***BIBLE STUDY BOOK OF ROMANS***

INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTER OF ROMANS

BACKGROUND

In Paul's time, literally all roads led to Rome. It was the heart of the
Roman Empire, and Paul had long longed to visit the city (Acts.
19:21 ), but after almost ten years of missionary journeys, it had
been impossible for him to fulfill his desire (Rom 1:13). Paul hoped
that once he arrived in Rome, the Christians there would help him
take the gospel to the western reaches of the empire (Rom 15:28).
When Paul learned that Phoebe, from the region of Corinth (Rom
16:1), was going to Rome on business, he sent this letter with her, to
share his vision with the believers in Rome, and in the hope of
mobilizing them in his missionary cause. Paul himself was not going
to arrive in Rome until about three years later, when he arrived there
as a prisoner of Rome and was left to live under house arrest (Acts.
28).
Paul also saw this letter as an opportunity to help Roman believers
better ground themselves in the essential principles of their faith.
All of Paul's letters were carried by friends. The Roman postal
system was only for Paul's official correspondence,
AUTHOR
Paul, the great apostle of the Gentiles. Born Saul in the Cilician city
of Tarsus, Paul was Jewish by birth, Roman by citizenship, and
Greek by culture. Educated as a Pharisee, he was dramatically
converted to Christ (Acts. 9; 22; 26) and became the most prominent
evangelist as well as the most prominent theologian of the early
church. Luke tells the story of Paul's life and ministry in the book of
Acts.
Paul himself explains the faith in Christ that fueled that ministry in
his 13 letters (Romans to Philemon). Some scholars also believe
that he was the author of Hebrews.
DATE AND PLACE
Late winter of 57 AD or in the early spring of 58, some 22 years after
Paul's conversion during the last three months of his third
missionary journey, while in Greece (Acts. 20:3), just before
returning to Jerusalem with an offering for the poor (Rom 15:26).
More specifically, he was probably in Corinth, in the house of Gaius
(Rom 16:23;1 Cor.1:14).
RECIPIENTS
Romans addresses those "called to be of Jesus Christ...in Rome"
(Rom 1:67).
They were small groups of believers who met throughout the city
(Rom 16:3-5, 10-11, 14-15). Paul's personal greetings to many of
them (Rom 16:3-16) suggest that Paul had led them to Christ in
other places, and then, probably for economic reasons, they had
taken up residence in the capital city of the empire.
PURPOSE
• Announce your plans to visit Christians in Rome and mobilize
support for your mission (Rom 15:24, 28-29).
• Teach the fundamental doctrine of salvation to strengthen them
against the Judaizers (Rom 1-8).
• Explain Israel's unbelief and vindicate God's faithfulness in his
dealings with the nation (Rom 9-11)
UNIQUE FEATURES
• Romans is the most complete summary of Christian doctrine. If the
entire Bible except Romans were lost, hardly any fundamental
doctrine would be affected.
• In explaining the gospel in Romans, Paul quoted from the OT more
frequently than in all of his other 12 epistles combined, showing how
important the OT is to understanding the gospel.
• Give practical instruction for the Christian life (Rom 12-16)
COMPARISON WITH OTHER BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
Genesis:
• In Genesis, Abraham is the patriarch of Israel; in Romans he is the
patriarch of all those who believe (4:16).
Galatians:
• Galatians, with its treatment of justification by faith, could be titled:
Romans in Summary."
Santiago:
• Romans shows the root of salvation: faith alone. James shows the
fruit of salvation: good works.
WRITTEN BY MGS JOSE FELIX RIVAS