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ROMANS
"the Righteousness of GOD...." |
Overview
Paul’s letter to Rome is a sermon! In this sermon Paul has several important arguments to make about the situation in Rome, especially the relationship between Jewish and Gentile Christians. Despite the opinion of some, Romans does not represent Paul’s theoretical description of the Christian faith in some abstract presentation. Rather, it is Paul’s attempt to convince the Roman Christians of four main points:
1. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ demonstrates God’s righteousness
2. God expects people “in Christ” to live holy lives empowered by the Spirit
3. God still has a plan for the salvation of Israel
4. The mixed Jewish and Gentile community of Christians in Rome must respect the faith/beliefs/conscience of each other so that God’s power can be demonstrated in their non-segregated church community.
The book of Romans, and its’ interpretation, has played a foundational role in the development of Christianity. This study of Romans will apply recent scholarship to understand Paul's message to this ancient church.
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| Lesson Summary |
| Unit |
Lesson |
Reference |
Study Focus |
Small Group Focus |
| 1 | God’s wrath revealed | 1:18-3:20 | To introduce the study and to understand the three groups of people Paul uses to assert the conclusion that “all sin and fall short of God’s glory.” | To challenge us to examine our attitudes toward the sinful behavior of others. Which of the three groups do you identify most with? |
| 2 | Righteousness revealed | 3:21-5:11 | To understand how the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ demonstrates God’s righteousness | To challenge us to experience “peace” and “joy” on the basis of faith alone. |
| 3 | New Life, New Master | 5:12-7:6 | To understand Paul’s personification of sin and righteousness as masters over life | To challenge us to serve the master of the righteousness rather than sin. |
| 4 | No longer children of Adam | 7:7-8:39 | To understand Paul’s use of impersonation to communicate that Christians are empowered to overcome sin | To challenge us to approach sin knowing it can be defeated |
| 5 | Holy Sacrifice | 12:1-13:14 | To understand that living a holy life is our continuing act of worship to God | To challenge us to examine our attitudes and actions compared to Paul’s instructions and compared to the prevailing attitudes of our culture. |
| 6 | Holy Oil, Holy Water | 14:1-16:27 | To understand Paul’s approach to dealing with differences in religious beliefs | To challenge us to be accepting of differences in religious belief |
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| References Cited |
- Bauer, Walter, Arndt, William, and Gingrich, F. Wilbur. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Second edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979.
- Campbell, Douglas A. The Rhetoric of Righteousness in Romans 3.21-26. The Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement Series 65, Sheffield: Academic Press, 1992.
- Cousar, Charles B. A Theology of the Cross. Overtures to Biblical Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1990.
- Dunn, J. D. G. "Paul's Understanding of the Death of Jesus." In Reconciliation and Hope. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1981.
- Dunn, J. D. G. Romans 1-8. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word Books, 1988.
- Dunn, J. D. G. The Theology of Paul the Apostle. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
- Fitzmyer, Joseph A. Romans. The Anchor Bible. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
- Griffin, Miriam, “Nero (EMPEROR),” Anchor Bible Dictionary, electronic edition.
- Hengel, Martin. The Atonement: The Origins of the Doctrine in the New Testament. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1981.
- Kasemann, E. "The Saving Significance of the Death of Jesus in Paul." In Perspectives on Paul. Translated by M. Kohl. Philadelphia: SCM Press, 1971.
- McGrath, A. E. "Cross, Theology of the." In Dictionary of Paul and His Letters Paul, ed. Gerald F. Hawthorne and Ralph P. Martin. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1993.
- Meyers, Charles, Jr., “Romans, epistle to the,” Anchor Bible Dictionary, electronic edition.
- Onesti, K. L. and Brauch, M. T. "Righteousness, Righteouness of God" In Dictionary of Paul and His Letters Paul, ed. Gerald F. Hawthorne and Ralph P. Martin. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1993.
- Stuhlmacher, P. Reconciliation, Law & Righteousness. Translated E. R. Kalin. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1986.
- Thompson, James. Class Notes New Testament Theology, Abilene Christian University, Fall 2003.
- Witherington, B., Romans, (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004)
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