Name
The title “Romans” comes from the intended audience designated in 1:7, “To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints.” The opening description and the body of the epistle make it clear that Paul’s intended audience in Rome is both Jewish and Gentile Christians.
Author
The consensus of scholars agrees Paul is the author of Romans. Pauline authorship is claimed in 1:1, “Paul, a slave if Jesus Christ…”
Genre
Epistle
Literary Form
The majority of the epistle to the Romans takes on the form of a tractate (treatise) in which a series of arguments are presented to the reader.
Time Frame
The Romans’ epistle was written in late winter A.D. 57 or the spring of A.D. 58 from Cenchrea, Corinth (Acts 16:1). This was during the final three months of Paul’s third missionary journey (Acts 20:3) while in Greece, and before he left for Jerusalem to celebrate the Pentecost (Acts 20:16).
Emphasis
The emphasis of the book of Romans is on the Gospel of God. Although written to address a specific situation and set of circumstances, it is the most complete statement of the Gospel contained in the New Testament.
Outline
- Formal greeting and introduction (1:1-15)
- The world is under God’s wrath (1:18-3:20)
- Gentiles are under God’s wrath (1:18-32)
- Jews are under God’s wrath (2:1-3:8)
- All people are under God’s wrath (3:9-20)
- The imputation of God’s righteousness to mankind (3:21-4:25)
- Justification and reconciliation through Jesus Christ (5:1-21)
- Our new life in Christ (6:1-8:39)
- The domination of sin in man (6:1-23)
- The old life under the Mosaic Law (7:1-25)
- The new life with the Holy Spirit (8:1-39)
- God’s righteousness and Israel’s response (9:1-11:36)
- The transformed Christian life (12:1-15:13)
- Epilogue (15:14-16:27)
