Romans Introduction
Introduction
Paul wrote this letter to the believers who lived in Rome. He wrote them to ask for support. Paul wanted to bring the message about King Jesus to the western part of the Roman Empire. Paul’s job was to tell all people that Jesus is the world’s true ruler. In his message Paul shows that Jesus came from the family line of Israel’s King David. Paul’s message shows that God is faithful to his promise to Israel. Jesus the Messiah, or King, has come.
Paul’s letter to the Romans tells how Jesus’ death and resurrection saves the world. Paul presents this idea following the pattern of Israel’s story. It is the pattern of being in slavery and then being brought to freedom. All humans are being held as prisoners or slaves. That’s because sin and death came into the world. But Jesus came to set people free. He came to save both Jews and Gentiles from sin and death. He makes them into one new family of God. Jesus died and rose again. He broke the power of evil. Because of this the entire creation will be set free and made new.
In the second part of his letter Paul tells how many people in Israel did not believe in Jesus. But God used this to help bring life to the rest of the world. Now both Jews and Gentiles can find true life through Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit that leads the way into this new way of living. The new family that follows Jesus can live in joy and peace because of what Jesus did.
Currently Selected:
Romans Introduction: NIrV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Romans INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Paul's Letter to the Romans was written to prepare the way for a visit Paul planned to make to the church at Rome. His plan was to work among the Christians there for a while and then, with their support, to go on to Spain. He wrote to explain his understanding of the Christian faith and its practical implications for the lives of Christians. The book contains Paul's most complete statement of his message.
After greeting the people of the church at Rome and telling them of his prayers for them, Paul states the theme of the letter: “The gospel reveals how God puts people right with himself: it is through faith from beginning to end.” (1.17)
Paul then develops this theme. The whole human race, both Jew and Gentile, needs to be put right with God, for all alike are under the power of sin. People are put right with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Next Paul describes the new life in union with Christ that results from this new relation with God. The believer has peace with God and is set free by God's Spirit from the power of sin and death. In chapters 5—8 Paul also discusses the purpose of the Law of God and the power of God's Spirit in the believer's life. Then the apostle wrestles with the question of how Jews and Gentiles fit into the plan of God for humanity. He concludes that the Jewish rejection of Jesus is part of God's plan for bringing the whole human race within the reach of God's grace in Jesus Christ, and he believes that the Jews will not always reject Jesus. Finally Paul writes about how the Christian life should be lived, especially about the way of love in relations with others. He takes up such themes as service to God, the duty of Christians to the state and to one another, and questions of conscience. He ends the letter with personal messages and with words of praise to God.
Outline of Contents
Introduction and theme 1.1–17
The need for salvation 1.18—3.20
God's way of salvation 3.21—4.25
The new life in Christ 5.1—8.39
Israel in the plan of God 9.1—11.36
Christian conduct 12.1—15.13
Conclusion and personal greetings 15.14—16.27
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.