Background

• Origin of the Roman Church - probably Christians migrating during the early Jesus movement or slaves of influential people

  • Though scholars are not entirely sure

• By the year 49 CE the early Christians were large enough to get on Roman radar

• Emperor Claudius was mad at Jews for rioting in Rome

  • Rioted because disturbance over Chrestus (probably a misspelling of Christ)

• Emperor Claudius was poisoned by his 4th wife Agrippina in 54 CE - Her son, Nero, becomes the next emperor

• Paul never visited the Roman church

• Romans - Represents Paul’s magnum opus ('“big work”)

  • Romans is Paul’s most influential work because - he summarizes his theology (especially soteriology) elegantly and it’s very polished, putting his best foot forward in order to woo the congregation

    • Soteriology - study of salvation

• Has a great legacy

  • Agustin - (Philosopher - 4th and early 5th century) probably had the most influence on Christianity and the early church other than Paul himself

    • Agustin was not a Christian - Ridiculed Christianity for what he perceived as dumb and wrong

    • Augustin became a Christian - after reading Romans during a life crisis

  • Roman congregation plays a large part of creating Christianity as we know it

  • Influential in the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century

    • Martin Luther took it into the bathroom to read and decided that people would be saved by faith alone in Christ alone

Critical Issues: Purpose?

• Sponsorship to Spain - Paul wanted to head to Spain

• Intervention with Jerusalem - on his way back to Jerusalem, asking for prayer for the Jerusalem congregation and reconciliation together

• Unity with Jews and Gentiles - Jews wanted to move back in to Rome and the Gentiles and Jews needed to be unified

• Thesis - Romans 1:16

Themes: Salvation and Justification

• Justification - To be in a right relationship with God through Reconciliation

• Sin - overindulging in a good thing

• Brokenness and Healing - How are we broken? How do we need to be healed?

• Justified by Faith

  • Calvinism - John Calvin (predestination)

  • Arminianism - Jacob Arminius (foreknowledge)

Themes: Salvation and Righteousness

• Righteousness - The moral goodness of God displayed on the Cross and in HIs offer of salvation to all

• Imputed Righteousness - Because of Christ, God views us as righteous

• Effective Righteousness - Transformed into New Creations, able to live holy lives

Themes: Salvation and Death/Resurrection

• Image of Death and Resurrection as Salvation

  • Past - Romans 8:24 - Death

  • Present - Romans 6:10, 5:1 - Justification and righteousness is ongoing

  • Future - Romans 5:10 - Salvation

Themes: Universality of Salvation

• Gospel not just for Jews - Romans 5:18

• Salvation from Christ, not law - the law is insufficient because we cannot live up to it

• Hope that all of Israel will be saved - Romans 11:26

• Circumcision of the heart - Romans 22:29, circumcision is not to be taken literally… it is a matter of the heart

• Redemption of all creation - Romans 8:18

Themes: Women

• Phoebe - Romans 16:1, deaconess and carrier of the Romans letter

• Prisca - Prisca is always mentioned first (before her husband), at least an elder (maybe a head elder)

• Junia - Prominent among the apostles

• Egalitarian Leadership - women held the offices back in the day, so they can hold them now; the church just became too institutionalized