Commentary on the Letter of Paul to the Christians at Rome
by Dave Brown
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Romans 1-5
Romans 6-10
Romans 11-16
General Introduction of Paul's Letter to Christians at Rome
Reference: Fausset's Bible Dictionary, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1998, 2003 by Biblesoft
Reformatted by Dave Brown; quotes are from this reference
Go to Chapters 1-5
Romans 1-5
Romans 6-10
Romans 11-16
General Introduction of Paul's Letter to Christians at Rome
Reference: Fausset's Bible Dictionary, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1998, 2003 by Biblesoft
Reformatted by Dave Brown; quotes are from this reference
- Date and place of writing; knowing where it was written helps us to estimate the date, both of which put the letter into its proper context for our understanding of it.
- Evidence written from Corinth:
- Commends to the Romans Phoebe of Cenchreae, the port of Corinth (Romans 16:1-2).
- Lodging at Gaius' house (Rom 16:23), who was a member of the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 1:14).
- Erastus, "treasurer" (chamberlain, KJV), referenced in Rom 16:23, was a member at Corinth (2 Tim 4:20; also mentioned in Acts 19:22).
- Evidence for timing in spring of AD 58, visit briefly mentioned in Acts 20:3
- Had to be after Acts 18 because he knew Priscilla and Aquila (Romans 16:3), who he did not meet until Acts 18 (establishment of church at Corinth).
- His second visit to Corinth mentioned in Acts (some see evidence of this being his third visit) was after his long stay at Ephesus (Acts 20:3); this would seem to be the most reasonable time for his writing Romans.
- His overall intent in traveling forward was to carry the contributions of Macedonia and Achaia to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22).
- His design of visiting Rome after Jerusalem at this particular time appears incidentally from Acts 19:21.
- Thus, the evidence indicates that Paul wrote it in his third missionary journey, at the second of the two visits to Corinth that are recorded in Acts. "He remained then three months in Greece (Acts 20:2-3). He was on the point of sailing to Jerusalem when obliged to alter his purpose; the sea therefore was by this time navigable. It was not late in the spring, for, after passing through Macedon and visiting the coast of Asia Minor, he still expected to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost (Acts 20:16)."
- “This places the writing of the epistle … early in spring, A.D. 58.”
- Evidence written from Corinth:
- Relationship with Other Epistles
- "He wrote 1 Corinthians before leaving Ephesus; 2 Corinthians on his way to Corinth; and Galatians at Corinth, where also he wrote Romans. Hence, the resemblance of these two epistles [Galatians and Romans] in style and substance."
- “The epistle to the Galatians and the two almost contemporaneous epistles to the Corinthians are the most intense in feeling and varied in expression of Paul's epistles.” Agreed, if you meditate on these writings you can not only know what Paul was trying to communicate, but you can feel what he felt. Particular examples in Romans: the second half of Chapter 7, and chapters 9-11 where his feelings for his countrymen should produce sympathy within all of us, since we all have had loved ones who we would give anything to see converted.
- Paul’s Desire to Visit Rome
- Occasion. Intending long to visit Rome and Spain (Rom 1:9-13; 15:22-29), he was for the present unable, being bound for Jerusalem with the alms of the Gentile Christians.
- But, as Phoebe a deaconess of the neighboring Cenchrea was starting for Rome (Rom 16:1-2), in the meantime he sends this epistle by her.
- Tertius wrote it at his dictation (Rom 16:22), the apostle with his own hand, as in other epistles, probably adding the benediction and abrupt doxology at the close.
- Establishment of the Church at Rome
- No record of any apostle or preacher going to Rome. Had Peter or any other apostle established the church at Rome, some allusion to him would have occurred in this epistle or in Paul's epistles written at Rome.
- GREAT example. This shows that it does not take anything “official” to establish a local church!
- Paul's rule was not to build on another's foundation (Rom 15:20). Also in dividing the field of labor between himself and Peter (Gal 2:7-9), as the apostle of the Gentiles he claims the Romans as his share (Rom 1:13) and hopes to confer some spiritual gift (charism) to them to further establish them (1:11).
- Note especially in verse 1:13 “the rest of the Gentiles” indicating that they were primarily composed of Gentiles.
- Acts 2:10 “sojourners from Rome” were converted. Acts 8 tells us that all of the converts scattered went back and preached the word, thus converting others. It is not speculation that this was how the church at Rome got started – how could any other position be defended?
- But, of what nationality were those who were converted on Pentecost? Does this not explain the heavy Judaizing influences in Rome?
- Bottom line – these were not novice Christians. They had ample time to reach as much maturity as they could without further help from an inspired apostle. This letter provides that help to them and it can do the same thing for us. It is important that we do not neglect the more difficult passages in this regard.
- Outline of the Letter
- Personal statements (1:1-15)
- Doctrinal (1:16-11:36 = end of chapter 11)
- The pagan and Jew alike under condemnation (1 & 2)
- Objections answered (3:1-8)
- The truth vindicated by Scripture (3:9-20)
- The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel, being of faith, not of the law, unto all who believe (1:16-17; 3:21-26)
- Boasting is excluded (3:27-31)
- Abraham an example, David's testimony (4)
- Justification by faith; Adam allegorical antitype (5:1-11).
- “The law came in parenthetically (Greek: pareiselthen – to come in along side) and incidentally to reveal the malignity of the evil introduced by Adam, and the need of the remedy by Christ (20-21). [Romans 5:20: “And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly” ASV = only accurate translation I could find-dbb.]
- As opposed to licensing sin, the righteousness of God makes the believer dead to sin with the crucified Christ, that henceforth he may walk in “newness of life” (6-8)
- The casting away of the Jews and Paul’s pleading with them (9-11)
- Exclusion from justification is because they seek it by the law (10)
- Practical exhortations
- To holiness and love (7 & 8)
- Obedience to legal authorities (13)
- Avoiding to give offense to weak brethren (14:1-15:13).
- Personal explanations: his motive in writing, intention to visit them (15:14-33).
- Salutations, benediction, doxology (16).
Go to Chapters 1-5