The apostle Paul wrote the book of Romans at the end of his third missionary journey, when he was traveling to Jerusalem, taking a contribution to the saints there from the saints in Macedonia and Achaia. He hoped after that to go to Rome on his way to preach the gospel in Spain. He was, however, arrested in Jerusalem and after a prolonged imprisonment there, where his accusers could not prove their accusations, he appealed to Caesar and was delivered to Rome, fulfilling his desire to visit the believers and preach the gospel there, before he was eventually executed for his faith.
Note:
I offer three methods of summation: 1) chapter themes of scriptural application; 2) outline; 3) summary narrative (each link to the full chapter on the day we originally read it).
Quotes from Scripture are indicated either by quotation marks or italics, or both.
CHAPTER THEMES:
Chapter 1: creation reveals God, so those who don’t believe in Him are without excuse and vulnerable to His wrath
Chapter 2: when we judge others, we agree with the Law of God which is written on our hearts and revealed by our conscience; we will not be judged by outer action but by our inner heart to comply with this Law
Chapter 3: the revelation of God’s Law to the Jews was to bring about, for everyone, a knowledge of sin, demonstrating “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and need the righteousness God offers through faith in Christ Jesus
Chapter 4: Abraham was deemed righteous by his faith in God, demonstrating that all of us attain righteousness only by faith in God who offered Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins
Chapter 5: since we are justified by faith before God by the blood of Jesus, we have peace with Him and know that we have been saved from His wrath and, through His Holy Spirit, have hope for whatever we go through in this life and for all eternity
Chapter 6: “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”; we have been freed from death, but we have also been freed from sin’s mastery over us, so, by grace, we present ourselves as slaves to righteousness, resulting in our sanctification
Chapter 7: “we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter”
Chapter 8 (& here): the Spirit of Christ sets us free from condemnation, from the Law of sin and death; it confirms we are in Christ; it intercedes for us; it sets us free from fear; we know we will suffer with Christ, but the Spirit allows us to persevere, waiting eagerly for the glory to be revealed, knowing all works for our good and we cannot be separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus
Chapter 9: it is belief in Christ that determines our salvation, not whether we were born Jew or Gentile
Chapter 10: “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation….For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for ‘WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’”
Chapter 11 (& here): if God was willing to cut off some of His own people Israel for their lack of faith, we must not be arrogant, but fear, standing in our own faith; we must continue in His kindness, or be cut off, just as they will be grafted in again if they do not continue in their unbelief; Israel been hardened for a time but will be saved, according to the covenant of God (see Jeremiah 32:37-41)
Chapter 12: there are implications for how we should live if we are to continue in the kindness of God, not conforming to this world but being transformed by the renewing of our minds
Chapter 13 (read an additional perspective here): be in subjection to authorities for conscience’ sake, love your neighbor, and behave properly as in the day
Chapter 14: we should not judge each other for our different opinions as we exercise our faiths, but pursue the things that make for peace, as each of us is individually accountable to and will answer to God
Chapter 15 (& here): we are to serve others, and not just please ourselves, accept one another as Christ has accepted us, and be of the same mind so that we can glorify God
Chapter 16: receive other brothers in the manner worthy of the saints, helping with their needs; be wise in what is good and innocent of what is evil, keeping an eye out for those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to scriptural teaching, causing deception of the unsuspecting; God is able to establish us and lead us to obedience of faith
OUTLINE:
Introduction (v1-7):
Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God” writes to “all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints”
Paul’s longing to see the Roman believers (v8-15):
He thanks God that their faith is being proclaimed throughout the world
He prays unceasingly that He will be able to visit them
“so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine”
Paul’s eagerness to preach the gospel in Rome (v16-17):
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes….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.’”
Creation gives evidence for God, leaving men without excuse for not having faith, and therefore vulnerable to God’s wrath (v18-23)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness
because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools
God gives people over to what they desire (v24-32):
Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator
For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful
although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them
If you pass judgment, you agree with the Law of God and risk judgment if you do not practice it yourself (v1-11):
do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
Explanation of the day of judgment:
the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.
It will not matter whether someone is a Jew or Gentile:
For there is no partiality with God.
Sin is sin whether one is knowledgeable or ignorant of the Law of God, and our conscience reveals it (v12-16):
it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified
when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law…they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them
Caution to the Jews applicable to all who think they are righteous (v17-24):
you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?
You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?
What matters is not outward actions, but the inward heart to please God (v25-29):
For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
If it is inward, not outward, “Jewishness” that matters (Romans2:29), “Then what advantage has the Jew?” (v1=4):
“they were entrusted with the oracles of God”
their unbelief does not nullify the faithfulness of God
“as it is written,
'THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS,
AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.’”
Paul negates inppropriate questions, always defending the righteous God against the judgment of unholy men (v5-8):
“if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God,…The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He?”
