The Strand Study Bible

ROMANS

Author: Paul Theme: The Power of the Gospel

About the Author: Paul, whose name means “little,” was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin (Phil 3:5), and a native of Tarsus, a city of Cilicia (Acts 21:39 & 22:3). Also called Saul, Paul inherited the rights of Roman citizenship (Acts 22:28) because his father was a Pharisee (Acts 23:6). At the age of perhaps thirteen (Acts 26:4-5), Paul was sent to Jerusalem and there became a student of orthodox Judaism under Gamaliel, a teacher of the law (Acts 22:3). Paul is first mentioned in Acts 7:58 where we find him consenting to the death of Stephen. His fanatical devotion to Judaism and his extreme hatred for Christianity made him the acknowledged leader of the Christian persecution. The spread of Christianity forced Paul to travel far and wide for his victims. Armed with authority from the High Priest, Paul journeyed toward Damascus where he had heard there were many Christians. It was while he was approaching that city that his wonderful conversion took place (c. AD 37 - Acts 9:3-6). For the next thirty years (from c. AD 37 to 67), until his death, Paul would go on three missionary journeys and face two Roman imprisonments. He would write thirteen epistles (fourteen, if you count Hebrews) and become known as the preacher to the Gentiles. About the Book: Romans is considered by many as the grandest book in the New Testament and is often called the “constitution” of Christianity. The object of Romans is to destroy all wisdom and works of the flesh (Rom 1:22) and to glorify the only wisdom and work of the One who came from Heaven (Rom 1:16). Paul instructs the church in the great fundamentals of salvation showing them over and over again how God’s grace is greater than man’s sin. He explains to them how a sinner is declared righteous through the atoning work of Christ using Abraham and King David as examples (Rom 4). He also explains the warring that goes on within every Christian as the old and new natures battle for control (Rom 7). Romans was written from Corinth late in A.D. 57, near the end of Paul’s Third Missionary Journey (Acts 20:3). Helpful Background : Paul had yet to visit Rome (though he longed to meet with the Christians there - Rom 15:22-29), therefore, he wrote Romans to prepare the way for his visit (Rom 15:14-17). After the writing of II Corinthians in Philippi (Acts 20:1), Paul left that city and came to Corinth (Acts 20:2-3). His second visit to Corinth was brief, only three months. During that three- month stay he wrote Romans . Phebe of Cenchrea probably delivered the epistle (Rom 16:1). Notes of Interest: 1. Romans quotes the OT 51 times. 12 of those 51 quotes refer directly to CHRIST . Note - 16 of the 51 OT quotations refer directly to the Pentateuch. Note - Isaiah and Psalms are the OT books most often quoted in the book of Romans ( 14 quotations). 2. Prophecies are referred to 22 times in Romans . 3. Prophecies concerning CHRIST are referred to 14 of those 22 times. 4. There are 14 different OT characters referred to in Romans . Note - Abraham is the OT character most often referred to in the book of Romans ( 18 times). 5. There is 1 inset map used in the book of Romans . It is numbered chronologically (#56).

Outline of Romans :

1. Greetings from Paul to the church at Rome (Rom 1:1-17) 2. God’s three indictments (Rom 1:18-3:20) 3. We are justified by faith in Christ (Rom 3:21-5:21) 4. We are sanctified via the Word of God, through the Spirit of God (Rom 6-8) 5. God’s purpose for the Jews (Rom 9-11) 6. Christian behavior (Rom 12-15) 7. Paul sends his personal greetings to the church at Rome (Rom 16) Romans 1

Lord, which was made of the 5 SEED OF DAVID according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the 6 SPIRIT OF HOLINESS , by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the 7 called of Jesus Christ:

1. or, “slave” 2. Isa 49:1-2 & Jere 1:5 & Lk 1:13-16 & Gal 1:15-16 3. Lk 1:70 4. Psa 2:7 & Isa 7:14 & 9:6 5. II Sam 7:11-14 & Psa 132:11 & Jn 1:14 & Gal 4:4 6. or, “Holy Spirit” 7. that is, “summoned to salvation” - Rom 8:30

Greetings from Paul to the church at Rome Date Written - AD 57

1 Paul, a 1 servant of Jesus Christ, 2 called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his 3 prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his 4 Son Jesus Christ our

1:2 Although the OT prophets might not have known exactly who the MESSIAH would be, or at what period of their history He would arise ( Lk 18:34 and I Pet 1:10 a ), they certainly knew He was coming and that He was coming with REDEMPTION ( Job 19:25 and Lk 2:25,38 ). 1:4 This word ( declared ) is the Greek word ‘ οUL]Z ( horizo ), from which we derive our English word “horizon.” Just as the sun rises every morning upon the “horizon” in order to illuminate the world concerning the day, so the SON rose from the dead 2,000 years ago in order to illuminate the world concerning His deity (Jn 5:17-18 & 10:30-33 and I Tim 3:16). If Romans 1:4 proves anything, it proves that the resurrection of CHRIST is God (Mt 12:38-40 & 16:1-4). 1842