The Epistle to the Romans: A Survey

I have been studying the book of Romans for the past few months and I recently did a survey of the whole book. Any feedback and/or push-back would be great. 

 

9/6/11

Book Survey of Romans

General and specific materials of the book:

  •  
    • 1:1-8:39- Vita Salutis for Humanity
      1. 1:1-17- Greetings and Prayer
      2. 1:18-32- The Evil of the Pagens
      3. 1:32-2:29- The Evil of ALL of Humanity
      4. 3:1-26- The Law exposes humanities evil
      5. 3:27-4:25- Cosmic Justification
      6. 5:1-21- Cosmic/Communal Justification comes through Christ
      7. 6:1-23 Communal Justification
      8. 7:1-25- 8:39- The Path of Sanctification to Glorification
    • 9:1-11:36- The Role of the Jews
      1. 9:1-33- God chose Israel
      2. 10:1-21 Christ is salvation for the Jews
      3. 11:1-36- Israel is the instrument through whom salvation comes to the whole world
    • 12:1-15:33- Ecclesiatical Concerns
      1. 12:1-12:21- Community behavior towards insiders and outsiders
      2. 13:1-14- Community behavior towards those in authority
      3. 14:1-15:6- Community behavior regarding theological issues
      4. 15:7-15:33- Closing thoughts and future plans
    • 16:1-27- Personal Greetings and Concerns

Major Structural Relationships:

  1. Reaccurence of Law

Throughout the entire book of Romans, Paul goes back to the point that the law is what proves to humanity that humanity is evil. It allows us to see our sinfulness because it clearly articulates what God wants from humanity. In chapter 1 it is the law written upon all humanities heart, chapter 2 asks the Christians if they are following the law, chapter three shows how the no one is found acceptable, chapter 5 shows how Christ fullfilled the law, chapters 6-7 and show how through Christ we are dead to the law. Chapters 9-11 show how through the Jews, all humanity was given the law. 

  •  
    1. Does the law still play a role in the life of Christians
    2. How does the natural and codified law speak to each other?
    3. Why is the law so important to a Gentile audience?
    4. Implications
  1. Contrast sin and freedom with a comparison between Christ and Moses

Chapter 1:18 starts off Paul’s point that all of humanity is stands judged under the law. We are all sinners and there is no good in humanity. Because of Adam’s sin, we are all found guilty before God. Yet, in chapters 3:27-8:39, Paul shows how Christ brought freedom from the sinfulness of humanity. The comparison comes in chapter 5 where Paul says that Adam brought sin, and Christ reversed that.

  •  
    1. What is the differenance between humanity before Christ and after Christ?
    2. How does this affect the reader?
    3. Why did Paul compare Christ and Adam?
    4. Implictions?
  1. Climax of nothing seperating us from Christ with Contrast of sin and grace

Paul climax’s the first 8 chapters of Romans in chapter 8 where he lays out the idea that now that we are in the Spirit, we are free from sin and law and able to freely access the Father through Christ in the Spirit. While we were once in sin seperated from God, through Christ we have been joined together and nothing can seperate us from God. 

  •  
    •  
      •  
        1. How does Paul drive this climax home?
        2. How does it shed light on sin and grace?
        3. Why did Paul want to highlight this point?
        4. Implications?

 

Key Verses:

  1. Romans 8:31-39-Nothing can separate us from what Christ has done

The writer, place and date of writing:

  1. Author:

Paul

  1. Current situation:

Paul seems to be traveling and is hoping to visit Rome while on his way to Spain (to those who have never heard)

  1. Place of writing:

Unknown

  1. Recipient of the letter:

The Church at Rome. They are Gentiles who have a fair understanding of Jewish teaching

  1. Current situation of the recipient:

Unknown

  1. Date of writing:

Unknown

Other major impressions that relate to the book as a whole:

  1. The book is jammed pack with content. It is hard to schipher through all of it.
  2. Chapters 6-8 do not seem to make sense together with chapter 7 being the key point of misunderstanding
  3. Paul addresses the Jewish question, yet seems to make contradictory statements. 
  4. The Soteriology of Romans is all that it has been cracked up to be
  5. This is working outline. I am not confident in it at all. 
  6. Chapter 16 seems to be added on later. Paul seems to close in chapter 15 then greets people in 16 only to close again.
  7. Chapter 12-16 seems out of the flow of the first 11 chapters. Is Romans one cohesive book?

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  1. joshuatoepper posted this

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