NOTES ON THE BOOK OF ROMANS
This is a complete analysis of the Book of Romans in outline form. If you wish to go to a particular section, click on its title. All quotations are bibliolographed; when the same author is quoted again, the reference is given by author's last name and the page number (or in multiple volume works, volume number:page number); if more than one work of an author is used, then the reference will be given by author's last name, abbreviated title of the work and then the page number or volume number:page number. If the same page is cited, than the term Ibid. may be used. All translations marked "cpc" are by this writer. Individual sections can be reached by clicking on the particular section. After the General Introduction, the analysis will be divided as follows:
II. Doctrinal (Imputed Righteousness)--1:18-8:39. Due to the length
of this section, it will be subdivided as follows:
A. Sin--1:18-3:20
B.
Salvation--3:21-5:11
C. Sanctification--5:12-8:39
1. Potential
Sanctification--5:12-21;
2. Positional
Sanctification--6:1-10; and
3. Practical
Sanctification--6:11-23)
4. Powerless
Sanctification--7:1-25
5. Powerful
sanctification--8:1-39
III. Dispensational (Concerned with Judicial Righteousness)--9:1-11:36. It
will also be subdivided as follows:
A. God's past dealings with
Israel--9:1-33
B. God's Present Purpose in
Israel--10:1-21
C. God's Future Purpose for
Israel--11:1-26
IV. Dutiful (Concerned with practical righteousness)--12:1-16:27. It
will also be subdivided as follows:
A. Service in the
Gospel--12:1-13:14
B. Separation of the
Gospel--14:1-15:3 and
C. Spread of the
Gospel--15:4-33
D. Salutation in the
Gospel--16:1-27
General Introduction.
I. AUTHORSHIP
A. External Evidence
1. Clement of Rome--95 A. D. alludes
to it.
2. Polycarp--about 100 A. D. and a disciple
of the Apostle John quotes or refers to it.
3. Ignatius--about150 A. D. refers to
it.
4. From this early time on down to recent
years
a. Pauline authorship
has uniformly been recognized.
b. Only in recent
years has it been questioned. Then it has been questioned only by liberals
and other unbelievers
who not only question but disbelieve anything, particularly
if it is anything connected with the Bible.
B. Internal Evidence
1. Supports external
2. Writer calls himself Paul--1:1.
3. Describes himself in a way that could
only mean Paul.
a. 11:13
b. 15:15-20
4. Outlook, teaching, vocabulary, and
style similar to other acknowledged Pauline writings.
II. BACKGROUND
A. Paul Never in Rome Before the Writing of This
Epistle
1. Cf. 1:13-15
2. According to Acts, never in Rome until
carried there as a prisoner
a. Cf. Acts. 19:21
b. Also, we learn
from other epistles of his desire, together with Romans 15:25ff., that
Paul was going to
Jerusalem
with a contribution for the saints there.
B. To Whom Addressed
1. Not to the “church of
Rome”
2. Rather to “all that be in Rome
. . . called saints”
C. Who Founded the Church at Rome
1. Not one scrap of Biblical evidence
that either Paul or Peter founded this church
2. Most likely founded by individual
Christians ( many of whom were doubtlessly converted by Paul--notice
list of
names at the end)
who had moved to Rome.
3. Probably got together using the sign
of the fish (ices) standing for Jesus Christ, God's Son, Saviour
III. OCCASION AND DATE
A. Why Did Paul Write This Epistle?
1. Divine reason
a. God wished. it
to be written.
b. God inspired Paul
to write it.
2. Human reason
a. No definite statement
(cf. John's Gospel--20:31)
b. Possible reasons
(I)
He hoped to visit them soon.
(A) 1:13
(B) 15:22ff.
(II)
Fears of Judaizing influences
(III)
Phebe's trip to Rome enabled him to send the letter (16:1, 2).
B. When Did Paul Write This Epistle?
1 .From 15:25-27 we know that he was headed
to Jerusalem with an offering for the saints there from those of
Macedonia and
Achaia.
a. Cf. Acts 19:21
b. Acts 20:2, 3
2. Frequent mention of this collection
is made in the epistles to Corinthians.