“if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?”
“And why not say…‘Let us do evil that good may come’?”
Paul supports with Scripture that all are under sin (v9-18), e.g.:
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE”
“THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES”
The purpose of the Law is to reveal the knowledge of sin (v19-20):
the Law speaks to those under it, demonstrating that “by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight”
God demonstrates His righteousness apart from the Law by justifying those who have faith in Christ Jesus (v21-26):
that God would do this was “witnessed by the Law and the Prophets”
“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Chirst Jesus; who God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.”
Jesus’ sacrifice demonstrated God both as “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus”
God is God of both Jews and Gentiles, and boasting in works is excluded (v27-30):
God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one
The Law is not nullified but established (v31)
Abraham was not justified (made righteous) by works, but by faith (v1-8):
“ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS”
Since he was credited with righteousness before he was circumcised, he is the father of all who believe, whether circumcised or not (v9-12):
his circumcision was a sign of his faith
“he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe”
“For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation” (v13-15)
Abraham believed that God was able to perform what He had promised (v16-25)
even though he and Sarah were old and without children, he believed God’s promise that he would become the father of many nations
“Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.”
“having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v1-5):
He has introduced us to grace
“we exult in hope of the glory of God”
“we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us”
“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (v6-11):
“having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him”
through Adam, “sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned…But the free gift is not like the transgression” (v12-21):
“For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many”
“The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be!” (v 1-7):
“all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death”
“if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin”
“For the death that [Christ] died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God (v8-11):
“Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus”
“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members a instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (v12-14)
“Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!” (v15-19):
“though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness”
“so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification”
“the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (v20-23):
“having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life”
“the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives” (v1-6)
“you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God”
“we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter”
“I would not have come to know sin except through the Law”(v7-25):
“the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good””
“through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful”
“if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good”
“I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man”
“on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin”
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (v1-8)
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit
the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
“If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness (v9-11):
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live (v12-17):
you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
suffering with Christ identifies us with Him, “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (v18)
Even the creation suffers and is waiting for the freedom of the glory of the children of God (v19-25):
“For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God”
the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God
even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”
“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (v26-27)
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (v28-39)
“If God is for us, who is against us?
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,or peril, or sword?
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Paul wishes himself “accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of [his] brethren” (v1-5):
his description of his brethren, the Israelites:
“to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh”
definition of “Israel” not determine by flesh, or familial relationship (v6-13):
“they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: ‘THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.’ That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants”
“so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls”
once again answering the accusations of men: “There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be!” (v14-18):
“For He says to Moses, ‘I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.’.”
“So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy”
“So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires”
more answers to the accusations of men: “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” (v19-26):
“On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, ‘Why did you make me like this,’ will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay…?’”
“What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?”
“And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles. As He says also in Hosea, 'I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, “MY PEOPLE,” AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, “BELOVED.”’”
only a remnant of Israel will be saved (v27-29):
“THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE LIKE THE SAND OF THE SEA, IT IS THE REMNANT THAT WILL BE SAVED”
the Israelites did not pursue righteousness by faith (v30-33):
“Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousnes, did not arrive at that law”
“Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works”
“They stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written,
'BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.’”
Paul’s heart for his brethren, the Jews (v1-4):
their salvation.
“I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.”
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
righteousness based on faith is different than the righteousness based on law (v5-13):
“if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation”
“WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED”
“there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him”
“WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED”
the call to share the good news (v14-15):
“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ‘HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!’”
Paul’s confidence that his brethren have heard the good news, but not all heeded (v16-21):
“they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, ‘LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?’ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ”
“But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have;
'THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH,
AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD.’”“But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says,
'I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS BY THAT WHICH IS NOT A NATION,
BY A NATION WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WILL I ANGER YOU.’”“And Isaiah is very bold and says,
'I WAS FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME,
I BECAME MANIFEST TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME.’”“But as for Israel He says, 'ALL THE DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE.’”
“God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be!” (v1-6):
Paul is “an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin”
When Elijah thought he was the only one left of the faithful, God told him, “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL”
“In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.”
“What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained (v7-10):
“those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened”
“by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles” (v11-16):
“to make them jealous”!
“if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!”
Paul says, “I magnify my ministry, if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them.”
“For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.”
do not be arrogant toward the branches (v17-21):
“You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.”
the kindness and severity of God (v22-24):
“to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness”
“they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again”
the mystery of God’s treatment of the Jews (v25-32):
“a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved”
“THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION,
HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB”“THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM,
WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS”“From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake”
“from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers”
“the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable”
“just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy”
“God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.”
