The Epistle to the Romans
Lesson 1
Special English Version
Author, Time, To Whom, Contrast to Galatian
Reading Assignment: Romans 1
Introduction
The Bible has influenced the civilized world more than any other book.
The Epistle to the Romans by the Apostle Paul is a greater part of
this influence
than any other book of the Bible. Romans is a study that displays such powerful
intelligence that it shows a deeper and wiser view of truth than ever thought
up by human minds. Even those who do not believe in inspiration recognize it
as a masterpiece of persuasion and reasoning on the subject of salvation. It
is the most systematic account of God’s plan of redemption from sin.
No other writing has so powerfully influenced the Church from its beginning.
Romans was a most important part in every revival movement in the history of
the Church, because it gave a complete treatment to such doctrines as sin,
salvation, man’s lost and helpless condition, redemption, justification, sanctification,
regeneration, glorification and the effectiveness of Christ’s atoning death.
The Epistle of Romans became the most important book of the Reformation and changed
the life of Martin Luther. Martin Luther called Romans “The Masterpiece
of the New Testament.”
May God bless you as you begin your studies of this remarkable book.
I trust you will find it inspiring and that it will change your life.
You will find
much information and teaching in this book.
Importance of this Lesson
- This first lesson teaches us who wrote the epistle, the time
that person wrote it and the place from which and to which he wrote
it. It will tell you about the people to whom the writer wrote it.
It will also show differences between Romans and Galatians.
- To understand
these things completely will make the book even more valuable to
you and will add great depth to your stud
The Lesson
I. THE WRITER OF THE BOOK OF ROMANS
- Since
the beginning of church history all people have accepted the fact that
Paul wrote the book of Romans. There is no doubt that Romans
was written by the Apostle Paul. From the introduction to the benediction
it is filled with words that Paul used all the time. It is full of
his special phrases. We can see Paul’s personality and beliefs
in this book. It is the most completely “Pauline” of
all the epistles. Dr. James M. Stifler says that Paul wrote the book.
He
says, “No other book in the New Testament is better attested.”
- Evidence
in the epistle itself.
- The Holy Spirit did not use an uneducated
fisherman or common person to write the greatest book on salvation
presenting a gospel
for every
person because everyone needs it. Paul possessed a giant mind
that was flexible, wise, reasonable, and able to give strong reasons
for what
he said.
- He was born as a Roman citizen in the city of Tarsus.
Tarsus was a proud city and a great center of education. In this
city
Paul learned
well both the Greek and Roman way of life.
- He was also born
a Jew, a Hebrew, and he received a thorough education from a
famous teacher by the name of Gamaliel who
lived in the city
of Jerusalem.
- With such an education and with his international
outlook, it is easy to see why God chose him to write this deepest
epistle in which the glorious
Gospel of Christ is preached to all the nations, Romans 1:5,16.
II. THE TIME PAUL WROTE THE BOOK
OF ROMANS
To verify this we will give you the opinions of several well-know Bible
teachers.
- B.H. Carroll – He says that we can determine the date
by the connection between Corinthians and Galatians. In 2 Corinthians
and Galatians
Paul answers those people who object to his authority as an apostle.
The evidence of the book of Romans itself shows us that without doubt
it follows Galatians. (We will discuss a contrast of these epistles
in the lesson.) Paul wrote Romans from the house of Gaius in Corinth
about
58 A.D.
- J. Vernon McGee says that certain names point clearly to Corinth
as the place Paul wrote the epistle to the Romans. The time was probably
the spring of the year 58 A.D. We can see the shameful sinfulness of
the Gentiles of Rome in the picture Paul draws of the city of Corinth
of his day.
- Norman Bartlett writes that it is the general opinion of
qualified experts that Romans was written from Corinth in the winter
of 57-58
A.D. During the close of his third missionary journey, just before
his visit
to Jerusalem, Paul spent several months relaxing somewhat in the home
of Gaius, a wealthy merchant.
- W.S. Hottel writes that Bible teachers
generally agree that this epistle was written from Corinth when Paul
visited Greece the second
time (Acts
20:2,3), during his third missionary journey.”
- From all the comments
above, you will understand that Paul wrote Romans from the city
of Corinth, which is located in Greece. Paul wrote it
at about the end of his third missionary journey. He most probably wrote
it during the cold period of the year 57-58 A.D., while he visited
in the home of Gaius. He called Gaius his host in Romans 16:23.
