Background Notes for a Study in Romans
We started a weekly lunchtime study of Romans 5-8, meeting on Wednesdays in June. Here are the background notes for Romans I provided to all who gathered. More study guides and teacher notes are available at spanishriver.com/adult-vbs
Studying Romans is never easy, but it is always fruitful.
Among the ancient - Augustine attempted a commentary in 394-95 but gave up after seven verses. Chrysostom, 349-407: “It (Romans) is incomparable…”; had it read to him aloud twice a week so he could penetrate its meaning and have its message penetrate him. Among the modern, Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Westminster Chapel - Friday nights, between 1955-1968, he taught it in 366 messages.
Consider its Influence
The Influence of Romans through the Centuries
The entire history of theology, renewal, and mission
Irenaeus, Origen, Clement - 100-200
Augustine: 386 (his conversion and conflict with Pelagius)
I cast myself down I know not how, under a certain fig-tree, giving full vent to my tears; and the floods of mine eyes gushed out an acceptable sacrifice to Thee. And, not indeed in these words, yet to this purpose, spake I much unto Thee: and Thou, O Lord, how long? how long, Lord, wilt Thou be angry, for ever? Remember not our former iniquities, for I felt that I was held by them. I sent up these sorrowful words: How long, how long, “tomorrow, and tomorrow?” Why not now? why not is there this hour an end to my uncleanness?
So was I speaking and weeping in the most bitter contrition of my heart, when, lo! I heard from a neighboring house a voice, as of boy or girl, I know not, chanting and oft repeating. ‘Take up and read; Take up and read.’ [’Tolle, lege! Tolle, lege!’] Instantly, my countenance altered, I began to think most intently whether children were wont in any kind of play to sing such words: nor could I remember ever to have heard the like. So checking the torrent of my tears, I arose; interpreting it to be no other than a command from God to open the book, and read the first chapter I should find…
Eagerly then I returned to the place where Alypius was sitting; for there had I laid the volume of the Apostle when I arose thence. I seized, opened, and in silence read that section on which my eyes first fell: ‘Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, in concupiscence.’ [Romans 13:14-15] No further would I read; nor needed I: for instantly at the end of this sentence, by a light as it were of serenity infused into my heart, all the darkness of doubt vanished away.”
Luther: 1517 (Conversion and conflict with the Pope, Leo X)
“I greatly longed to understand Paul’s Epistle to the Romans and nothing stood in the way but that one expression, “the justice of God,” because I took it to mean that justice is whereby God is just and deals justly in punishing the unjust. My situation was that, although an impeccable monk, I stood before God as a sinner troubled in conscience, and I had no confidence that my merit would assuage him. Therefore, I did not love a just and angry God, but rather hated and murmured against Him.
Yet I clung to the dear Paul and had a great yearning to know what he meant. Night and day I pondered until I saw the connection between the justice of God and the statement that “the just shall live by his faith.” Then I grasped that the justice of God is that righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God justifies us through faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise. The whole of scripture took on a new meaning, and whereas before the “justice of God” had filled me with hate, now it came to be inexpressibly sweet in greater love. This passage of Paul became to me a gate to heaven…
Wesley: 1738 (Conversion and conflict with Orthodusty)
That evening he reluctantly attended a meeting in Aldersgate. Someone read from Luther's Preface to the Epistle to Romans. About 8:45 p.m. "while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."
Barth: 1918 (Awakening and Conflict with Liberalism)
“One can...write a history of Christian theology by surveying the ways in which Romans has been interpreted.” - Joseph Fitzmeyer
Has Romans changed you? It may yet do so!
“This epistle is the principal and most excellent part of the new testament, and most pure evangelion, that is to say glad tidings and what we call the gospel, and also a light and a way in unto the whole scripture … The sum and whole cause of the writings of this epistle, is, to prove that a man is justified by faith only: which proposition whoso denieth, to him is not only this epistle and all that Paul writeth, but also the whole scripture, so locked up that he shall never understand it to his soul’s health.”- William Tyndale
This epistle is in truth the most important document in the New Testament, the gospel in its purest expression. Not only is it well worth a Christian’s while to know it word for word by heart, but also to meditate on it day by day. It is the soul’s daily bread, and can never be read too often, or studied too much. The more you probe into it the more precious it becomes, and the better its flavour - Martin Luther
When any one gains a knowledge of this Epistle, he has an entrance opened to him to all the most hidden treasures of Scripture - John Calvin
The Big Picture
Rome and the Romans at the time of the writing:
The Romans - Along the Appian Way: Caesar is Lord!
