Page 51 - Advanced New Testament Survey Student Textbook

serve one another as we build each other in Christ. Do you mostly isolate yourself, or live in a Christian
community? How are you building others in Christ?

Atmosphere:
The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in around AD 56 – 57, just three
years after Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. The political situation in the capital
had not yet deteriorated for the Roman Christians, as Nero wouldn’t begin his persecution of them until
he made them scapegoats after the great Roman fire in AD 64. Therefore, Paul wrote to a church that
was experiencing a time of relative peace, but a church that he felt needed a strong basic gospel
doctrine.

This church may have found its origin from visitors from Rome who were present at the day of Pentecost
in Jerusalem (Acts 2:10-11). They must have brought back Christianity with them when they returned to
Rome.

Because he himself was a Roman citizen, he had a unique passion for those in the assembly of believers
in Rome. Since he had not, to this point, visited the church in Rome, this letter also served as his
introduction to them.

Paul showed how human beings lack God’s righteousness because of our sin (1–3), receive God’s
righteousness when God justifies us by faith (4–5), demonstrate God’s righteousness by being
transformed from rebels to followers (6–8), confirm His righteousness when God saves the Jews (9–11),
and apply His righteousness in practical ways throughout our lives (12–16).

Highlights: key passages; key words and phrases

Key passages
• The gospel shows God's righteousness - Romans 1:1-17.
• God’s wrath against sin is just - Romans 1:18-3:20.
• God has a plan of salvation - Romans 3:21-4:25.
• Our faith brings hope - Romans 5:1-8:39.
• God provides for Israel and the Gentiles - Romans 9:1-11:36.
• Paul gives instructions for everyday living - Romans 12:1-15:13.
• Paul tells his plan to spread the gospel - Romans 15:14-16:23.
• The closing sums up the gospel - Romans 16:25-27.

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