Page 3 - Romans Student Textbook.doc

The Book of Romans

Steven A. Stairs, Ph.D.
Kris L. Bjorgen, Ed.D.

Study Section 1: Introduction to Romans, Chapter 1

1.1 Connect

There are many pastors and preachers today that outline or write their sermons backwards.
What we mean is, they come up with some topic about which they think people would like or
should hear, then go looking for a text in Scripture that would support their ideas or topic.

A church I used to attend had a pastor who wanted to increase giving at the church. So, he decided on
the topic of “tithing.” He had in mind what he wanted to say, so picked Malachi 3:8-18 to support his
ideas. It was obvious that he did not study the text, put it within the context of the rest of the book, nor
did he properly apply the text to the people of his congregation. Here is the section he concentrated on:

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove
me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour
you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

He claimed that the storehouse was the XYZ CHURCH and that people were robbing God by not bringing
to the church 10% of their GROSS wages. He told his congregation that if they gave 10% of their paycheck
to the church, that their car would not break down, and their bank account would bust wide open with
the blessings of God. For every dollar you gave, God would give back ten-fold. Sounds like a pretty good
deal, right? Problem is, that’s not what the Bible teaches!!!

Today, as part of our introduction to the Book of Romans, we want to learn the basic principles of Bible
interpretation so that we can be assured that what Paul wrote is what we actually hear and apply to our
lives.

1.2 Objectives

1. Students should be able to define and explain what exegesis is.

2. Students should be able to explain how proper exegesis leads to accurate hermeneutics
which then leads to faithful homiletics.

3. Students should be able to describe the people, places, and purpose for which the book of
Romans was written.

4. Students should be able to explain what Paul wants the reader to know and do as a result of reading
the letter to the Romans.

1.3 Introduction

This course combines an exposition of the New Testament letter from the apostle Paul to the
Roman churches with the development of the technical interpretive skill called exegesis. As
you approach this study of Romans you may ask, “Why the emphasis on learning the skills of

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