I. Corinthians. II. Corinthians, Galatians and Romans, written during
the third Missionary journey, probably at Ephesus, Philippi, and
Corinth. (3) _The Christological group_, which center their teachings
around the character and work of Jesus, and were written during the
imprisonment at Rome. They are Philippians, Colossians, Philemon,
Ephesians, and Hebrews (many think Paul did not write Hebrews). (4)
_The Pastoral Group_, or those written to young preachers touching
matters of church organization and government and practical
instructions concerning evangelists, pastors, and other Christian
workers. They are 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus.
All of Paul's epistles, unless it be Hebrews, fall very naturally into
five sections, as follows: (1) An introduction, which may contain a
salutation, usually including the subject of the epistle and the name
of those with Paul as co-laborers at the time of the writing, and a
thanksgiving for the good character or conduct of those whom he
addresses. (2) A Doctrinal Section, in which he discusses some great
Christian teaching, which needs special emphasis as the case of the
church or individual addressed. (3) A Practical Section, in which he
sets forth the practical application of the principles discussed in
the doctrinal section to the life of those addressed. (4) A Personal
Section, in which are personal messages and salutations sent to and by
various friends. (5) A Conclusion, in which may be found a benediction
or autograph conclusion to authenticate the letter, maybe both, with
other closing words.
The Occasion of the Roman Epistle. (1) Paul longed to go to Rome (Acts
19:21) and now hoped soon to do so (Romans 15:24-33). He may,
therefore, have wished them to know of his doctrine before his
arrival, especially as they had perhaps heard some false reports of
it. (2) It was just after he wrote Galatians and Paul's mind was full
of the doctrine of justification, and he may have desired to write
further upon the subject, giving special emphasis to the Divine side
of the doctrine as he had given to the human side of it in Galatians.
(3) Then, too, he may have been misunderstood in Galatians and desired
to enlarge upon his teaching. In Galatians man is justified by
believing, in Romans God gives his own righteousness to the believer
for his justification. (4) Phoebe, a woman of influence and Christian
character, a friend of Paul, was about to go to Rome from the coasts
of Corinth, and Paul not only had a good opportunity to send the
letter, but could do her a service by way of introducing her (16:1-2).
The Church at Rome. It was doubtless in a very prosperous condition
the time of Paul's writing. It was perhaps organized by some Jews
heard and believed while at Jerusalem, probably on the day of
Pentecost. While its membership included both Jews and Gentiles (1:6-
13; 7:1), it was regarded by Paul as especially a Gentile church (1:3-
7; 13-15).
Some Errors of Doctrine and Practice Had Crept in Which Needed
Correction. (1) They seem to have misunderstood Paul's teachings and
to have charged that he taught that the greater the sin the greater
the glory of God (3:8). (2) They may have thought him to teach that we
should sin in order to get more grace (6:1) and, therefore, may have
made his teaching of justification by faith an excuse for immoral
conduct. (3) The Jews would not recognize the Gentile Christians as
equal with them in Christ's Kingdom (1:9, 29, etc.). (4) Some of the
Gentile brethren, on the other hand, looked with contempt upon their
narrow and prejudiced and bigoted Jewish brethren (14:3). (5) Paul,
therefore, aimed to win the Jews to Christian truth and the Gentiles
to Christian love.
Paul's Connection With the Church. He had never been there up to this
time (1:11, 13, 15) and it is not likely that any other apostles had
been there. For then Paul would have not have been planning to go
since his rule was not to go where another had worked (15:20; 2 Cor.
10:14-16). This strikes a heavy blow at Catholicism, claiming that
Peter was first bishop of Rome. If Paul would not have followed him,
then Peter had not been there, and the most important test of papacy
is overthrown. Paul had, however, many intimate friends and
acquaintances at Rome, many of whom were mentioned in chapter 16.
Among them were his old friends, Aquila and Priscilia.
The Argument of the Book. The doctrines of the book are considered and
discussed under four main propositions: (1) All men are guilty before
God (Jews and Gentiles alike). (2) All men need a Savior. (3) Christ
died for all men. (4) We all, through faith, are one body in Christ.
Date. Probably from Corinth, about A. D. 58.
Theme. The gift of the righteousness of God as our justification which
is received through faith in Christ, or justification by faith.
Analysis.
Introduction, 1:1-17.
I. All Men Need of Righteousness, 1:18-3:20.
II. All Men May Have Righteousness by Faith in Christ (justification)
3:21-4 end.
III. All Who Are Thus Justified Will Be Finally Sanctified, Chs. 5-8.
The believer's final redemption is thus guaranteed.
1. By the new relation to God which this righteousness gives. Ch.
5.
2. By the new realms of grace into which it brings him, Ch. 6 (no
death in this realm).
3. By the nature given him, Ch. 7. This wars against the old nature
and will win.
4. By the new possession (the Holy Spirit) which it gives, Ch. 8:1-
27.
5. By the foreordained purpose of God for them, 8:28-39.
IV. This Doctrine as Related to the Rejection of the Jews, chs. 9-11.
1. The justice of their rejection, 9:1-29.
2. The cause of their rejection, 9:30-10 end.
3. The limitations of their rejection, ch. 11.
V. The Application of This Doctrine to Christian Life, 12:1-15:13.
1. Duty to God-consecration, 12-12.
2. Duty to self-a holy life, 12:3 end.
3. Duty to state authorities-honor, 13:1-7.
4. Duty to society-love all, 13:8-10.
5. Duty as to the Lord's return-watchfulness, 13:11-14.
6. Duty to the weak -helpfulness and forbearance, 14:1-15:13.
Conclusion. 15:14-16 end. (1) Personal matters, 14:14 end. (2)
Farewell greetings and warnings, ch. 16.
For Study and Discussion. (1) The greeting (1:1-7). What does it
reveal about, (a) The call, duty and standing of an apostle or
preacher? (b) The standing, privileges and duties of a church, or
individual Christian? (c) The relation of the old dispensation to the
new? (d) Christ's diety or his Messiahship in fulfillment of prophecy?
(e) The different persons of the Trinity? (2) Study sin as described
in 3:10-18, and what can be learned concerning: (a) The state of sin,
(b) The practice of sin, (c) The reason for sin. (3) Abraham as an
example of justification by faith, ch. 4. (4) The plan and method by
which God rescues men from sin, 5:6-11. (5) The contrast between Adam
and Christ. 5:12-31. Do we get more in Christ than we lost in Adam?
(6) Why a matter under grace should not continue in sin, 6:1-14. (7) A
converted man's relation to the law. 7:1-6. (8) The different things
done for us by the Holy Spirit, 8:1-27. (9) The practical duties of a
Christian, ch. 12. (10) Make a list of the following "key-words,"
showing how many times and were each occurs, and outline form the
scripture references the teachings about each. Power, sin and
unrighteousness, righteousness, justification, faith and belief,
atonement, redemption, adoption, propitiation, election,
predestination.
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