Romans Overview
The Question of Sin (3:23)
The Question of Salvation (4:5)
The Question of Sanctification (6:16)
The Question of Sovereignty (11:33-36)
The Question of Service (12:1-2)
More to Consider
Rome
As early as the second century b.c., a Jewish colony existed in Rome. After 63 b.c., when Judea became a part of the Roman Empire, this colony grew. By 59 b.c. Cicero wrote of it as powerful and influential.
At times the Jews suffered expulsion from Rome, and as in an a.d. 19 financial scandal. Yet, within a few years the Jews would drift back again to this center of finance, trade, and political power. In a.d. 49 Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome in an act mentioned in Acts 18:2. Strikingly, the historian Suetonius said that the cause of Claudius' action was the "constant indulgence of the Jews in riots at the instigation of one Chrestus." Apparently the message of Christ divided the Jewish community at Rome and, as it did in the cities to which Paul journeyed on his missions, provoked bitter and violent controversy! Priscilla and Aquila, whom we meet later in this letter and who are mentioned in Acts 18, were apparently converted at this time. They were already believers when Paul met them.
Claudius' expulsion edict, like the earlier ones, had no lasting effect. A few years later the Jewish colony again flourished and, as before, included Jewish believers in Christ. By the time Paul wrote this letter to the Romans, a large number of Gentile and Jewish Christians comprised a typical church.
Paul had longed to go to Rome, both to minister to the believers there and to be encouraged by them. But he was not able to go just then. So instead Paul sent a lengthy letter. In his letter we have our most careful, thorough, and detailed explanation of that Gospel which God called Paul to preach. In Galatians we catch glimpses of themes that Paul now fully develops. As we study Romans, we see that in Christ, God has truly taken a new and dynamic approach to the question of righteousness. The cage of the Law was designed to restrain unrighteousness. The freedom of the Gospel is designed to produce in man the righteousness of God. "In the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last"
— Teacher's Commentary
Chrysostom, one of the early church fathers, had the epistle read to him twice a week. And it was Coleridge who said that the Epistle to the Romans was the most profound writing that exists. Further, we find that one of the great scientists turned to this book, and he found that it gave a real faith. This man, Michael Faraday, was asked on his deathbed by a reporter, "What are your speculations now?" Faraday said, "I have no speculations. My faith is firmly fixed in Christ my Savior who died for me, and who has made a way for me to go to heaven."
Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee.
On May 24, 1738, a discouraged missionary went "very unwillingly" to a religious meeting in London. There a miracle took place. "About a quarter before nine," he wrote in his journal, "I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."
That missionary was John Wesley. The message he heard that evening was the preface to Martin Luther's commentary on Romans.
Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament, Volume 1.
