Romans: Introduction to Study
by:
Dan Hill, PhD
Pastor
Southwood Bible Church
7655 South Sheridan Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74113
E-Mail: hill918@aol.com
A book that is a very good reference in any study that involves
the Apostle Paul, whether his epistles or his activities and speeches in
the Acts of the Apostles, is the masterful history "The Life and Epistles
of St. Paul", written in the 19th Century by the Rev. W. J. Conybeare,
MA, and the Very Rev. J. S. Howson, DD.
From the first paragraph of their introduction: "The purpose of this
work is to give a living picture of St. Paul himself, and of the circumstances
by which he was surrounded."
Actually, they did far more than that modest sentence indicates. Either
Conybeare or Howson (or both of them) personally walked and sailed everywhere
that the Apostle traveled! Their account is a great travelogue, an historical
tour-de-force, and an insightful Christian analysis and examination of Paul's
ministry. Included in the book are the authors' own translations from the
Greek of Paul's inspired writings! The excerpt below will give you an indication
to the depth of thought and careful consideration that went into all their
writing.
The book is published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. of Grand Rapids,
Michigan, USA. They have published both hard cover and paperback editions.
If you can afford it, get the hard cover version. Check with your book store,
or with Eerdmans directly.
Or you can call Christian Book Distributors (CBD) at 508-977-5000 (7:00
a.m. to midnight EST, weekdays; 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, Saturdays). Their
mailing address is P.O. Box 6000, Peabody, Massachusetts 01961-6000. They
only have the paperback version, at $16.95 U.S., plus shipping.
THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS
by Dan Hill, PhD
So often pastors, expositors, Bible teachers are asked what book of the
Bible they would chose to have if they could only have one book for the
remainder of their lives. The consensus is consistent in the answer ...
the book of Romans.
Of the thirteen epistles written by Paul, Romans includes the second longest
introduction.
This introduction extends from v 1 through to v 17. It is only exceeded
by the first two chapters of Galatians that comprise Paul's introduction
of that letter. Galatians however needed a longer introduction because it
was Paul's first epistle and it dealt with a problem in the Galatian churches,
the problem of legalism.
Here, the epistle to the Romans does not deal with a specific problem. But
Paul had never been to Rome at the time of its writing. So he includes a
longer introduction to explain who he is, not so much by credentials (as
in Galatians), but by person, who he is and why he is writing.
If we were to take a broad overview of Romans we would see two major themes
separated by a parenthesis regarding Israel.
Romans 1-8 Our relationship to God
Romans 9-11 Paul's desire for Israel to be saved
Romans 12-16 Our relationship one to another
If we look at this epistle chronologically, as it fits into sequence with
the other letters of Paul we can see a pattern:
Galatians: 48 AD, a strong stand for grace. Legalism having
no part in the Christian way of life.
I and II Thessalonians: 52 AD, the individual relationship of believers
to one another and the believer's anticipation of the return of Christ
I and II Corinthians: 56 AD, the cooperative responsibilities of believers
in the local church. These are the epistles on ecclesiology, the function
of the local church.
And then Romans: 57 AD, written from Corinth to a church Paul had never
visited.
The letter is somewhat impersonal but objective. It deals with the doctrine
by which we function as Christians, such as:
Justification by faith
Living by grace and power of the Spirit
Serving the Lord with one another
In Ecclesiastes we note that Solomon's major theme was that we, as believers,
enjoy life as we obey God's Word.
And these are not antithetical concepts. The reason we can enjoy life is
because Christ has set us free from the Law and the oppressive laws of man.
And that truth, which is explained in practical terms in Galatians, is now
explained in theological terms in Romans.
Romans is without a doubt the crown jewel of the epistles.
It has changed the course of Christian history more than once. During the
reformation it was the one letter that Martin Luther used to defend his
position that we are saved by faith alone, that we live by faith alone,
and we live according to the Scriptures alone.
Of this letter Luther said: "It is the true masterpiece of the NT,
and the very purest Gospel, which is well worthy and deserving that a Christian
man should not only learn it by heart, word for word, but also that he should
daily deal with it as daily bread for man's soul. It can never be too much
or well read or studied. The more it is handled the more precious it becomes
and the better it tastes."
The French expositor Godet observed: "The reformation was undoubtedly
the work of the epistle to the Romans as well as that of Galatians. Spiritual
revival in the church will be connected to a deeper understand of this book."
Harry Ironsides said of Romans: "It is the most scientific statement
of the divine plan for the redemption of mankind. It is the orderly setting
forth of the Gospel that the mind of man craves, the declaration of man's
need along with the gracious plan of God's salvation which culminates in
His glorification."
It has been said that Romans is not an epistle about the Gospel it is the
Gospel and to be ignorant of Romans is to be ignorant of Christianity.
End of Introduction
Warren Doud [ Grace Notes ]
1705 Aggie Lane, Austin, Texas 78757
Phone: 512-458-8923
E-Mail: wdoud@bga.com
WWW: http://www.realtime.net/~wdoud/
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