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CHAPTER 45 – Romans: Approx. 58 A.D.

The epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans is the forty-fifth book of the Bible. The title of the book in Greek in the earliest manuscripts is Pros Rhomaious meaning “To the Romans.” Later manuscripts enlarged the title to “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans” and this is the title in some English Bible versions.

Authorship

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, is the author of the book, The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans. It was probably written not later than 58 A.D.

Summary and Analysis

The book of Romans is actually a letter (epistle) written by the apostle Paul to the Christian church at the city of Rome in Italy. It was probably written from the city of Corinth in what is modern-day Greece during Paul’s brief stay there on his Third Missionary Journey.

The letter begins with greetings, and Paul then expresses his interest in the Christian believers in Rome and his earnest desire to visit them. Paul next puts forth the utter failure of the Gentiles (non-Jews) to attain to righteousness, thus proving that they are all guilty of sin before God. After this, Paul shows that the Jews, whom God had made custodians of the Scriptures, were equally guilty of sin before God.

Next, Paul begins to speak about “the law” (Romans 2:12) which is, broadly speaking, the first five books of the Bible that were written by Moses (the Pentateuch), also called “the law of Moses.” Joshua 8:31. Specifically though, “the law” (Romans 2:12) refers to “the ten commandments” (Exodus 34:28) which were spoken audibly by God to ancient Israel, and which were written by God Himself on “two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.” Exodus 31:18.

The context of what Paul says will usually indicate which “law” (Romans 2:12) he is referring to, whether the Pentateuch or “the ten commandments.” Exodus 34:28. When there is ambiguity, we can understand Paul to be referring to both the Pentateuch and “the ten commandments.” Exodus 34:28. Why? Because the Pentateuch includes “the ten commandments” and it is largely an amplification by God of “the ten commandments” (Exodus 34:28) and how to keep it.

Now, in order to understand the New Testament, which includes the book of Romans, we must recognise that Paul, who is one of the writers of the New Testament, makes a clear distinction between “the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:20), also called “the works of the law” (Romans 9:32), and “righteousness by faith.” Galatians 5:5. Of note, and a most important point to grasp, is Paul’s shorthand way of making this distinction by contrasting “the law” (Romans 2:12) and “faith.” Romans 1:17.

So, Paul declares that people are “justified by faith” (Romans 3:28), where “justification” (Romans 4:25), also called “righteousness by faith” (Galatians 5:5), means that one is now in right standing before God. They are not justified by “the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:20), Paul says. Paul then gives an example by describing how Abraham was “justified by faith.” Romans 3:28. In other words, righteousness was imputed (reckoned) to Abraham by God without “the works of the law” (Romans 9:32) because, in addition to Abraham’s repentance, he had faith in God’s promises.

What exactly is “the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:20), that is to say, what is “the works of the law” (Romans 9:32)? It is when an individual who is in their “natural” (1 Corinthians 2:14), “carnal” (Romans 7:14), worldly state, and who is therefore lacking the aid of the Holy Spirit, seeks to keep God’s law of love by doing what is good. Such an attempt at righteousness will always fail “because the carnal [worldly] mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7.

For it is ONLY when “the love of God is shed abroad [poured] in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5) that we can keep God’s law of love by doing “good works.” Matthew 5:16. Otherwise, all that we do are “dead works” (Hebrews 6:1) since it is tainted and polluted with sin. That is, no matter how good the intentions, and how hard we try to do good, all that we do in our carnal, worldly state, is sin, even if, to all outward appearances, it seems good.

Paul then makes the argument that sin entered the world through Adam and sin brought condemnation to all humanity because every human being has inherited Adam’s disposition to sin and, therefore, they too sin. However, Paul declares that righteousness is possible for every individual because of the obedience of one man, that is, because of Jesus Christ’s obedience to God’s law of love.

