Introduction

‘I keep six honest serving-men (They taught me all I knew); their names are, What and Why and When and How and Where and Who’. Rudyard Kipling.

In approaching any book in the Bible, it is good to remember this little rhyme, because it will impress upon us the importance of first taking the basic questions.

Author

In the case of Romans, we need not spend much time on the question of who the writer was, because we are well enough acquainted with him, we know him as Paul the Apostle, Romans 1:1. However, Paul, the inspired author, dictated this epistle to a scribe, Tertius, Romans 16:22, which ensures accuracy in the writing.

Of course, it is always possible that someone else used the name of Paul to gain acceptance of a letter that Paul did not write, but in this case, we may dismiss such a suggestion immediately, because the letter carries internal evidence of its genuineness as a letter from the apostle.

Without spending time on this point, it is enough to say that the style of writing, the language, vocabulary, the personal references, and the doctrines it teaches.

Indeed, the very atmosphere and feel of the letter declares it to be a genuine letter from Paul himself. So much so, that there has seldom, if ever, been a serious attempt to deny the Pauline authorship.

The Recipients

The title says, ‘to the Romans’, at least, in all the versions available today. And I do not doubt that this is absolutely accurate. However, it is a curious fact that there are a few ancient manuscripts in which the word, ‘Rome’, is found in Romans 1:7 and Romans 1:15, but the word is omitted.

These are the only two places in the letter where the destination of the letter is actually named. However, there has never been any doubt that it was written by Paul, to the brethren in Rome.

Date

There is a strong indication that the letter was written in Corinth on the third missionary tour which was about 57 or 58 A.D. Paul was taking the contribution of the churches of Macedonia and Achaia to the poor saints in Jerusalem, Romans 15:25-26.

Paul and certain other brethren were in Corinth on the third missionary tour at this time and were on their way to Jerusalem with the offering for the poor saints, Acts 19:22 / Acts 20:3-4 / Acts 20:16 / Acts 24:17-18.

It was probably written at Corinth because the names of two people associated with the city are mentioned as being present with Paul at the time of writing, Romans 16:23 / 1 Corinthians 1:14 / Acts 19:22 / 2 Timothy 4:20.

Who Established The Church In Rome?

The church had existed for many years, Romans 15:23, however, it certainly wasn’t Paul himself who established the church, because he makes that clear for us in Romans 1:11-15, and Romans 15:22-24, and it is unlikely to have been any other apostle, Romans 1:11.

The Gospel was most probably carried to Rome by some of those who had been present in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost when Peter preached the Gospel to its fullness for the first time and 3000 responded to the message. Acts 2:10 records that there were present ‘visitors from Rome’.

The Church In Rome

Rome was the greatest centre of the world at this time, the capital of the Empire, and that being the case, all roads led both from and to Rome, so it is not difficult to believe that the Gospel would very quickly find its way there. This is why, when Paul eventually reached Rome, he was met by the brethren, in all probability, some of those who read this very letter.

In Romans 16, we see that many of those who were members of the church in Rome were people who had been associated with Paul, at one time or another, as he had gone about his work in other parts of the empire.

We notice, for example, his old travelling companions in Romans 16:3. Epenetus in Romans 16:5. He had been converted in Asia, in Ephesus, but, like Aquila and Priscilla, had found his way to Rome. And so had certain of Paul’s own relatives, mentioned in Romans 16:7.

Indeed, he mentions several others who had worked hard for the faith and who had been his fellow workers. And, since he has never been to Rome himself, they must have associated with him elsewhere.

The church in Rome had great faith, in fact their faith was known throughout the world, Romans 1:8. The Roman church became a strong church, Romans 1:18 / Romans 15:1, and was known for its excellent reputation, throughout the Roman world, Romans 16:19.

They were a mature church, Romans 15:14 and within it there were relatives of Paul who became Christians before he did, Romans 16:7. The church also had members who were serving in Caesar’s household, Romans 16:8 / Philippians 4:22.

In Romans 16 Paul mentions at least twenty-six friends, relatives, and co-workers. It is interesting to note that in Romans 16, no fewer than ten women are mentioned. This indicates the effect that Christianity was having on the status of women in New Testament times.

Problems In The Church

The church needed to be instructed on how to live as Christians in the pagan culture of Rome. They had also to be taught the meaning of Christian liberty, and what it meant to be ‘free in Christ’, Romans 5 / Romans 8. Because of the differing cultures of the Jews and Gentiles in the church, several doctrinal issues needed to be addressed.

The first issue that needed to be addressed concerned the Jewish attitude towards Gentiles. Paul pointed out that in God’s eyes there is no difference because both were under sin and in need of God’s righteousness.

This righteousness comes only through faith, not by ‘law-keeping’ i.e., observing the Mosaic Law and that God accepts the Gentiles and has extended the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles.

The obstacle to Gentile salvation was that Jewish believers insisted that Gentile converts needed to become Jewish proselytes first, before accepting the Gospel of Jesus.

Common Jewish belief was that the Mosaic Law was the expression of God’s Will, and binding on all those who desired to become righteous in His eyes, the first step involved circumcision. Because Christianity was seen by all as a Jewish religion, certain Jewish leaders were determined it should remain so.

Why Was The Letter Written?

There are several reasons which we may assign for the writing the letter. Notice that unlike other letters, such as the Corinthian letters or the letter to the Galatians, it was not written to correct doctrinal error or improper behaviour.

It was written inform the Roman Christians that Paul planned to come to Rome and to establish the fact that the Gospel of Christ is God’s saving power to all who believe, whether Jew or Gentile.

He also wanted to emphasize that the Gospel is God’s only plan for man’s salvation and to establish the fact that justification comes by grace, through faith, apart from the Mosaic Law, and that Grace is not based on the merit system, i.e. not by works.

Paul wished to fulfil a long-standing ambition of preaching in Rome, Acts 19:21. In the letter itself, he reminds his readers that he has not, as yet, been able to fulfil this ambition, Romans 1:11 / Romans 15:22-24.

He wanted to go to Rome because, at this time, there was a church in Rome, and he could see the potential of the possibilities in Rome, Romans 1:15.

He saw Rome as the gathering place of all the nations and races of the ancient world, and therefore he saw it as a prime centre for missionary activity.

He did not go off and hide himself in little villages, or in obscure places where there were few people. He sought to sow the Gospel in places where the impact would be the greatest and where it would the greatest impact.

Remember, that the Roman Christians did not know him personally, at least the majority did not know him. And they had obviously heard something about his teaching as Romans 3:7-8 reveals.

Paul’s critics were claiming they could continue sinning because God’s grace is so great, Romans 6:1, and some of them claimed that he was preaching and teaching something which was either contrary to, or opposed to the Old Testament scriptures, Romans 16:25ff.

Paul’s Main Argument

Paul’s main argument is clear throughout his letter to the church in Rome. Man’s justification before God rests solely on the merits of Christ, not on the Law of Moses, since no one ever succeeded in keeping the Law which revealed the holiness which God’s Own Nature demands.

Christ, who shares the nature of God, and is merciful and obedient to the Father, provided justification and redemption from sin, through His atoning sacrifice.

Outline

What Sin Is And Who Is A Sinner? Romans 1-4.

What Grace Is, And How It Is Received? Romans 5-6.

How To Maintain The State Of Grace. Romans 7.

How To Demonstrate And Share Grace With Others. Romans 8-15.

Conclusion. Romans 16.

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