LESSON 1

  TEACHERS OUTLINE

Bibliography

Joseph Fitzmyer, Romans, Anchor Bible Commentary, 1993
Leon Morris, The Epistle to the Romans, IVP, 1998
F. F. Bruce, Romans, Tyndale, 1985

Author, Authenticity, and Date
Few question Pauline authorship and authenticity of Romans, approximately AD 58, Rom 16:18-20

The Occasion
Paul has completed mission work in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Palestine, Rom15:18-20
As Senior ambassador (Apostle) he is outlining his mission credentials
Describing the Gospel he plans to preach in Rome and Spain

The Kind of Letter
Formal letter, ambassadorial and epideictic, not like Galatians (fiercely apologetic)

The Readers or Recipients
Churches in Rome, not Pauline, house churches (Rom 16), ethnically mixed, Jews (Acts 2) and Gentiles, some tensions (Rom 14, 15)

The Message
God is a righteous God (Rom 1:16, 17; 3:21, 22)
He declares Jews and Gentiles righteous the same way, by faith in Jesus, no partiality
No human being can be saved by keeping the Law of Moses
The purpose of the Law of Moses (Torah – God’s instruction) was to clarify sin, and hold men accountable for sin (Rom 3:19, 20; Rom 7:7; Gal 3:19, 20)
Covenant relationship (righteousness = right relationship with God) is established by faith and not law keeping.

Major Lessons from RomansGod is a righteous God who shows no partiality (Rom 1:16, 17; 3:22)

• The whole world (every person) is under the power of sin (Rom 3:9)

• All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and need God’s grace (Rom 3:23, 24)

• Righteousness is a gift from God, cannot be earned, and is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 3:20-24).

• Christians die to the law and sin and are alive in Christ through being united with Christ in baptism (Rom 6:1-11)

• In human effort there is only frustration (Rom 7:24), but in Christ there is now no condemnation (Rom 8:1)

• The whole godhead is working in behalf of Christians so no-one can separate them from the love of God in Christ  (Rom 8:26 - 39).

• God has not rejected Israel, but Israel has rejected God by not accepting the Messiah and living by faith (Rom 9-11).

• There is an appropriate response to God’s grace – Surrendering ones life to God and not being conformed to the world.

• Christians must not judge one another, but welcome (accept) one another just as Christ has welcomed (accepted) them. (Rom 14:1-15:13).

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