Paul's Letter To Romans

Paul's letters to the church, also known as epistles, are considered some of the most important documents in the New Testament. Paul's writings continue to shape and forge church even today. His letters were written in some of the darkest, most intense moments of Paul's life, but they also celebrate the grace, love, and life changing power of Jesus. Paul's journey in faith is shown in raw, unapologetic honesty, and inspires Christians to maintain a forward momentum, and to run the race Paul speaks so passionately about in Hebrews 12:1. Paul is able to write with both confidence and humility as he writes about the Christian journey.

Romans 1-4 is the first section of Paul’s letter. This section has two major structural units. The first unit defined the human problem of sin. The second unit of the first section defined the solution to the human problem of sin. Paul’s outline of this solution is the first section’s single most compelling issue. Romans 3:22-24, “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” The solution to our human problem, righteousness credited to us as a result of faith in Christ’s sacrifice, is available to all of us only because of God’s compassionate grace.

In Romans 1-8 Paul is writing to teach the doctrine of Christ. Although Paul goes into much more depth in these eight chapters, his message ultimately boils down to the following sentence. We have all sinned and deserve death, however, through the redemption and sanctification of Christ we have been saved and should now lead, Christ centered lives of faith.

“So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him”. This quote, of course, is from the bible from Hebrews 9:28. The quote is talking about when Jesus Christ was sacrificed. Hebrews 9:28 is saying that because he was killed, when he comes back to life his sins would be washed away. The well-known Bible was written during the 6th century, but a modern example of speaking of sacrifice is The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller. The Crucible takes place in Salem, Massachusetts during the year 1692, when believing in the Bible wholeheartedly was as common as using your phone is today. People who did not stray from following the bible, were looked up to and revered in the community. The author, Arthur Miller establishes

Jesus raised the standard of the Mosaic Laws in the Sermon of the Mount by supporting it with further guidelines to help guide the community. While Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 28 warned the followers of God to not do certain things or else you get certain punishments, Matthew 5-7 gives out a more peaceful set of codes to follow. Codes such as to from Matthew 5. spread your teachings to others, to not commit murder, an d to reconcile with your brothers and sisters quickly. Love your enemies and to not seek revenge or commit adultery. Matthew 6 tells Gods follows to not do big actions and to be praise. Lastly, Matthew 7 explains that one should respect others and to not be judgmental. To give good gifts and follow Gods teachings. To treat others the way you want to be treated.

In Romans 3:21-31 Paul’s goal is to get his readers to understand justification before God comes apart from the law, through faith, without overthrowing that law. He seems to do so successfully using several prevailing socio-rhetorical features which I will point out and discuss very briefly. From my own understanding of socio-rhetorical analysis, learned in class, I see numerous textures used by Paul here. The most obvious one is sacred texture. Paul employs at least four aspects of sacred texture: deity, holy persons, divine history, and human redemption.

When writing his letter to the Philippians, Paul wanted people to learn to unconditionally love God and have the desire to live in his ways. Paul wrote giving guidelines to prepare for the coming of God and how to live a pure lifestyle. He wrote about how arrogance and selfishness continued to ruin the connection with people and God, and how a strong force is needed to bond them back together. A perfect example of this force is between Phil Connors from the Groundhog Day movie and Rita. In the movie, Phil finds himself being egotistical many times and needing to be placed in the right direction. Phil was stuck in an everyday cycle of Groundhog Day. He could not leave Punxsutawney after many attempts and instead of trying to grow in faith, he

Paul’s letter continues to teach in Romans 1:18-25 and 8:18-25 that in creation God revealed himself. Nevertheless, even though he showed his power and gave people no reason for excuses, believers chose to not live by his ways. They turned their backs to God and worship things that were not of him. They lived in lust and sexual immoral behaviors. God designed a man and a woman to be fruitful, but they chose sinful desires and gave into same sex relations. And those who chose to live in their wickedness and live their life with being the only ones in control, God allowed them to live in their shamefulness. Furthermore, Paul tries to convey to the Christian eye that we should be focused on where we are with the lord and where we are taking the rest of the creation. Human nature and humanity were central focus in Romans 1:26-32 and 3:9-20 at essence their human nature was on no level of good. Humanity nature was corrupt. For they knew of God, but choose to live in unrighteousness. No one had a desire to

In 3:10-18 Paul uses several passages from the Old Testament, (Septuagint Version), to show all people are under sin. He uses quotes mainly from Psalms and Isaiah. However, these are not just randomly selected to make his point, but have been carefully selected, modified somewhat, and arranged in a way to create “a new unity.” (Crainfield 191).

Issues began to arise after the Jews were expulsed from Rome around 49 AD. At that time, the “Gentile congregations developed largely without Jewish influence and thus without sensitivity to Jewish scruples.” Kostenberger believes Paul wrote this letter for a couple of reasons; first to remind the Romans of gospel truths and his duty to proclaim it to Gentiles, secondly to unify the Roman church, and finally to, “formally introduce himself to the Roman churches and solicit their support for the Spanish mission.” Kostenberger also believes, “… the multiple

Paul’s letter to the Roman church has absolutely challenged the Jewish way of thinking that has existed for over 2000 years before the life, death, and resurrection of

The Book of Romans has set the main foundation of Christianity among the Jewish people and Roman. This book has covered many different laws of the land that God has given his people. Paul tries to address the many questions that the Jewish people have about faith, laws and righteousness. In this essay I will address the current question that many people have concerning the right way to interpret the meaning of righteousness. Since there isn’t a right or wrong way; to interpret God message in Romans, I will state what I feel is the correct way of the interpretation.

Paul in his Epistle to the Romans was different because of the message. Many people would think that the messages are similar, but they are not. In the sermon, The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus states, “The message in the Sermon is set firmly within the Jewish tradition. Jesus urges his listeners to a commitment to righteousness, which he defines with poignant simplicity.” (93) The message in this sermon is basically that Jesus wanted to touch his listeners by his words by always doing what is right and equal.

The apostle Paul foresaw at the end of his life a great tsunami of attacks coming against the church of God. He responded with three letters. We call them the Pastoral Epistles: 1, 2 Timothy and Titus. After Paul’s first imprisonment, he visited different places including the Island of Crete, an Island only 160 miles long south of Greece and Turkey in the Mediterranean Sea. He wrote this letter to Titus around 62 A.D. from somewhere in Macedonia. Paul’s main objective is to encourage Titus and give instructions about Godly living as a young pastor. The churches in the Island of Crete needed leadership, correction and order thus Paul could not be everywhere. Paul at some time had visited the island of Crete for he says in Titus 1:5 “I left you

Paul begins the letter of Romans by introducing himself and stating his mission. Concisely stating the gospel message, Paul encourages the Roman Christians to “bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name” (1:5), or for the glory of Jesus Christ. He goes on to write of his desires and intentions to visit Rome in order to preach the gospel of Christ to the Jews as well as the Gentiles. Paul continues by explaining his excitement for the gospel as well as the need to live the gospel out in our lives. Finishing the first chapter, Paul presents the inexcusable idolatry, sinfulness, and evilness of the ungodly.