Friday, November 4, 2016
Summary of the Book of Romans
Summary of the Book of Romans
This summary of the book of Romans provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of Romans.
Author
The writer of this letter was the apostle Paul (see 1:1 and note). No voice from the early church was ever raised against his authorship. The letter contains a number of historical references that agree with known facts of Paul's life. The doctrinal content of the book is typical of Paul, which is evident from a comparison with other letters he wrote.
Date and Place of Writing
The book was probably written in the early spring of a.d. 57. Very likely Paul was on his third missionary journey, ready to return to Jerusalem with the offering from the mission churches for poverty-stricken believers in Jerusalem (see 15:25-27 and notes). In 15:26 it is suggested that Paul had already received contributions from the churches of Macedonia and Achaia, so he either was at Corinth or had already been there. Since he had not yet been at Corinth (on his third missionary journey) when he wrote 1 Corinthians (cf. 1Co 16:1-4) and the collection issue had still not been resolved when he wrote 2 Corinthians (2Co 8-9), the writing of Romans must follow that of 1,2 Corinthians (dated c. 55).
The most likely place of writing is either Corinth or Cenchrea (about six miles away) because of references to Phoebe of Cenchrea (see 16:1 and note) and to Gaius, Paul's host (see 16:23 and note), who was probably a Corinthian (see 1Co 1:14). Erastus (see 16:23 and note) may also have been a Corinthian (see 2Ti 4:20).
Recipients
The original recipients of the letter were the people of the church at Rome (1:7), who were predominantly Gentile. Jews, however, must have constituted a substantial minority of the congregation (see 4:1; chs. 9 - 11; see also note on 1:13). Perhaps Paul originally sent the entire letter to the Roman church, after which he or someone else used a shorter form (chs. 1 - 14 or 1-15) for more general distribution. See note on 2Pe 3:15; see also map, p. 2314.
Major Theme
Paul's primary theme in Romans is the basic gospel, God's plan of salvation and righteousness for all humankind, Jew and Gentile alike (see 1:16-17 and notes). Although justification by faith has been suggested by some as the theme, it would seem that a broader theme states the message of the book more adequately. "Righteousness from God" (1:17) includes justification by faith, but it also embraces such related ideas as guilt, sanctification and security.
Purpose
Paul's purposes for writing this letter were varied:
- He wrote to prepare the way for his coming visit to Rome and his proposed mission to Spain (1:10-15; 15:22-29).
- He wrote to present the basic system of salvation to a church that had not received the teaching of an apostle before.
- He sought to explain the relationship between Jew and Gentile in God's overall plan of redemption. The Jewish Christians were being rejected by the larger Gentile group in the church (see 14:1 and note) because the Jewish believers still felt constrained to observe dietary laws and sacred days (14:2-6).
Occasion
When Paul wrote this letter, he was probably at Corinth (see Ac 20:2-3 and notes) on his third missionary journey. His work in the eastern Mediterranean was almost finished (see 15:18-23), and he greatly desired to visit the Roman church (see 1:11-12; 15:23-24). At this time, however, he could not go to Rome because he felt he must personally deliver the collection taken among the Gentile churches for the poverty-stricken Christians of Jerusalem (see 15:25-28 and notes). So instead of going to Rome, he sent a letter to prepare the Christians there for his intended visit in connection with a mission to Spain (see 15:23-24 and note on 15:24). For many years Paul had wanted to visit Rome to minister there (see 1:13-15), and this letter served as a careful and systematic theological introduction to that hoped-for personal ministry. Since he was not acquainted directly with the Roman church, he says little about its problems (but see 14:1 -- 15:13; cf. also 13:1-7; 16:17-18).
Content
Paul begins by surveying the spiritual condition of all people. He finds Jews and Gentiles alike to be sinners and in need of salvation. That salvation has been provided by God through Jesus Christ and his redemptive work on the cross. It is a provision, however, that must be received by faith -- a principle by which God has always dealt with humankind, as the example of Abraham shows. Since salvation is only the beginning of Christian experience, Paul moves on to show how believers are freed from sin, law and death -- a provision made possible by their union with Christ in both death and resurrection and by the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Paul then shows that Israel too, though presently in a state of unbelief, has a place in God's sovereign redemptive plan. Now she consists of only a remnant, allowing for the conversion of the Gentiles, but the time will come when "all Israel will be saved" (11:26; see note there). The letter concludes with an appeal to the readers to work out their Christian faith in practical ways, both in the church and in the world. None of Paul's other letters states so profoundly the content of the gospel and its implications for both the present and the future.
Special Characteristics
- The most systematic of Paul's letters. It reads more like an elaborate theological essay than a letter.
- Emphasis on Christian doctrine. The number and importance of the theological themes touched upon are impressive: sin and death, salvation, grace, faith, righteousness, justification, sanctification, redemption, resurrection and glorification.
- Widespread use of OT quotations. Although Paul regularly quotes from the OT in his letters, in Romans the argument is sometimes carried along by such quotations (see especially chs. 9 - 11).
- Deep concern for Israel. Paul writes about her present status, her relationship to the Gentiles and her final salvation.
Outline
- Introduction (1:1-15)
- Theme: Righteousness from God (1:16-17)
- The Unrighteousness of All People (1:18;3:20)
- Righteousness Imputed: Justification (3:21;5:21)
- Righteousness Imparted: Sanctification (chs. 6-8)
- Freedom from Sin's Tyranny (ch. 6)
- Freedom from the Law's Condemnation (ch. 7)
- Life in the Power of the Holy Spirit (ch. 8)
- God's Righteousness Vindicated: The Justice of His Way with Israel (chs. 9-11)
- Righteousness Practiced (12:1;15:13)
- Conclusion (15:14-33)
- Commendation, Greetings and Doxology (ch. 16)
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Acts Chapter 28
Paul and the Expansion of the Church from Antioch to Rome (chs. 13-28)
"Throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia" (13:1 -- 15:35; see 16:6and note)"Over to Macedonia" (15:36;21:16;16:9;)"To Rome" (21:17;28:31;28:14;)
ACTS 28 NLT
1 Once we were safe on shore, we learned
that we were on the island of Malta.
