Romans the Gospel of God

This study guide centres on the letter of the apostle Paul to the Christians in Rome.

The student should aim to understand what the Gospel really is and that accepting God's salvation is essential for peace of mind in this life and security in the next. There should be an appreciation of what Jesus Christ has achieved for us and the way to enjoy the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer.. We also need to understand the purpose of the law of God. The teaching on justification by faith alone appears in the first half of the letter, with some understanding of God's eternal purposes for us.

In the second part of the letter, Paul addresses his concern for his Jewish compatriots while also expounding God's purposes for everyone under the new regime of the Gospel. We read about the character of spiritual behaviour in the world and the church, the difference between strength and weakness in faith, and the value of Christianity in the world. We also see into Paul's mind regarding his personal plans, and learn something about his friends who had already reached Rome.

Romans stands first among the letters in the New Testament. It wasn't Paul's first letter, which is 1 Thessalonians. It was probably placed first because it provides a foundation for Christian living. Romans contains nearly all the major doctrines. It's a powerful book. It changed the lives of Augustine, Luther, Wesley, and many others. It destroys false teaching such as that of Pelagius and Arius in early times, and that of cults today.

Paul was a religious Pharisee and an intellectual like Moses. Most of his recipients were ignorant and illiterate slaves. He was a Roman citizen, appreciated Greek culture, and lived in a university city. God used him to set Peter straight and to establish the largely Gentile Roman church. The Holy Spirit used Paul's natural gifts. He doesn't put aside gifts God gives from birth. There's no premium on ignorance, and inspiration isn't mechanical.

Paul describes himself first as a servant of Jesus Christ, then as one called to be an apostle and set apart for what he calls the Gospel of God. This shows his humility, his dependence on God and his willing concentration on God's purpose for him. His heart, understanding and will are all involved.

The letter was written around 58 AD. Paul hadn't visited Rome, and Peter or Paul hadn't founded its church. Today's Roman Catholic scholars agree there's no evidence of Peter being in Rome at this time. This list of greetings in chapter 16 gives some idea of the membership. Paul's message to them is one of (Greek) grace and (Hebrew) peace: charis and shalom.

The teaching in the lessons doesn't slavishly follow the recommended texts, but offers alternatives and explains existing commentaries. Broadly, chapters 6 and 7 address possible objections to chapters 1 to 5, and chapter 8 only partially addresses sanctification. Chapters 9 to 11 are not restricted to Jewish questions. The final behavioural chapters are less controversial. Remember, the real major text is the book of Romans itself.