The Chapters – Quick Access
Basics
BOOK: Romans
An explanation of the basic Gospel and God’s plan of salvation, for Jew and Gentile alike. A book that is entirely teaching (doctrine) and undoubtedly his biggest work in the New Testament canon. Purposeful theology!
Author: The apostle Paul
Date written: Probably 57AD
Chapters: 16
Brief Synopsis
- After an introduction, Paul explains how ALL are unrighteous, Jew and Gentile (Ch.1-3)
- He then starts to develop his main theme that righteousness that is acceptable to God is that received by faith in Jesus Christ and is a gift of God (Ch.3-5)
- He then explains what has happened in our salvation (Ch.6) and how without it we are helpless (Ch.7) so that only by the working of God’s Holy Spirit can we enter into the salvation that Jesus Christ has earned for us (Ch.8).
- Almost as an aside he then speaks about God’s righteousness in respect of Israel and the problem of Israel ‘s rejection (Ch.9-11)
- In the final main part, he speaks of practical righteousness (Ch.12-15) before his conclusion (Ch.15 & 16)
Outline
- 1:1-15 Introduction
- 1:16-17 Theme: God’s provision of Righteousness
- 1:18-3:20 How All Mankind are Unrighteousness
- 1:18-32 Gentiles
- 2:1-3:8 Jews
- 3:9-20 Summary: All People
- 3:21-5:21 Righteousness Declared: Justification
- 3:21-26 It comes through Christ
- 3:27-4:25 It is received by Faith
- 3:27-31 It leaves no room for boasting (pride)
- Ch.4 It was seen in Abraham’s simple belief
- 5:1-11 The Fruits or outworkings of it
- 5:12-21 Contrasting Man’s Unrighteousness with God’s Righteousness
- Ch.6-8 Righteousness Worked in us: Sanctification
- Ch.6 The realities of our new life
- Ch.7 The realities of the old life
- Ch.8 The New Life in the Power of the Holy Spirit
- Ch.9-11 God’s Righteousness Vindicated: The Problem of the Rejection of Israel
- 9:1-29 The Justice of the Rejection
- 9:30-10:21 The Cause of the Rejection
- Ch.11 Facts That Lessen the Difficulty
- 11:1-10 The rejection is not total
- 11:11-24 The rejection is not final
- 11:25-36 God’s ultimate purpose is mercy
- 12:1-15:13 Righteousness Practiced
- Ch.12 In the Body–the Church
- Ch.13 In the World
- 14:1-15:13 Among Weak and Strong Christians
- 15:14-33 Conclusion
- Ch.16 Commendation and Greetings
Concluding Comments
Reading the book of Romans can be a formidable enterprise for the new reader of the Bible because of its author, its nature and its size:
- Author: The apostle Paul was bright and even the apostle Peter acknowledged that his writings were sometimes difficult to take in (2 Pet 3:16).
- Nature: It covers our sinfulness and tendencies, the fact that we are prisoners to sin, even when we use self-effort to try to be good and there is no way of making ourselves right with God except by accepting and believing in the salvation He has provided, the death of His own Son, Jesus Christ.
- Size: Each of the main areas covers two or three chapters, making a total of sixteen altogether.
There is a lot of reading, but it is essential if we wish to understand our need of God’s salvation, the nature of it and how it works out in us.