2 The people of the island were very kind
to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome
us.
3 As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and
was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him
on the hand.
4 The people of the island saw it hanging
from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped
the sea, justice will not permit him to live.”
5 But Paul shook off the snake into the
fire and was unharmed.
6 The people waited for him to swell up or
suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t
harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.
7 Near the shore where we landed was an
estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us
and treated us kindly for three days.
8 As it happened, Publius’s father was ill
with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands
on him, he healed him.
9 Then all the other sick people on the
island came and were healed.
10 As a result we were showered with
honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we
would need for the trip.
11 It was three months after the shipwreck
that we set sail on another ship that had wintered at the island—an Alexandrian
ship with the twin gods as its figurehead.
12 Our first stop was Syracuse, where we
stayed three days.
13 From there we sailed across to Rhegium.
A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the
coast to Puteoli.
14 There we found some believers, who
invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.
15 The brothers and sisters in Rome had
heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way.
Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged
and thanked God.
16When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to
have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier.
17 Three days after Paul’s arrival, he
called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was
arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I
had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors.
18 The Romans tried me and wanted to
release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence.
19 But when the Jewish leaders protested
the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no
desire to press charges against my own people.
20 I asked you to come here today so we
could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this
chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already
come.”
21 They replied, “We have had no letters
from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here.
22 But we want to hear what you believe,
for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced
everywhere.”
23 So a time was set, and on that day a
large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about
the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures.
Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from
morning until evening.
24 Some were persuaded by the things he
said, but others did not believe.
25 And after they had argued back and forth
among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit
was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet,
26 ‘Go and say to this people: When you
hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not
comprehend.
27 For the hearts of these people are
hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their
eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot
understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’
28 So I want you to know that this
salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept
it.”
29
30 For the next two years, Paul lived in
Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him,
31 boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God
and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Acts Chapter 27
Paul and the Expansion of the Church from Antioch to Rome (chs. 13-28)
"Throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia" (13:1 -- 15:35; see 16:6and note)"Over to Macedonia" (15:36;21:16;16:9;)"To Rome" (21:17;28:31;28:14;)
ACTS 27 NLT
1 When the time came, we set sail for
Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer
named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment.
2 Aristarchus, a Macedonian from
Thessalonica, was also with us. We left on a ship whose home port was
Adramyttium on the northwest coast of the province of Asia; it was scheduled to
make several stops at ports along the coast of the province.
3 The next day when we docked at Sidon,
Julius was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so
they could provide for his needs.
4 Putting out to sea from there, we
encountered strong headwinds that made it difficult to keep the ship on course,
so we sailed north of Cyprus between the island and the mainland.
5 Keeping to the open sea, we passed along
the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, landing at Myra, in the province of
Lycia.
6 There the commanding officer found an
Egyptian ship from Alexandria that was bound for Italy, and he put us on
board.
7 We had several days of slow sailing, and
after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us,
so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past
the cape of Salmone.
8 We struggled along the coast with great
difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.
9 We had lost a lot of time. The weather
was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall, and
Paul spoke to the ship’s officers about it.
10 “Men,” he said, “I believe there is
trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as
well.”
11 But the officer in charge of the
prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul.
12 And since Fair Havens was an exposed
harbor—a poor place to spend the winter—most of the crew wanted to go on to
Phoenix, farther up the coast of Crete, and spend the winter there. Phoenix was
a good harbor with only a southwest and northwest exposure.
13 When a light wind began blowing from the
south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and
sailed close to the shore of Crete.
14 But the weather changed abruptly, and a
wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and
blew us out to sea.
15 The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into
the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale.
16 We sailed along the sheltered side of a
small island named Cauda, where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the
lifeboat being towed behind us.
17 Then the sailors bound ropes around the
hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to
the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to
slow the ship and were driven before the wind.
18 The next day, as gale-force winds
continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo
overboard.
19 The following day they even took some of
the ship’s gear and threw it overboard.
20 The terrible storm raged for many days,
blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.
21 No one had eaten for a long time.
Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened
to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this
damage and loss.
22 But take courage! None of you will lose
your lives, even though the ship will go down.
23 For last night an angel of the God to
whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me,
24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for
you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has
granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’
25 So take courage! For I believe God. It
will be just as he said.
26 But we will be shipwrecked on an
island.”
27 About midnight on the fourteenth night
of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, the sailors
sensed land was near.
28 They dropped a weighted line and found
that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again
and found it was only 90 feet deep.
29 At this rate they were afraid we would
soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four
anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.
30 Then the sailors tried to abandon the
ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors
from the front of the ship.
31 But Paul said to the commanding officer
and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.”
32 So the soldiers cut the ropes to the
lifeboat and let it drift away.
33 Just as day was dawning, Paul urged
everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for
two weeks,” he said.
34“Please eat something now for your own good.
For not a hair of your heads will perish.”
35 Then he took some bread, gave thanks to
God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it.
36 Then everyone was encouraged and began
to eat—
37 all 276 of us who were on
board.
38 After eating, the crew lightened the
ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.
39When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the
coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to
shore by running the ship aground.
40 So they cut off the anchors and left
them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed
toward shore.
41 But they hit a shoal and ran the ship
aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was
repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart.
42 The soldiers wanted to kill the
prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape.
43 But the commanding officer wanted to
spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who
could swim to jump overboard first and make for land.
44The others held on to planks or debris from
the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore.
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