Romans

Author: Paul
Date of Writing: AD 57
Type of Book: Epistle
Theme: Righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ

TThis letter was written by the apostle Paul to the church in Rome. He wrote this around AD 57 from the city of Corinth. At this point Paul had never been to Rome, but he had long desired to go there. We read in the last chapter in the book of Acts that he finally got to Rome around AD 60, as a prisoner.

Paul obviously knew many of the Christians in Rome, and many were probably converted as a result of his ministry in other places. The church in Rome was primarily made up of Gentiles, with some Jews mixed in. As Peter was called to minister to the Jews, Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, even though he was a Jew himself. Paul planned to go and minister to the Christians in Rome so this letter was somewhat of a preparation for that visit, encouraging and giving the Christians advance training preceding his personal ministry to them.

The book of Romans is noted as being the most theological and sytematic among all the books of the New Testament. It is a detailed teaching outlining the essentials of the faith, and serves as a profound explanation of the gospel. The entire book explains the need for salvation, and how God is able to give us righteousness. Paul explains the purpose and need for the death of Jesus and the practical implications of the great doctrinal truths, including the unity of Jews and Gentiles that comes by faith in Jesus Christ.

For me personally, the book of Romans will always stand out as the vehicle God used to teach me about the glorious grace of God. The hopeless lament, "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24) that gives way to the glorious truths of Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus," is positively life-changing. Understanding the truth of God's grace through the book of Romans and discovering who I am in Christ revolutionized my life and my ministry. The victory that comes from understanding, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" is just glorious! "We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:31,37).

-from Pastor Chuck Smith from The Word for Today Bible