**N.B. This is a transcript of my complete chapter on Romans taken from "Sixty-Six Books - An Overview of the Bible Book by Book"

ROMANS - THE  BOOK OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD 

 The English poet Samuel Taylor Coldridge called the Book of Romans “the profoundest piece of writing in existence” Martin Luther thought it was “the main book of the New Testament”, There is common agreement that it is without doubt a theological and an intellectual masterpiece. For the purposes of those interested in systematic theology, it is the most important book in the Bible. 

 This letter is probably the New Testament's most carefully developed exposition of the Christian gospel. It sets out in a progressive and systematic arrangement the spiritual basis of the message of salvation. Yet at the same time it is a letter sent to a church with the purpose of being read and circulated. In it, Paul intended his presentation of the gospel to be a means of teaching Christian truth in general, but he also had a definite missionary purpose in sending it to the church in Rome. 

 Author 

 The author not only calls himself Paul (Rom. 1:1) but describes himself in such a way as the apostle Paul (Rom. 11:13, 15:1520). Church history and tradition agrees unanimously with this perspective. 

Recipients 

 Romans was written to Christian believers who lived in Rome. (Rom. 1:7). No one knows when or by whom the church was founded. When Paul wrote this epistle, he had not yet personally visited Rome (Rom.1:9-13, 15:22-29). At the time of writing, Paul was nearing the end of his third missionary journey. He was in Corinth (Acts 20:2-3; Romans 16:23. 1 Corinthians 1:14), making final preparations to go to Jerusalem with a gift of money that several the Gentile churches had donated to the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem (Romans 15:2527, Acts 19:21). Upon completing his work in Jerusalem, Paul intended going to Rome (Romans 15:28). Rome was the centre of the Empire, and Paul saw that if the Roman church was firmly established in the gospel and aware of its missionary responsibilities, Christianity could and would spread throughout the Roman Empire. He therefore wrote to help the church understand its unique mission and to prepare it for the additional teaching he would give when he arrived. After spending some time in Rome, Paul planned to move into the unevangelized regions to the west, till eventually he reached Spain (Romans 15:20; Romans 15:23-24; Romans 15:28). 

 All of this points to the time of writing as whilst Paul stay at Corinth for three months during his third missionary journey (Acts 20:2-3). Early in 57 AD is probably an accurate estimate. It is evident that some segments addressed Gentile believers (Rom. 1:13,11:13, 15:14, 16) and other sections talked more to those from a Jewish background. (Rom. Chapters 2, and 16, include the names of several recipients who were clearly Jewish. On the surface, it does not appear that any internal problem prompted the writing of the letter. However, there is some signs in this letter that the believers at Rome needed to be encouraged to live in harmony. 

Message 

  The subject is righteousness. The message is God is righteous to justify, sanctify, and glorify, both Jews and Gentiles by grace. 

Structure 

  The literary structure of Romans is that of a letter. The format of an ancient letter was greetings, thanksgiving, prayer, then the main body of the letter, then finally personal greetings, and a benediction. Paul follows that general pattern here. 

 I.                1:1-17 Paul introduces himself and his subject 

 II.              1:18-3:20 Humankind's sinful condition 

 III.            3:21-5:21 The way of salvation 

 IV.            6:1-8:39 The way of holiness 

 V.             9:1-11:36 A problem concerning Israel 

 VI.            12:1-15:13 Christian faith in practice 

 VII.          15:14-16:27 Plans, greetings, and farewell 

Purposes 

 One purpose of Romans is personal. It is to prepare the Roman church for Paul’s journey to visit them and from there to go onward to Spain. Paul expects help and resources from the Roman church to enable him to carry the gospel onwards to Spain (Rom. 15:24).  

 Another purpose of Romans is educational. It is to teach that a sovereign God saves Jews and Gentiles by grace. Paul explains that God justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies. 

 A third purpose of Romans is pastoral. Paul was concerned that a tension might develop between Gentile and Jewish Christians in the Roman church. Some years earlier the anti-Jewish feeling in Rome was so strong that the Emperor expelled all Jews from the city (Acts 18:2), but they had now returned. In writing to this church. He wanted to warn against anti-Jewish feelings in the church (Romans 11:17-24; Romans 15:27) and encouraged Jews and Gentiles to be tolerant of each other (Romans 14:1-23). The gospel is for all people  equally, because all are sinners. Whether Jews or Gentiles, they can all be saved only by God's grace. 

 Summary: 

 Paul wrote to the Roman church to prepare for his journey there, to teach them that God is righteous to justify, sanctify, and glorify Jews and Gentiles by grace and to exhort both Jews and Gentiles to live harmoniously with each other. Since God justifies us by grace though faith, we should obey Him by living a loving life.