This is the introduction to the bible study notes on the book of Romans.

Key Word: The Righteousness of God

Key Verses:

Rom 1:16-17 NASB For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (17) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

Rom 3:21-25 KJVR But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; (22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

The background of the book of Romans (taken from Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible; Albert Barnes (1798-1870)).

Of the time when it was written, there can be little doubt. About the year 52 or 54 a.d. the Emperor Claudius banished all Jews from Rome. In Act_18:2, we have an account of the first acquaintance of Paul with Aquila and Priscilla who had departed from Rome in consequence of that decree. This acquaintance was formed in Corinth; and we are told that Paul stayed with them and worked at the same occupation Act_18:3. In Rom_16:3-4, Paul directs the church to greet Priscilla and Aquila, who had for his life laid down their own necks. This service which they rendered to Paul must have been therefore after the decree of Claudius; and of course the Epistle must have been written after the year 52 ad.

In Act_18:19, we are told that Paul left Aquila and Priscilla at Ephesus. Paul made a journey through the neighboring regions, and then returned to Ephesus Act_19:1. Paul remained at Ephesus at least two years Act_19:8, Act_19:9, Act_19:10, and while here probably wrote the First Epistle to the Corinthians. In that Epistle 1Co_16:19 he sends the salutation of Priscilla and Aquila, who were, of course, still at Ephesus. The Epistle to the Romans, therefore, in which Paul sends his salutation to Aquila and Priscilla, as being then at Rome, could not be written until after they had left Ephesus and returned to Rome; that is, until three years at least after the decree of Claudius in 52 or 54 ad.

Still further, when Paul wrote this Epistle of Romans, he was about to depart for Jerusalem to convey a collection which had been made for the poor saints there, by the churches in Macedonia and Achaia; Rom_15:25-26. When he had done this, he intended to go to Rome; Rom_15:28. Now, by looking at the Acts of the Apostles, we can determine when this occurred. At this time, he sent Timothy and Erastus ahead of him into Macedonia, while he remained in Asia for a season Act_19:22. After this Act_20:1-2, Paul himself went into Macedonia, passed through Greece, and remained about three months there. In this journey it is almost certain that Paul went to Corinth, the capital of Achaia, at which time it is supposed that Romans was written. From this place he set out for Jerusalem where he was made a prisoner, and after remaining a prisoner for two years Act_24:27, he was sent to Rome about 60 a.d. Allowing for the time of his traveling and his imprisonment, it must have been about three years from the time that he purposed to go to Jerusalem; that is, from the time that he finished Romans Rom_15:25-29 to the time when he actually reached Rome, and thus the Epistle to the Romans must have been written about 57 ad.

It is clear also, that the Epistle to the Romans was written from Corinth. In Rom_16:1, Phoebe, a member of the church at Cenchrea, is commended to the Roman Christians. She probably had charge of the letter, or she accompanied those who had it. Cenchrea was the port of the city of Corinth, about seven or eight miles from the city. In Rom_16:23, Gaius is spoken of as the host of Paul, or he of whose hospitality Paul partook, but Gaius was baptized by Paul at Corinth, and Corinth was manifestly his place of residence; 1Co_1:14. Erastus is also mentioned as the chamberlain of the city where the Epistle to the Romans was written; but this Erastus is mentioned as having his home at Corinth; 2Ti_4:20. From all this it is manifest that Romans was written at Corinth about the year 57 ad.

The Context of the book of Romans:

Rome was recorded as having as many as 4 Million people. The largest city in the world at that time (and would be ranked in the top 40 cities in the world even today) and was composed of both Jews and Gentiles. It was this clash of cultures and beliefs that seems to be a focus of Paul’s writings – to properly position the Law in the context of God’s Grace through Jesus.

The city was was mainly populated by slaves and the very poor. Romans 1:8 suggests that the Christian church in Rome was well known and had been in place for several years at the time of this letter (Romans 15:23). The believers in Rome were apparently numerous (Tacitus – a historian – referred to the Christians who were persecuted under Nero in A.D. 64 as “an immense multitude”).

Christianity rose quickly among the Romans at a time when their polytheistic beliefs were proving empty.

How does the context of Romans apply to us today?

• Are the issues raised in Romans still relevant?
• Is the social context relevant for us today?
• Is the church structure/organization significantly different from today?
• Do we have leaders like Paul who strive to correct our path among us today?

What controversies have sprung up because of Paul’s writings? (2Pe 3:15-16 NASB and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, (16) as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.)