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (v33-36)
The implications of needing to continue in the LORD’s kindness (v1-2):
“present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship”
“do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect”
We should not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, but should have sound judgment, as God has alloted a measure of faith to each (v3-8):
“just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another”
“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly:
“if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness”
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality” (v9-13)
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God….Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (v9-13)
Romans 13 (read an additional perspective here)
Be in subjection to governing authorities (v1-7):
“there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God”
“whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God”
“rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil
“Do what is good and you will have praise from the same”
“it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake”
“Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor”
Owe nothing except love (v8-10):
“he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law”
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law”
“salvation is nearer to us than when we believed” (v11-14)
lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light”
“behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy”
“put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”
“accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions” (v1-4):
“Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand”
Each of us lives for the Lord (v5-12):
“But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God”
“each one of us will give an account of himself to God”
“let us not judge one another anymore” (v13-23):
“if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died”
“do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”
“we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another”
“It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles”
“The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats,because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.”
“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves (v1-6):
“Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification”
“even Christ did not please Himself”
the importance of Scripture:
“whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope”
“be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”
“accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God” (v7-12):
“Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy”
“may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (v13)
Paul’s specific ministry (v14-20):
“to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit”
“in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God”
“I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit”
“from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ”
“I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named”
Paul’s desire to see the Romans (v22-33):
“For this reason [his desire to preach the gospel where Christ had not already been named] I have often been prevented from coming to you”
“with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you whenever I go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while”
“but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem” (see Acts 19:21 and 1 Corinthians 16:1-6)
“they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them”
“if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things”
Paul’s original desire [which we know was confounded]:
“when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain””
“strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea”
“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea” (v1-2):
“receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you”
“for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well”
“Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; also greet the church that is in their house” (v3-4a):
[Paul met Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth after leaving Athens during his second missionary journey (recounted in Acts 18). He stayed in Corinth for eighteen months, until a disturbance formed against him. He took Priscilla and Aquila with him to Ephesus and left them there while he returned to Antioch. He then returned to Ephesus at the beginning of this third missionary journey (Acts 20) and stayed for over 2 years, until another disturbance moved him on. Obviously Priscilla and Aquila protected Paul during at least one of these disturbances. They were originally from Rome (Acts 18:2), and evidently had a home church there.]
“Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia” (v4b):
[Paul first shared the gospel in Asia in Ephesus at then end of his second missionary journey.]
More greetings [Paul’s extensive knowledge of the church in Rome likely came from his time and friendship with Pricilla and Aquila] (v5-16):
“Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.”
“Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.”
Admonition and encouragement (v17-20):
“keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them”
“such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting”
“the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you”
“but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil”
“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet”
“The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”
Yet more greetings (v21-24):
“Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother.”
[The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.Amen.]
Benediction (v25):
“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.”
SUMMARY:
Chapter 1: Romans opens with Paul communicating that he longed to see the Roman believers and that he longed to preach the gospel in Rome. He was not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation for all who believe. Those who don’t believe have no excuse because creation gives evidence for God. God gives non-believers over to their lusts, which leaves them vulnerable to His wrath.
Chapter 2: Paul asserts that passing judgment on others demonstrates agreement with the Law of God, which means we risk judgment if we do not follow it ourselves. He confirms that there will be a day “of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath, and indignation.” Paul reassures that Gentiles are not judged if they are ignorant of the Law of God as revealed to the Jews, because God’s law is written on our hearts, as evidenced by our conscience which either accuses or defends our actions. All of us, Jews and Gentiles, dishonor God if we claim to be righteous but continue to sin. “[H}e is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.”
Chapter 3: If one is only a Jew “inwardly,” as Paul asserts, that begs the question “what advantage has the Jew,” especially if they were required to be circumcised? They were entrusted with the oracles of God. If Jews did not come to belief in God, does that “nullify the faithfulness of God”? Paul’s uses Scripture to defend the righteous God against the criticisms of unholy men: “THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.” Paul anticipates questions, such as, is a God that inflicts wrath unrighteous? Or if a sinner’s unfaithfulness results in God demonstrating His glory, then why is that sinner still judged? And if sin results in God’s gracious good, should we sin more? He asserts those who ask such questions of God deserve condemnation, but, then again, we all deserve condemnation because we are all sinners. The Law was given to Jews, who demonstrated that no one can be justified before God by following it, because it’s impossible to follow it. The Law then served to give us all knowledge of sin. The righteousness of God is demonstrated in that He is just in having Jesus give Himself as a sacrifice for our sin, satisfying the Law, and in that He is willing to justify all those who believe in Christ Jesus, despite the fact that we are all sinners who fall short of His glory.
Chapter 4: God told Abraham, though he and Sarah were old and childless, that he would be the father of many nations. “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” He “received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe…in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.” It is our believing God that makes us righteous before God.
