Romans

Romans - The Book

Written by Saul a Jew born of the tribe of Benjamin [about the same age as Jesus] and grew up in the city of Tarsus, the capital of the Roman province of Cilcia in S.E. Asia Minor. He maintained a Roman citizenship. Although he was from a prominent family and was highly educated, he learned the trade of "Tent Maker". All Jewish boys were expected by custom to learn an occupational trade.

When he was 13 years of age and had taken his "Bar-Mitzvah” he was sent to Jerusalem to attend a school of "Higher Learning" to study the Law and Jewish philosophy under the noted Gamaeliel, a scholar of undisputed reputation.

After graduating he returned to Tarsus and became involved in the Jewish Synagogue there until after the death of Jesus. He then returned to Jerusalem and associated himself with the religious sect of the Nazarenes. There he became a hater of the followers of Jesus known as "The Way". He became an agent of the High Priest to act as an enforcer to bring Christians before the Sanhedrin to be put to death.

On a mission to Damascus [about 35 AD] he was struck down and "heard a voice" from God; that caused him to repent and be converted to the faith. Then called of God to be an Apostle to the Gentiles he went into Arabia for three years to prepare himself for this ministry. See Gal.1:15-20.

Now Paul is at Cornish near the close of his third missionary journey he is called of God to warn the Church at Rome concerning "Judizers" who would corrupt the true doctrine of Christians and to mix law and faith and return to living in sin. He also advised them he planed to visit but would not arrive for three years. The time of the letter is 58 AD and the letter is sent to the Church at Rome by Phoebe a servant of the church at Cenchrea see ch. 16:1

He begins his letter by saying that God is revealed from heaven by the expression of his wrath; against ungodly men who hold "the truth" in unrighteousness. ch. 1:18. Even today men [and women] take the Holy Bible and "wrest" it's teachings to make disciples to follow them. And God would "give them up" [allow them] to live the life they have chosen. But in so doing they could expect the judgments of God to follow.

In Chapter 2 he begins to address the "law" [the Hebrew Torah] that was given to Moses at Mt. Sinai to Jews and not the civil law of the Roman Empire. He explains God's relationship to the Jews who were under the law, and to the Gentiles who had never known the law.

Under the law a man became a Jew by submitting to circumcision to seal the covenant with God. Paul then advises that it is not the "outward circumcision" of the flesh, but the circumcision of the heart that sealed the covenant under Grace. And that a person becomes a Jew by the circumcision of the heart and this applies to both natural Jews and Gentiles. And there is no difference with God between Jews and Gentiles.

The writer covers many areas of doctrine that concerned a church made up of Jews and pagan Gentiles that had been converted to the Christian Faith including the advantage of the Jews; not because they were Jews but, because God had committed the "oracles" [the Word] of God.

The fact that all people regardless of race or origin all were conceived in iniquity and born in sin (Psa.51:3), and that the only redemption is by faith in Jesus Christ. This addressed the concerning being "the seed of Abraham” its benefits and its limitations.

The explanation of the doctrine of the "Grace of God" and justification by faith is given. And teaching the failure of the Law to prevent the condemnation of living "after the flesh" and the joy of "walking after the Spirit".

This teaching includes the calling of the Gentiles by "the adoption" into the family of God. And a prayer is made for Jews who had rejected Jesus as the Messiah to accept by faith the "New Covenant". The fact, that Salvation is now available to all without prejudice.

Chapter 11 includes the teaching of the "olive tree", the natural branches and the branches "grafted in", Jews first and then Gentiles. And the fact that the "natural branch" had been "cut off" because of unbelief and the same thing would happen to Gentiles who "departed" from the faith.

Ch. 12: Introduces the teaching of "presenting" of the individual bodies as "a living sacrifice" to God and being "transformed" by the renewing of the mind instead of the offering of dead animals on the altar as a "sweet smelling" gift to God.

Ch. 13: gives the instruction for "each soul" to be subject to [obedient] to "the higher power" [S# 1849 exousia authority] and explains that "power" was the power of God. This is a delegated "Power" given to the ministers of the Church; And not to civil authority. This is taught in other places; see 1 Tim. 2:2-3, Titus 3:1, 1 Pet.2:13-17.

Ch 14 & 15: deal with the relationship between people in the church. Passing judgment, the strong supporting the week.

Chapter 16: And finally the commendation of a number of people and then dedicating the letter to "the only wise God".

Rev. Shelton Turner

2005