Romans

By Art Ross and Martha M. Stevenson

The letter to the Romans is the pinnacle of Paul's writing and thinking. Paul instructs his readers, both then and now, to be transformed from this world into living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, following the example of Jesus Christ.

Interpretation Bible Studies (IBS) offers solid biblical content in a creative study format. Forged in the tradition of the celebrated Interpretation commentary series, IBS makes the same depth of biblical insight available in a dynamic, flexible, and user-friendly resource. Designed for adults and older youth, IBS can be used in small groups, in church school classes, in large group presentations, or in personal study.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
• Release date: Jan 1, 1999
• ISBN: 9781611643336

Art Ross

Art Ross served as Pastor of White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, North Carolina from 1994 until his retirement in 2009.

Book preview

Guide

Series Introduction

The Bible has long been revered for its witness to God’s presence and redeeming activity in the world; its message of creation and judgment, love and forgiveness, grace and hope; its memorable characters and stories; its challenges to human life; and its power to shape faith. For generations people have found in the Bible inspiration and instruction, and, for nearly as long, commentators and scholars have assisted students of the Bible. This series, Interpretation Bible Studies (IBS), continues that great heritage of scholarship with a fresh approach to biblical study.

Designed for ease and flexibility of use for either personal or group study, IBS helps readers not only to learn about the history and theology of the Bible, understand the sometimes difficult language of biblical passages, and marvel at the biblical accounts of God’s activity in human life, but also to accept the challenge of the Bible’s call to discipleship. IBS offers sound guidance for deepening one’s knowledge of the Bible and for faithful Christian living in today’s world.

IBS was developed out of three primary convictions. First, the Bible is the church’s scripture and stands in a unique place of authority in Christian understanding. Second, good scholarship helps readers understand the truths of the Bible and sharpens their perception of God speaking through the Bible. Third, deep knowledge of the Bible bears fruit in one’s ethical and spiritual life.

Each IBS volume has ten brief units of key passages from a book of the Bible. By moving through these units, readers capture the sweep of the whole biblical book. Each unit includes study helps, such as maps, photos, definitions of key terms, questions for reflection, and suggestions for resources for further study. In the back of each volume is a Leader’s Guide that offers helpful suggestions on how to use IBS.

The Interpretation Bible Studies series grows out of the well-known Interpretation commentaries (John Knox Press), a series that helps preachers and teachers in their preparation. Although each IBS volume bears a deep kinship to its companion Interpretation commentary, IBS can stand alone. The reader need not be familiar with the Interpretation commentary to benefit from IBS. However, those who want to discover even more about the Bible will benefit by consulting Interpretation commentaries too.

Through the kind of encounter with the Bible encouraged by the Interpretation Bible Studies, the church will continue to discover God speaking afresh in the scriptures.

Introduction to Romans

This book began as a church Bible study of Paul’s letter to the Christian community in Rome. For nine weeks, about one hundred members of White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, came together for an hour and a half on Monday nights. Educated, committed adults listened, questioned, and pondered Paul’s words. Class members did not find the study easy, but most remained committed to the process. Many found Romans rewarding, even exciting. This book reflects their questions and insights.

The authors of this book are a pastor who enjoys teaching and a church educator who values challenging students of the Bible to think about our shared faith. Our desire, both in the class and in this book, is to explore Romans and to learn how Romans has made important contributions to the Christian church.

The letter to the Romans is a tough book to read and to study. Parts of the book soar; other parts drag. At times Paul reveals insights into the nature of God and the power of the gospel that make the reader shout, Hallelujah! On other occasions, the most diligent student will wonder exactly what Paul means or even will ask, How did this book get into the Bible? Whatever our response to Romans may be, the affirmation of the church across the years is that the letter to the Romans is essential to Christian life and faith.

Romans contains some of the most beloved passages in the New Testament. Words from Romans 8 are often read at funerals, and portions of Romans 7 eloquently describe the human predicament of sin. Many Christians have memorized portions of chapter 12, with the magnificent call, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God. Other parts of the letter, such as Paul’s efforts to reconcile God’s covenant promise to Israel with the Christian affirmation of the Lordship of Christ and the new covenant, are invaluable even though complex.