The Emperors, Empire, & the Elites
Augustus (Successor to Julius Caesar, 27 BC - 14 AD, Birth of Jesus) - Tiberius (14-37, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus) - Caligula - Claudius - Nero (54-68, Death of Peter and Paul) - Galba/Otho/Vitellius - Vespasian (69-79, Destruction of Jerusalem) - Titus - Domitian (81-96)
Nero incites a localized persecution scapegoating the Christians over the great fire of Rome; Domitian begins first large-scale persecution
In Acts, persecution is from the Jews and the Romans act as a Protector of the infant Church. This is seen clearly in Paul’s own story.
From Britain in the Northwest, south to Spain, through Europe to Syria and the border of Afghanistan in the East
60-65 million people, about 1.2m in Rome (fed by grain from Egypt and North Africa - 150,000 metric tons a year; 200,000 got a monthly ‘corn dole’, enough to bake bread for that month)
The most diverse, multicultural city the world had ever seen. Everything and everyone from everywhere to create ‘Roman’ - do it the Roman way
Great illness (Malaria especially)
Ruled by about 2-3% of the population. Virtually no middle class. Peasant classes paid approximately 20-40% of production in tribute, plus taxes. Elites controlled all land and access to power
Food = Power. The control of food, right down to who sat where at an elite table and who ate what dishes, represented real power
Elite Values
Power, Domination, & Class/National Superiority (Pagans - non-city dwellers: ‘hicks’)
Displays of Power and Privilege
Non-elites: much lower life expectancy (infant mortality as high as 50%, average LE for a first century Roman was 21), and deep economic insecurity
The Citizens and the Rest
Massive slave class in addition to the trades (perhaps 90% at times, but many were freed)
Massive overcrowding in the city as more sought safety there.
Massive outbreaks of disease, fires, etc.
There were wealthy Christian ‘patrons’ (Luke 8:3; Acts 16; Rom 16:3-5 - prostatis, patroness), who offered substantial underwriting for the mission and its leaders
Majority of Christians were from the non-elites: slaves and the deeply impoverished (thus the radical message that the greatest are slaves, that God became a slave to save the world, and died a slave’s death only to rise as Lord - the title used only of Caesar in Rome! - was deeply moving, just as it was deeply subversive to the elites): see for instance the poverty of the Macedonians in 2 Corinthians 8-9, together with the Jesus hymn of Philippians 2
Religion and Life
Emperor worship and the gods
The gods have chosen Rome and bestowed on her the blessings of wealth, power, fertility, and peace (Pax Romana): not just simple polytheism, but Empire Theology, with the Emperor as Lord. The ‘gods’ are unified in the service of the Roman state. To deny the gods was to deny the power of the state; it was a subversive act against the civic order, threatening economic consequences as well as judgments from the gods. Religion was spiritual, civic, and political. The Christian Gospel was radically political without being overtly so; it was subversive and confrontational to every aspect of the social order and the churches were in essence citizen colonies of the not yet in the right now.
The Roman Christians - Along the Jesus Way: Jesus is Lord!
Origin of the Faith in Rome
‘Chrestus’ - Riots noted by Suetonius as cause for Claudius’ temporary exile of Jews from Rome in AD 49 (note Paul meeting Priscilla and Aquila in Acts 18:2-3; Romans 16:3-4)
People from Rome in Jerusalem at Pentecost when the Spirit was poured out: ‘visitors from Rome, both Jews and Proselytes’ (Acts 2:10).
The Divisions Common to Christianity in the Ancient World
The great conflict was over the incorporation of the Gentiles into the people of God and, related to this, the relationship of the Law of God to those who claim to be followers of Jesus
Jews vs Christians
Christians vs Christians (‘Judaizers’ - “Men from James” vs Paul)
See Acts 15; Galatians; Philippians 3; and of course, Romans!
When the Jews returned to Rome from the banishment, what kind of church did the believing Jews come home to?
The diversity and unity of the Church in Rome - Romans 16
Saul/Paul, his Mission, and his Letters
Who was Paul?
Saul of Tarsus, Pharisee and Zealous Scholar
Paul the Apostle, Loving and Zealous Messenger, Scholar, Pioneer, & Martyr, “Phariseed unto the gospel” - Romans 1
Not a cold, clinical, analytical academic
Great intellectual but a passionate heart: Paul never thought without feeling and he never felt without thinking.
Where was he when he wrote this and when did he write it?
Corinth, and en route to Jerusalem with the Gentile offering for the people of that city (see Romans 15-16)
Internal evidence: missionary endeavor in the East is finished and he plans to visit Rome after he takes the offering to Jerusalem: Rom 15:19-24. Paul notes his plan to go to Jerusalem and then Rome after visiting Achaia and Macedonia. In Acts 20 we read of his visits and future plans, placing him the region of Greece. In Romans 16 Paul commends Phoebe from Cenchrea and notes that Gaius is his host; Cenchrea is a port city for Corinth and Gaius is noted as a Corinthian in 1 Cor 1:14.
