And Then We Came to Romans

And Then We Came to Romans: A Study of Paul’s ‘Weighty and Strong’ Letter

Following a treacherous sea voyage, replete with a shipwreck, Acts reports in a rather anti-climactic, matter of fact manner that Paul and his companions “came to Rome” (28:14, 16). The title of this study of Paul’s famed letter to the Romans is a play upon that turn of phrase.

As it happens, Romans follows Acts in the New Testament canon. Though significantly shorter in length than Acts, Romans is the longest letter composed by Paul that has been preserved for our instruction and inspiration.  And instruct and inspire it does! Generations of Christians have turned to Romans, a “weighty and strong letter” (see 2 Corinthians 10:10), to learn of salvation through and of life in Christ. In this 13-week study, we will journey through Romans from beginning to end, section by section. Having done so, we have a fuller grasp of how this letter flows and what this letter teaches, and we, in turn, will rejoice and be glad that we came to Romans.  

As we prepare to study Romans, a succinct overview of the letter is in order. After an elongated greeting and thanksgiving and statement of the letter’s theme (1:1-17), Paul seeks to establish the sinfulness and guilt of all humanity in 1:18-3:23 before setting forth faith in Christ as God’s gracious, efficacious solution (3:24-30). Justification by faith is exemplified by the patriarch Abraham even as it sets into motion a life lived unto God through Jesus Christ by the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit (4:1-8:39).

Tragically, during Paul’s life and ministry, a majority of his Jewish compatriots were not responding positively to the gospel. In contrast, Gentiles, who were previously outside of a relationship and covenant with God, were embracing Jesus as Messiah in increasing numbers. Thus, before instructing Roman believers how to lead transformed lives (Romans 12-15) and drawing the letter to a close (Romans 16), Paul considers the spiritual state of his fellow Israelites, hoping against hope that they, too, would embrace God’s grace anew and confess Jesus Christ as Lord (Romans 9-11).

Study Guide Sample Lesson

Teaching Guide Sample Lesson