For, Jesus, in His life on earth, was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.” Hebrews 7:26. That is, the love that is poured in our hearts by the Holy Spirit is the same love that existed in the heart of Jesus Christ, who is humanity’s “faultless” (Jude 1:24) Representative in the sight of God.

After this, Paul develops the theme that sin does not have dominion over those who have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and, are, therefore, under grace (God’s unmerited favour). Paul then shows that every human being in their natural, carnal condition has an inner conflict between their intention to do right and their inability to do right. To such an individual it seems as if this a dilemma from which there is no escape, but Paul thanks God that through Jesus Christ there is, in fact, a way of escape.

Next, Paul explains the way in which the individual may overcome inward corruption and sin through Christ and, specifically, through the work of the Holy Spirit. He then addresses God’s rejection of the nation of Israel as God’s chosen people, and God’s consequent calling of the Gentiles (non-Jews) to be His people.

Paul states that Israel’s rejection was due to their insistence in pursuing the works of the law instead of seeking righteousness by faith. Next, Paul makes it clear that, though Israel as a nation has been rejected by God, individual Jews can be saved by God, if they meet God’s requirements for receiving righteousness by faith from God.

After this, Paul calls upon every person to present themselves to God be transformed by God, to use the gifts they receive by the grace of God to minister to others, and to respond to any evil done to them with good deeds. In addition, Paul calls upon everyone to be subject to the governing powers as these powers have been ordained by God, to love others, and to be careful not to cause those weak in faith to stumble in their spiritual journey with God.

In conclusion, Paul repeats his intention to visit the Christian church at Rome and sends greetings to a number of people my name. He warns the church against being deceived by false teachers, conveys greetings from his fellow Christian workers, blesses the church at Rome, and lastly, expresses his praise of God.

Themes

• The universal sinfulness of humanity and, hence, their falling short of God’s glorious ideal of holiness for humanity.
• All humanity under the condemnation of God because of their sins.
• Only God can cause humanity to cease from sinning.
• The grace (unmerited favour) of God in providing a way by which sinners may not only be forgiven of their sins, but also attain to righteousness.
• No excuse for sin.
• The impossibility and helplessness of humanity to escape their sinfulness in their natural, depraved condition.
• The need for repentance.
• The contrast between the works of the law and righteousness by faith.
• Abraham as an example of a person who attained to righteousness by faith.
• Christian greetings to godly, fervent workers in the church.
• A description of false teachers.
• Love for others fulfills God’s law of love.
• Missionary plans.
• Spiritual gifts from God enabling the individual recipient to minister to others according to God’s will.

God as Revealed in the Book

• The work of the Holy Spirit in the transformation of humanity from sinfulness to holiness.
• The work of Christ in overcoming sin on behalf of humanity.
• God as the One who rejected the nation of Israel and instead called the Gentiles (non-Jews) to be His people.

Connections with the Rest of the Bible

“Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one [among humanity].” Job 14:4. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13:23. “If thou, LORD [God], shouldest mark [take note of] iniquities [wickedness], O Lord [God], who [among humanity] shall stand [be acquitted in God’s judgment of humanity]? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared [reverenced].” Psalm 130:3, 4.

“Thou, O Lord [God], art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalm 86:15. “For the LORD [God] is our judge, the LORD [God] is our lawgiver, the LORD [God] is our king; he will save us [to eternal life].” Isaiah 33:22. “Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.” Psalm 47:6.

Spiritual Applications

Pray to God sincerely and ask God to help you to do His will, believing that God will help you, and thus you will be enabled to make the spiritual applications noted below:

• Seek righteousness by faith by “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21.
• Make no excuse for your sin.
• Beware of false teachers.
• Use your spiritual gifts to minister to others according to God’s will.
• Make missionary plans to spread the gospel of Christ to the world.
• Have true love for others and so fulfill God’s law of love.
• Obey the governing powers where their requirements do not conflict with God’s law of love.
• Do not cause those weak in faith in God to stumble in their spiritual journey with God.

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