The crux of Pauline chronology is the accession of Gallio as Proconsul of Corinth (either 51 or 52). Paul is brought before him in Acts 18:12-17. Then Paul spends two years in Ephesus (Acts 19:10), so we get to about 53 or 54 in Acts 20. Scholars conclude 53 at the earliest and 58 at the latest, from Corinth. Let’s split the difference and say 55. Paul does go to Jerusalem, but is there arrested, held, and then, after a lengthy appeal process, eventually does arrive in Rome in about 62 after a terrifyingly harrowing journey by sea (Acts 27-28). Upon arrival, he is under house arrest, eventually released, but re-arrested in 65 in connection with the Great Fire of Rome (July, 64) and the persecution under Nero; martyred shortly thereafter. Did he make it to Spain in the intervening period?
Why did he write it?
To explain the delay in his visit - Romans 1
To exegete the Gospel and its implications (and thus launch a preemptive strike against his opponents, defending his apostleship and message - Romans 1-8
To heal divisions through the Gospel - Romans 9-14
To introduce his message and mission, and secure assistance for future work in Spain - Romans 15
Who brought it and how was it received? - Phoebe, Romans 16:1-2
Phoebe as deaconess and patroness: the bridge between Paul and the Romans
A woman of great influence
Probably a Gentile (Cenchrea is port city of Corinth, and no synagogue has ever been excavated there, coupled with fact that Corinth was a primarily Gentile congregation)
Tertius: Amanuensis (Secretary, Compiler)
Ancient Letters: Epistle, Essay, and Family Letters
Salutation-Body-Salutation
In an Epistle, there is a circulation in view, AND the Body has the quality of an Essay
In a Family Letter, the same structure appears but with an emphasis on the oikos, the household, and familial relationships. Romans combines all three.
The primacy of place for Romans: not due to date but due to prominence among the Epistles
Romans is included in the Muratorian Canon (170), and the earliest manuscript fragment is from about the same time, recently discovered (2012). The text was sent, received, read, copied and distributed per the custom of the time.
In comparison to any other Greek language letter collection, the amount of manuscripts for Paul’s work is far greater.
Quick Overview of Romans
Theme: Justification of God in the Justification of Sinners
Note Paul’s rhetorical questions - “Had God rejected his people?” etc
Pastoral Emphasis: Union of Gentile and Jewish believers in sin and redemption, in Adam and in Christ, and - consequently - in the Church
Historical Setting and Romans 11-15
Theological Questions and Issues
The Good News answers the bad news, and the same faith that justified Abraham justifies all who believe. One people saved by the same faith in the same promise from the same God
Why are all people guilty of sin if only the Jews had the Law?
Why do so few Jews believe in Jesus if he really is the Messiah?
How can we be right with God if God is both holy and merciful?
How do we live in unity with one another in Christ and as light in the word?
Basic Outline
Part One - Theology of Salvation: Announcing the Gospel - God is Just and the Justifier for Christ Fulfills the Law on behalf of Sinners
A. The Gospel of God - Romans 1:1-17
B. The Wrath of God - Romans 1:18- 3:20
C. The Grace of God - Romans 3:21-8:39
D. The Plan of God - Romans 9:1-11:33
Part Two - Theology of Life and Mission: Living the Gospel - Love is the fulfillment of the Law in the Life of Believers
A. The Will of God - Romans 12:1-15:33
B. The People of God - Romans 16:1-27
Suggested Introductions
Teaching Romans, Christopher Ash (Proclamation Trust)
Discovering Romans, Thiselton (Eerdmans)
Romans for You (2 Vols) - Tim Keller
Into the Heart of Romans, NT Wright (Zondervan)
Romans, Andrew Naselli (Crossway)
Encountering the Book of Romans, Douglas Moo (Baker)
When in Romans, Beverley Gaventa (Baker)
Suggested Commentaries
Essential
John Stott, Bible Speaks Today (IVP)
Tony Merida, Exposition (Holman)
Michael Bird, Story of God (Zondervan)
Douglas Moo, New International Commentary (Eerdmans)
John Murray (Eerdmans)
Schreiner (Baker)
Personal
FF Bruce
DA Carson
Frederick Dale Bruner
Historical
Martin Luther
John Calvin
Karl Barth
Scholarly
Frank Thielman
Richard Longenecker
Harvey & Kostenberger
James DG Dunn
Christopher Bryan (A Preface to Romans - Oxford)
Sermons
Fleming Rutledge (Eerdmans)
James Boice (Baker)
R Kent Hughes (CB)