Book of Romans
A Gospel of God's Righteousness
A Gospel of God's Righteousness
The Epistle to the Romans stands as the most comprehensive and systematic presentation of Christian doctrine in all of Scripture. Written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Rome around 57 AD, this powerful letter explores the great themes of sin, salvation, grace, faith, righteousness, and sanctification.
Unlike many of Paul's other letters, Romans was written to a church that Paul had not yet visited, making it a more formal and complete exposition of his understanding of the gospel. The letter's careful theological arguments and practical applications have made it foundational for Christian theology throughout church history.
The Book of Romans is comprised of 16 chapters, each exploring different theological themes and practical applications. Below you'll find a comprehensive guide to each chapter with various resources to deepen your understanding.
Gospel Power & Human Sin
2God's Righteous Judgment
3Righteousness Through Faith
4Abraham's Faith
5Peace with God
6Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
7Struggle with Sin
8Life in the Spirit
9God's Sovereign Choice
10Israel's Unbelief
11Remnant of Israel
12Living Sacrifice
13Submission to Authority
14The Weak and the Strong
15Unity in Christ
16Personal Greetings
Each chapter of Romans is accompanied by a comprehensive set of resources designed to help you understand the text from various perspectives.
For each chapter of Romans, we provide the following resources:
Comprehensive overview of the chapter including historical, social, cultural, and archaeological context, church history usage, influential quotes, and other impacts.
Interlinear version with the original Greek text, meanings, and transliterations to help understand the nuances of the original language.
Simplified breakdown of the chapter's content in a structured YAML format, making it easier to understand the organization at a glance.
The complete English text of the chapter in the World English Bible British Edition (WEBBE) translation, presented in markdown format.
Detailed breakdown and analysis of the chapter, exploring themes, arguments, and theological concepts verse by verse.
Information about people mentioned in the chapter, including their Greek/Hebrew names, meanings, and biographical details.
Details about geographical locations mentioned in the chapter, including their Greek/Hebrew names, meanings, and historical significance.
Prayer based on the themes and teachings of the chapter, designed for practical application in modern daily life.
Affirmations and declarations drawn from the chapter that can be applied to contemporary life situations and challenges.
The city of Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire, the most powerful political entity of the ancient world. By the time Paul wrote his letter (around 57 AD), Rome had a significant Jewish population and a growing Christian community. The church in Rome was likely established by Jewish Christians who had been present at Pentecost (Acts 2) and returned to Rome with their new faith.
In 49 AD, Emperor Claudius had expelled all Jews from Rome due to disturbances allegedly caused by conflicts over "Chrestus" (possibly referring to disputes about Jesus as the Christ). When Claudius died in 54 AD, many Jews, including Jewish Christians, returned to Rome. This created a unique dynamic in the Roman church between Jewish and Gentile believers.
Paul wrote Romans while in Corinth, near the end of his third missionary journey. He was planning to visit Rome on his way to Spain after delivering a collection for the poor in Jerusalem. This letter served as an introduction of Paul and his teaching to the Roman Christians before his anticipated visit.
Death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
Emperor Claudius expels Jews from Rome
Death of Claudius; Jews, including Jewish Christians, return to Rome
Paul writes the Epistle to the Romans from Corinth
Great Fire of Rome; Nero begins persecution of Christians
Romans contains several major theological themes that have profoundly influenced Christian thought:
Paul establishes that all people, both Jews and Gentiles, are under sin's power and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). This universal diagnosis of the human condition forms the foundation for his explanation of the gospel.
The central theme of Romans is that righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of the law (Romans 3:28, 5:1). This doctrine became the cornerstone of the Protestant Reformation.
Paul extensively explores the relationship between God's grace and the Mosaic Law (Romans 6-7), showing that believers are freed from the law's condemnation while still upholding its moral principles.
Chapters 9-11 address God's faithfulness to His covenant with Israel and how Gentiles fit into God's redemptive plan, affirming that God has not rejected His people.
The letter concludes with practical instructions for living out faith in community, government, and interpersonal relationships (Romans 12-16), connecting theology with ethics.
Romans 8 presents a profound theology of the Holy Spirit's role in believers' lives, enabling them to overcome sin and live as God's adopted children with the hope of future glory.
Few biblical books have had the theological impact of Romans. Throughout church history, its teachings have sparked renewal, reformation, and revival. Some notable examples include: