A study on the book of Romans (part 1)

Like every parent who says they don't have a favourite child, I am going to confess that Romans is one of my favourite books in the Bible.  Luther himself is alleged to have described it as the most important letter in the New Testament.  There is so much theology in it, that it is a rich resource for anyone wanting to understand the Christian faith better.  However, it is also one of the most powerful templates for conflict resolution and dealing with difference in the Church.  And yet, ironically, it is frequently used as a tool for division.

This has prompted me to write a series on this book.  Today, we look at some of the context and Paul's introduction.

Romans - the context

Paul is writing to a church with a unique set of problems.  A predominantly gentile Christian group, worshiping alongside a strong minority of Jewish converts.  These Jewish Christians believed (understandably from their perspective) that faith in Christ required an additional adherence to the Law (the Torah, or first 5 books of the Old Testament).  In this way, Christ fulfilled this law, but did not do away with any of its requirements.

The gentile Christians, however, did not have this background and would struggle to see how in order to become a Christian, they must first become a Jew.

The infighting and division was not just light-hearted debate.  Some believe that Jewish Christians were actually expelled from Rome by Claudius around AD49 as a result of this in-fighting, and that the gentile Christians looked down on Jewish Christians.  Only around AD54 did the Jewish Christians return, shortly before Paul is believed to have written this letter.

This melting pot is actually a powder keg.  And Paul's desire is to sort it out.

In the context of this strife, the opening words of Paul are deeply significant.  I will copy them below from the NIV translation:

Romans 1:1-17

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God – the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

[Note here the affirmation of the historic Jewish faith of the Holy Scriptures and the prophets and of the line of David.  Paul here is giving a place of importance to the Jewish minority, affirming that they are the ones who initially called Gentiles to belong to Jesus Christ]

To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

[Note Paul's use of the inclusive "all of you" and the love he bears for this Church]

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.  I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

I am a debtor both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

[In this context, the Greeks and non-Greeks show Paul's love for both Jew and non-Jew]

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.  For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’"

-------------

In these last words, Paul emphasises a key component of the Christian message - our "righteousness" comes by faith, and not by following rules and laws, which the Pharisees were keen to promote.

Paul, in his introduction, is very cleverly crafting a letter that aims to unite a divided audience.  He affirms both Jew and Gentile, bringing them together under the banner of Christ.  

The next section in our study will explore how Paul continues to bring people together.  Ironically, the next section is often quoted completely out of context by some Christians to divide other believers and to call others sinful.  We will explore what Paul is really saying and doing in our next study.

In the meantime, I close with Paul's own greeting.  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.