Romans

The Letter of St. Paul to the Romans  

Title: It is an epistle of the apostle to the congregation of Messianic Jews in Rome. 

Date of writing: Before 70 AD: (1) 55 AD (TLSB), Paul did not know the people/congregation and sends them an overview of the dogmatic theology or (2) post 62 AD when he is planning his trip to Spain (15:23-24) being released from the chains of Rome (Acts 28:20).     

Structure:

A. 1:1-7, Greetings

  B. 1:8-12, Thanks for you

    C. 1:13-15, Owes to everyone.

      D. 1:16 – 3:31, Life under sin and condemnation by the Law

        E. 4 – 5, Justification

          F. 6, Gifts of the Spirit in the Baptism, death

            G. 7, Life of a believer in Christ

          F’. 8, Gifts of Spirit in life, sons – birth.

        E’. 9 – 11, Justification of Jews and Gentiles

      D’. 12 – 14, Life under Grace

    C’. 15, Owes to everyone

  B’. 16:1-23, “You” are named

A’. 16:25-27, Conclusion

Main themes:

Power of the Gospel vs. power of sin

Unity of Jews and Gentiles

Law of sin vs. law of Christ

Main Characters:

Paul, also he mentions a list of people (16:1-23): first, the ones from the Roman congregation (16:1-16), then his fellow workers (16:21-23). 

Reflection in other parts of the Bible:

St. Paul builds heavily on the story of patriarchs Abraham (ch. 4 and 5), Isaac, and Jacob and Esau (ch. 9 – 11). Also, he reaches back to the Creation account – to Adam (ch. 5).

The concept of self-sacrifice (12:1) has a “priestly” language (Lev. 1 – 3) as its background. 

Many of the OT quotes of Paul are taken from Psalter. There are few reasons for familiarity of his audience with the psalms – the regular liturgical usage in the synagogal worship life.  

Lutheran teaching:

It is well known fact that Luther had his Evangelical (Gospel) breakthrough while he studied the Letter of St. Paul to Romans. The Lutheran hallmark – the teaching of Justification by Grace through Faith – is based on Scripture as a whole but has its primary source in Romans (AC, IV:3).

Apart from the Justification Romans give a background for teaching on the Christian Baptism (ch. 6 – LC IV:41, 65) and Sanctification (ch. 7 and 8 – SA III, III:36, 40).  

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 569 – In Adam We have all Been One.

LSB 580 – The Gospel Shows the Father’s Grace.

Relevancy of the Book:

There are at least two levels of relevancy of the Letter to Romans: general Christian teaching and foundation for the personal ethics of a believer. First, Paul wrote the letter to the congregation in Rome touching on many aspects of the Christian Dogma: Baptism, Sanctification, Ecclesiology, relationship of Church and State etc.

Second, on the personal level Romans is very important for those who wants to follow Christ’s call in a godly way: not trying to gain God’s favor by fulfilling the Law but joyfully using the instructions as a way of maturation and growth in Christ.      

Memory verses:  

1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jews first and also to the Greeks.

5:8 God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.