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Romans 1: Not Ashamed of the Gospel
Romans · Doctrinal study

Romans 1: Not Ashamed of the Gospel

Paul's greeting, the theme of the whole letter, and the first count of the charge against the human race.

Theologica Editorial18 min read
Introduction

The Gospel of God

Romans is a letter, not a textbook. Paul wrote it to believers in the capital of the world, a church he had never visited, and in it he set out the Gospel more fully than anywhere else in Scripture. This course walks through it one chapter at a time.

  • Author. The apostle Paul, who dictated the letter to a scribe named Tertius (Romans 16:22).
  • Readers. The believers in Rome, Jews and Gentiles together (Romans 1:7; Romans 1:13). Some years earlier the emperor Claudius had ordered all Jews out of Rome (Acts 18:2), and by the time Paul wrote, Priscilla and Aquila were back (Romans 16:3). Scripture does not say who first carried the Gospel to Rome. It was not Paul (Romans 15:20–22).
  • Date and Place. About AD 57, from Corinth, during the three months Paul spent in Greece at the end of his third journey (Acts 20:2–3). Phebe, a servant of the church at nearby Cenchrea, most likely carried the letter (Romans 16:1–2).
  • Purpose. Paul was taking a gift from the churches of Macedonia and Achaia to the poor saints at Jerusalem, and he hoped Rome would help send him on to Spain (Romans 15:24–26). He wanted the church to know exactly what he preached.

The Plan of the Letter

  1. Guilty (Romans 1-3). The Gospel announced, and the whole world shown guilty before God.
  2. Justified (Romans 3-5). God declares righteous everyone who believes, through Christ's blood.
  3. Free (Romans 6-8). The justified are freed from sin's rule and kept by the Spirit and by God's love.
  4. Faithful (Romans 9-11). God has kept His word to Israel, and He will keep it.
  5. Living It (Romans 12-16). The Gospel worked out in worship, love, and the life of the church.

Romans 1 does two things. Verses 1-17 introduce Paul, his readers, and his message. Then verse 18 opens a case against the human race that runs all the way to Romans 3:20. Paul gives the bad news first, because the Good News means nothing without it.

DefinitionThe Gospel

The good news of what God has done in His Son: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). In Romans it is the gospel of God (Romans 1:1): God's message, about God's Son, with God's own power in it.

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Further reading

For Deeper Study

  • Romans: The Gospel of God's GraceAmazon Alva J. McClainLectures by the founding president of Grace Theological Seminary, a dispensational Bible teacher. Clear on the plan of the letter and on God's purpose for Israel.
  • The Message of RomansAmazon John StottAn evangelical Anglican's warm, careful exposition, written for church members rather than scholars.
  • The Epistle to the RomansAmazon Douglas J. MooA full evangelical commentary in the New International Commentary series by a Reformed-leaning scholar. Strong on the Greek and on the debates over Romans 1:17. For serious students; we differ with him on election.
  • Holy Sexuality and the GospelAmazon Christopher YuanA Bible teacher who once lived as a gay man explains God's design and the call to holiness for everyone. Evangelical.
  • Foxe's Book of MartyrsAmazon John FoxeThe classic Protestant record of those who died for the faith, from the early church to the English Reformation.

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Romans

Romans is Paul's fullest explanation of the Gospel: every person is guilty, God declares believing sinners righteous through Christ's blood, the Spirit gives power for a new life, God keeps His promises to Israel, and the saved live as worshiping, serving people.

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