Paul’s letter to the Romans is the first of the Pauline epistles to appear in the New Testament; it is also the longest and the most theologically significant. Romans had great influence on Martin Luther, opening the way to the Protestant Reformation. John Calvin was devoted to the study of Romans, and the letter became a major influence in Calvin’s understanding of theology and church government. John Wesley, upon hearing Luther’s Preface to Romans, declared that he felt his heart strangely warmed. In our own century, Karl Barth’s commentary The Epistle to the Romans has exerted great power in reshaping Christian preaching and thinking.

Righteousness through Faith

21 But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, ²²the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christieen all who believe. For there is no distinction, ²³since all have sinned and fal, short of the glory of God; ²⁴they, are now justified by his grace as a lift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,²⁵ whom God put forword as a sacrifice of atonement¹ by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; ²⁶it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.m

Romans is not history or narrative. It is not even a letter in the usual sense of that word. Romans is early Christian education; as Anselm said of theology in the eleventh century, it is faith seeking understanding. Romans is Paul’s desire, led by the Holy Spirit, to explain and to affirm what has happened in human lives and in the whole of creation, through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ and through the establishment of the church.

Reading Romans may remind some of a class in solid geometry or organic chemistry, or of the struggle many have in learning to operate a computer. The language and ideas at first appear impossible to grasp, but then a breakthrough occurs, and the message begins to take on great meaning. We can ignore Romans and stick to the Gospels or to other Pauline letters, just as we could skip geometry or chemistry in school or never learn to use a computer. Our salvation does not depend on understanding Romans. However, the study of difficult subjects, even if we never master them, expands and enhances all of life; so, too, does grappling with Romans expand and enhance our Christian faith.

Want to Know More?

About leading Bible study groups? See Roberta Hestenes, Using the Bible in Groups (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1983).

About studying Romans? See Paul J. Achtemeier, Romans, Interpretation (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1985); David L Bartlett, Romans, Westminster Bible Companion (Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995); and William Barclay, The Letter to the Romans, Daily Study Bible (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1975).

About Paul’s writings? See Calvin J. Roetzel, The Letters of Paul: Conversations in Context, 4th ed. (Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998).

Romans, by Paul J. Achtemeier, in the series Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, was a companion guide, along with the Bible (NRSV). Frequent references are made to Achtemeier’s excellent commentary. Additional resources are listed in the Bibliography. As we worked through Romans, we repeatedly realized that Paul uses certain words in a unique way. Words that need to be pondered in the context of Paul’s larger message are set in italic type.

The importance of Romans and the uniqueness of vocabulary is emphasized in these comments from Martin Luther at the close of the Introduction to his Commentary on Romans:

In this Epistle we find most richly the things that a Christian ought to know: namely, what is law, Gospel, sin, punishment, grace, faith, righteousness, Christ, God, good works, love, hope, the cross, and also how we are to conduct ourselves toward everyone, whether righteous or sinner, strong or weak, friend or foe. All this is ably founded on Scripture and proved by his [Paul’s] own example and that of the prophets. Therefore it appears that St. Paul wanted to comprise briefly in this one Epistle the whole Christian and evangelical doctrine and to prepare an introduction to the entire Old Testament; for, without doubt, he who has this epistle well in his heart, has the light and power of the Old Testament with him. Therefore let every Christian exercise himself in it habitually and continually. To this may God give His grace. Amen. (Luther, xxvi)

1 Background to Romans

Linked to the Old Testament—Source of Life for the Church

Before reading an actual biblical text, serious students will find help in reflecting on the context within which the text was first written and first read. In the best tradition of the Christian faith, tested wisdom says that studying a biblical text without paying attention to the historical and theological context of the passage can reduce the Bible to a pretext for our own insights and beliefs.

"Study of the epistles isolated from their context is like reading the answers at the end