- According to
Acts 18:11, Paul spent a year and a half in Corinth during that
period of time. Paul certainly needed that much free time to write
such a masterpiece as Romans.
III. THE PEOPLE TO WHOM PAUL WROTE THE BOOK
It is clear from the book itself that Paul wrote this great epistle to
the believers in the city of Rome.
- Romans 1:7 – “To all
that be in Rome, beloved of God, called (to be) saints…”
- Romans
1:15 – “So, as much as in me is, I am ready
to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.”
- Who were
the “saints” at Rome? (Since the English KJV
uses the word “saints” an explanation is needed here.)
- When Paul wrote this book he had never been in Rome, “…often
times I purposed to come unto you, (but was let (prevented)
hitherto) that I might have some fruit among you also…” (Romans
1:13). This verse shows us that Paul desired to go to Rome
but the Lord had
prevented him from visiting that city.
- There is absolutely
no proof in history that the apostle Peter ever visited
Rome. Thus, Peter did not establish the church in Rome. Peter
was never the head of the church in Rome, as many people want us
to believe.
- This church seems to be different from other churches because
no apostle founded it. In
Romans 15:20, Paul states plainly “…I strived to preach
the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build
on another man’s
foundation.”
- Some of the verses in chapter 1
clearly suggest that the people
in this church were mostly Gentiles.
They
were strong in the faith.
- Romans 1:13 – “…that
I might have some fruit
among you also even as among
other Gentiles.”
- Romans
1:8 – “I thank my God…that
your faith is spoken of throughout the whole
world.”
- It is interesting
that in other epistles Paul strongly
advises Jews to accept Gentiles. In Romans, it is the opposite.
Paul tells Christian
Gentiles that God did not cancel His
purposes
for Israel and that Jewish believers are also “in
Christ.”
- Where did the believers in Rome come from?
- There is no clear statement
in the Bible concerning the origin of this church. The Bible
does not tell us how so many believers,
especially Gentiles, had moved to Rome. We can only guess at some possibilities.
- Among the thousands gathered in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost
there were many Gentiles who had accepted
the Jewish
beliefs.
These people heard Peter’s great sermon and
doubtless some believed in Christ. These new Christians
probably
carried the
gospel back
to Rome.
- The terrible persecution of the Church
after Stephen’s
message and death as a martyr probably caused many
Christian Jews and Gentiles
to move to Rome.
- It is possible that some of the
Gentile and Jewish believers in Rome received Christ
in other
cities
as a result of
Paul’s
preaching on his great missionary journeys. Possibly
some of the believers in Rome
knew Paul and some others did not know him.
- Keep
in mind that the Roman government built very
good roads throughout its empire. Traffic
to and from
Rome was heavy.
- Some of Paul’s
family, including his mother, lived in Rome
and believed in Christ before Paul did
(Romans 16:7,12,13).
- How did Paul know so much about this
church before his visit to Rome?
- Paul learned
much about Rome by working with Acquila and Priscilla, who were
Jewish tentmakers.
Paul lived
with them in Corinth for a while.
Emperor Claudius had sent all believers
away and did not allow them to return to Rome
(Acts 18).
- Many Romans came under the influence
of the Gospel because of Paul’s
fruitful ministry in Cilicia, Asia, Macedonia
and Achaia. The epistle clearly shows
us that Paul
had many friends
among Asian
(Gentile)
believers.
IV. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BOOK OF
ROMANS AND GALATIANS
- We insert this here because most
Bible teachers agree that Paul wrote Galatians before Romans.
This helps us to know the time he wrote
the
epistle to the Romans. This also helps us to know the difference
between the two epistles.
- In Galatians Paul strongly defends the Gospel.
In Romans Paul declares
and explains the Gospel.
- Paul wrote Galatians in a hurry. He wrote
Romans over a long period of time.
- Paul wrote Galatians in the fight
against false teachers. He wrote Romans for the classroom with calm,
carefully thought-out phrases.
- Galatians is the work of a fighting
evangelist. Romans is the work of an intelligent college professor.
- In Galatians, Paul is on the battlefield, fighting with people who
wanted to put believers back under the Jewish laws. These people
wanted
to corrupt the gospel of Christ. In Romans, Paul is calmly stating
and explaining the doctrines of the Christian faith.
- After Paul
wrote the epistle to the Galatians, he felt that he needed
to give a full explanation of the doctrines he preached. That
is exactly what Paul did in Romans.
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