Life of Paul - Paul's Letter to the Romans
Possible Date: 57 (winter)
Scripture: Romans
NOTE: While Paul is visiting Corinth he writes the book of Romans. The letter is delivered by Phoebe, a leader in the church at Cenchrea, who had business to attend to in Rome (Romans 16:1-2).
#Paul
NOTE: While Paul is visiting Corinth he writes the book of Romans. The letter is delivered by Phoebe, a leader in the church at Cenchrea, who had business to attend to in Rome (Romans 16:1-2).
#Apostle Paul
#Rome
NIV Study Bible Intro: Romans
THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS
From the earliest time, no one has questioned that the author of this epistle was Paul. Paul probably wrote Romans from Corinth. Gaius, who was Paul’s host at the time of writing (Romans 16:23), had been one of the prominent converts of his ministry in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:14). Phoebe, who delivered the epistle, was a member of the church in Cenchrea, a harbor town near Corinth (16:1, 2).
The letter is to be dated toward the latter part of Paul’s missionary work when he was engaged in the collection of a fund for the church in Jerusalem. During the short time in Corinth, somewhere around AD 56 to 58, Paul writes a letter to the saints in Rome, telling him his desire to visit them, but indicating his inability to do so. At this time, he tells them that he must first go to Jerusalem to deliver contributions being sent by the brethren in Macedonia and Achaia. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians while traveling from Ephesus to Corinth, the collection was still incomplete (2 Corinthians 8:1–7). At the time he wrote to the Romans, this collection seems to have been completed (15:26–28). Therefore, it is likely that Paul wrote the epistle to the Romans from Corinth when he stayed there for 3 months in A.D. 56 at the end of his third missionary journey before he traveled to Jerusalem (15:25; Acts 20:2, 3). Anticipating that he will eventually be able to visit Rome on his way to Spain, and perhaps feeling the need to establish his credentials before his arrival. Paul first explains his understanding of the gospel, carefully contrasting the gospel with the law of Moses. Paul then concludes with various practical teachings which necessarily flow out of the gospel message.
The theme of Paul's letter is that those who are righteous through faith will be those who truly live. Paul begins by explaining the judgment of God and the righteousness of God. Under God's judgment, even the man who thinks himself "righteous" is a sinner without excuse. Under God's righteousness, even the "sinful" man is justified and reconciled to God through grace. Paul then shows how, through Christ, there is freedom from judgment, sin, the law, and even death. Next, Paul discusses the unique problem faced by certain Jews who are having difficulty believing that the God of the Jews could include the Gentiles in his promises made to Abraham. After laying a deep theological foundation, Paul concludes the letter with practical applications for transforming one's life to Christian service, and for regulation regulating one's conduct in relation to his fellow man, to civil government, and to those brothers and sisters in Christ who may be spiritually weak. The thrust of the letter is the superiority of obedient faith over futile attempts to earn salvation through strict law-keeping. Grace is not seen as a substitute for law, but rather as a higher motivation to obey God's laws.
IN ACHAIA (GREECE)...
- Paul spent three months - Acts 20:2-3
- It included his third visit to Corinth - 2 Corinthians 12:14
- A visit he hoped would not be sorrowful - 2 Corinthians 2:1
- A visit he hoped would not be embarrassing for them - 2 Corinthians 9:3-4
- A visit he hoped would not require stern judgment - 2 Corinthians 12:20-21; 13:1-3
- Paul wrote Romans (spring of 58 A.D.) - Romans 16:23; cf. 1 Corinthians 1:14; 2 Timothy 4:20
- Purpose: To set straight the design and nature of the gospel
- Theme: The gospel is God’s power of salvation
- Brief Outline:
- Justification by faith in Christ - Romans 1:1-11:36
- The transformed life - Romans 12:1-16:27
- Paul’s companions while in Corinth
- Phoebe, servant of the church in nearby Cenchrea - Romans 16:1-2
- Timothy, Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, Paul’s countrymen - Romans 16:21
- Tertius, writer for Paul - Romans 16:22
- Gaius, host of Paul and the church - Romans 16:23
- Erastus, treasurer of the city, and Quartus, a brother - Romans 16:23
- Paul’s plans for when he leaves Corinth
- To visit Rome and eventually Spain - Romans 1:8-13; 15:22-24
- But first, he must go to Jerusalem with the contribution for the needy saints - Romans 15:25-29
[After just three months, then, Paul prepares to leave Corinth and head straight toward Syria on his way to Jerusalem. But circumstances demand a change in the itinerary...]
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