3. Apparently after departing from Macedonia,
he went to Greece.
a. Cenchrea--seaport
of Corinth is close by (16:1)
b. Entertained by--Gaius
(cf. 16:23 with 1 Corinthians 1:14)
c. Erastus seems to
live in Corinth (cf. 16:23 with 2 Timothy 4:20 )
4. Therefore, one can. conclude that Paul
probably1y wrote this epistle from Corinth during the third missionary
journey, or about
56 A. D.
IV. CONNECTION WITH OTHER EPISTLES
A. Historical Order
1. 1 Thessalonians
2. 2 Thessalonians
3. 1 Corinthians
4. 2 Corinthians
5. Galatians
6. Romans
7. Colossians
8. Philemon
9. Ephesians
10. Philippians
11. 1 Timothy
12. Titus
13. II Timothy
14. Hebrews
a. Personally believe
written by Paul
b. As to when it was
written, it was probably before 70 A. D. because of the references
to the temple.
B. Logical Order
1. Order in the King James Vision (and
the order found in most Bibles today ) is not accidental.
2. Two divisions
a. For individual
believers (Romans --II Thessalonians )
b. For pastoral oversight
(I Timothy--Philemon)
c. For Jewish people
(Hebrews)
3. "There is a progress of spiritual
experience from Romans to II Thessalonians." (Newell, William R.,
Romans
Verse by Verse.
Chicago, IL: Moody Press; page 73; italics are his.)
a. Romans
(I)
For the natural man
(II)
Gospel meets his need
b. 1 and 2 Corinthians,
Galatians
(I)
To the carnal man
(II)
Doctrine and problem of application
c. Ephesians, Philippians,
and Colossians
(I)
To the spiritual man
(II)
Position and privilege
d. 1 and 2
Thessalonians
(I)
Concerning the Second Coming
(II)
The hope of all believers
V. PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE
A. To Present the fundamental doctrines of salvation
and sanctification
B. To explain the unbelief of Israel
C. To app1y the truth of doctrine to Christian
living
D. To reveal Paul's plans to them
E. To commend Phoebe to them and send his greetings
VI. KEYS TO THE EPISTLE
A. Each Section of the Book Has a Key--these are
to be indicated in the plan.
B. Key Verses
1. 1:16, 17
2. Also the theme of the epistle
C. Key Words
1. Righteousness
a. 38 times
b. 28 times in the
first eight chanters
2. Justification, Justify
a. 14 times
b. All in the first
eight chapters
3. Faith
a. 37 times
b. 24 times in the
first five chapters
4. Sin
a. 48 times
b. All but two occur
in chapters 2-8
c. Chapter. 6 has
it 16 times
5. Believe--24 times
VII. PLAN OF THE EPISTLE
A. The Introduction--1:1-17
1. Salutation (or personal greetings)--vv.
1-7
2. The purpose (or personal purpose)--vv
8-15
3. The Theme (or powerful theme)--vv.
16, 17
B. Doctrinal (Imputed Righteousness)--1:18-8:39
1. Sin--1:18-3:20
a. The key verses
(I)
3:9
(II)
3:23 (Though in the next section, it is a key verse on the doctrine of
sin.)
b. The outline keys
(I)
1:18
(II)
2:17
(III)
3:9, 23
2. Salvation--3:21-5:11
a. The key verses
(I)
3:22
(II)
3:24
b. The outline keys
(I)
3:22, 24
(II)
4:3
(III)
5:1a
3. Sanctification--5:12-8:39
a. 5:12-21 are somewhat
transitional.
b. Key verse--8:1
C. Dispensational (Concerned with Judicial
Righteousness)--9:1-11:36
1. God's past dealings with Israel--9:1-33
(9:3--key verse of both the section and chapter)
2. God's Present Purpose in Israel--10:1-21
(key verses--10:9, 10)
3. God's Future Purpose for Israel--11:1-26
(key verse--11:24b)
D. Dutiful (Concerned with practical
righteousness)--12:1-16:27
1. Service in the Gospel--12:1-13:14 (12:1,
2--key verses for the immediate section and the entire division)
2. Separation of the Gospel--14:1-15:3
(Key verses--14:7, 8)
3. Spread of the Gospel--15:4-33
(Key verses--vv. 18-20)
4. Salutation in the Gospel--16:1-27 (Key
word--salute)