Chapter 5: The first part of this chapter is the easier to understand. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Having been justified by the blood of Christ, we have peace with God, escape His wrath, and, by His grace through the power of the Holy Spirit, have hope for whatever we go through in this life and for eternity. Harder to comprehend is Paul’s comparison between the sin of Adam and the gracious action of Jesus, where he says the first is not like the second. Through Adam, “sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all men sinned.” But “if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.” Adam’s transgression meant we would die at the end of our earthly life, but Jesus’ sacrifice means grace for this life and the life to come. Paul also talks about the purpose of the Law: “for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law….The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Chapter 6: If the Law came so transgression would increase, resulting in greater grace through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, should we continue to sin so that grace may increase? No. “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Those of us who are baptized in Christ have not only been baptized into the likeness of His death, but also the likeness of His resurrection. We have been freed from both death and sin. Therefore, we stop presenting ourselves as slaves to sin, but, through His grace, we present ourselves to God as slaves to righteousness, resulting in our sanctification.
Chapter 7: The Law came so that we would have knowledge of sin. Before we were released from the Law through the body of Christ, if we desired to do good, but found we were unable, we agreed with the Law of God. Our mind served God, but still our flesh served sin. We have now been joined “to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God….we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”
Chapter 8 (& here): The Law of the Spirit of Christ has set us free from the Law of sin and death. Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. The Spirit also confirms we are in Christ, especially if we suffer with Him. These sufferings do not compare to the glory to be revealed in Him. We and all of creation groan and persevere, eagerly waiting for it, while the Spirit intercedes for us, and we know all things work together for our good and nothing will separate us from Him.
Chapter 9: Paul wishes himself accursed for the sake of his Israelite kinsmen who are separated from Christ. He clarifies that it is not simply descendancy from Abraham that determines who is an Israelite. Children of the promise, who are righteous by faith and not works, who believe in Jesus Christ, are considered descendants of Abraham. God is the potter and we are the clay. God determines who receive His mercy and He has established that those who believe Him receive His mercy.
Chapter 10: God has established that “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” Not all Jews heeded the good news. Though they have a zeal for God, they pursued a righteousness of their own through the Law, but “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Chapter 11 (& here): God has not rejected His people Israel. He has always left a remnant of the faithful. Their transgression of faithlessness has meant salvation for the Gentiles, and Paul hopes to move some of them to jealousy by his ministry to the Gentiles so that they too may be saved. The LORD’s willingness to cut off members of His own people Israel for their faithlessness should motivate us to fear Him and stand by our faith. We can be cut off if we do not continue in His kindness, but the Jews can be grafted in again if they do not continue in their unbelief. God has hardened the Jews for a time, but they will be saved according to His covenant with them (see Jeremiah 32:37-41).
Chapter 12: If we are to continue in the kindness of the LORD, we should not conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds, not thinking of ourselves too highly, and practicing the gifts we’ve been given as necessary and unique parts of the body with different functions. We should heed certain admonitions: “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God….Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Chapter 13 (read an additional perspective here): Continuing with the implications for our behavior given that we must continue in the kindness of the LORD, we should be in subjection to authorities as they are established by God. We should love, and not do wrong to our neighbor, since this fulfills the Law. Our behavior should be proper as in the day, including putting aside strife and jealousy.
Chapter 14: We should resolve not to judge one another’s differing opinions, not put stumbling blocks in front of each other, and to pursue the things that make for peace, walking in love, knowing each one of us is individually accountable to God.
Chapter 15 (& here): Paul finishes the implications for our behavior if we are to continue in the kindness of God: we are to serve others, and not just please ourselves, accept one another as Christ has accepted us, and be of the same mind so that we can glorify God. He reminds us “whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” He talks about his ministry, and his conviction to only go to places where the gospel had not yet been preached. That conviction has prevented him from going to Rome, but has given him the desire to go to Spain. He hopes to go there and visit the Romans on the way, so he asks for prayers for rescue from those “who are disobedient in Judea.” We know, from the book of Acts, that he is not rescued and that he never gets to Spain, but that his desire to visit the Romans is fulfilled when he goes there as a prisoner.
Chapter 16: Paul closes his letter with many greetings to individuals in the church in Rome, likely informed by his friendship and considerable time spent with Priscilla and Aquila, who were originally from Rome and whom he ministered with in Corinth and later Ephesus. He admonishes the reception of a sister “in a manner worthy of the saints,” meeting he needs. He also admonishes keeping an “eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to [scriptural] teaching” as they can “deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” “[B]e wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil,” knowing the “God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” God is able to establish us and lead us to the obedience of faith. Amen.
My most challenging book. I've read it enough times to feel like I have some understanding all the way thorough. Now I am inching through again, working with a verse-by-verse Greek-level commentary. Studying the Greek is different from working with translations. The central doctrines don't change, but the Greek text is richer and the context is broader than what translations and study Bibles can manage in a reasonable number of pages. This Romans commentary (NIGTC Romans, by Richard N. Longenecker) is 1140 pages, with footnotes and indexes.