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New Testament Notes
The Epistle to the Romans
The following notes are intended to supplement, not replace, the readings from the Bible and the text book.
Comments or questions should be sent to: Dr. Rollinson.
Romans
Paul probably wrote his Letter to the Romans in AD 56 - after the Emperor Nero allowed Jews and Christians to return to Rome (AD 54). They had been banned from Rome by the Emperor Claudius in AD 49 because of riots about "someone called Chrestus", (Claudius evidently mis-heard "Christus"). Paul was on his way to Jerusalem with the money which had been collected by the churches in Macedonia and Greece as a gift to the poor in Jerusalem (Romans 15:25-28), and wanted to visit the Christians in Rome after that. However, it was in Jerusalem that Paul was imprisoned, and eventually sent as a prisoner to Rome in AD 62.
Structure
- Romans 1:1-15 : Greetings and thanksgiving
- Romans 1:16-17 : Paul's summary of the Gospel
- Romans 1:18 - 3:20 : Everyone, both Jews and Gentiles, commits sin and is guilty before God
- Romans 3:21 - 4:25 : God provides a way for the guilty to be acquitted. When people believe and trust Him as Abraham did, they are treated as if they were righteous.
- Romans 5:-21 : Jesus already paid the price for the guilty, and brings them Life instead of death.
- Romans 6:1 - 8:39 : The old Law is replaced by the Spiritual Law
- Romans 9:1 - 11:36 : Jews and Gentiles
- Romans 12:1 - 15:13 : The Christian life
- Romans 15:14 - 16:27 : Paul's wish to visit Rome; concluding greetings and warnings
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