When Paul wrote this letter, he had not yet visited Rome (1:15), although he intended to do so (15:24). In the epistle, he mentions his proposed visit to Jerusalem to minister to the saints there, thus suggesting the letter was written toward the end of his third missionary journey or about 57 A.D. (Rom. 15:25; Acts 20:2). His mention of Phebe (16:1) hints the epistle was written while Paul was near Corinth.
Days of iniquity
Chapter 1:18-32 presents a shocking description of depravity. Unless society is overruled by God’s standards, morals inevitably begin their downward plunge.
Fortunately for those of Paul’s day and for us, despite the overall conditions of society, God graciously offers salvation to individuals who will seek Him and commit to His ways. In the opening chapter, Paul makes the reassuring statement, “The gospel of Christ…is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (1:16). Let us individually accept God’s invitation by showing Him, by our thoughts and actions, that we are true believers.
Old Testament quotes
Although Romans is not the first New Testament epistle written, it is placed first after Acts for good reason. Not only are the contents the most complete summary of divine theology, but the techniques used are a classic example of what occurs elsewhere in the New Testament.
Throughout the letter, the author quotes or alludes to Old Testament scripture as he exhorts and instructs ecclesial members. Consistently, these quotes open out the Old Testament passages if we go back to them with the inspired New Testament interpretations in mind. Too often, we miss this opportunity by accepting the explanation that Paul is quoting from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament, i.e. LXX). There is significant evidence to indicate the LXX was in fact altered after the New Testament was written to make the LXX Old Testament wording conform to that found in the New Testament. For example, a comparison of Romans 3:10-18 with Psalms 14:1-3 in the KJV (translated from the Hebrew) and then in the LXX (the Greek version) indicates the LXX copiests had the New Testament in front of them when copying the LXX and expanded Psalm 14:3 to include all the verses cited in Romans 3.
A far more useful approach is to assume the New Testament quote is telling us what the Hebrew Old Testament means. We may have to think very hard over the Old Testament passage to see the point, but when we do, we will be richly rewarded with insights into the thinking pattern of God.
Questions
Another conspicuous feature of Romans is the many questions Paul directs toward his readers. One in seven verses contains at least one question (over 14%) and many of the questions are intense and personal. While Paul often answers his own question, at other times, no answer is given and so he invites the reader to supply the answer.
One objective of the unanswered questions is to stimulate self-examination. “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?…” (2:21,22).
Questions that are answered can be used as a personal quiz. Before reading Paul’s answer, we can provide our own and then compare ours with what he gives. As you read, don’t waste these frequent opportunities to add to your scriptural knowledge.
God forbid
Interestingly, Paul repeatedly answers several of his questions (3:4,6,31; 6:2,15; 7:7,13; 9:14; 11:1,11) using the forceful expression, “God forbid” (KJV). The phrase suggests that God has already refuted the proposition; there must, therefore, be an answer to each of these questions in the scriptures.
For example, in 3:3 Paul asks: “Shall their (Israel’s) unbelief make the faith of God without effect?” The answer, he says, is in Psalm 51:4 where the Psalmist openly confesses his sins and recognizes God is wholly justified in bringing punishment. The Psalmist pleads for forgiveness then goes on to appeal for God’s help in developing a right heart and new spirit. In fact, the attitude in the Psalm is directly opposite to that of Paul’s Jewish opponents (Rom. 2:1-4, 28-29) who refused to admit their need and were arrogantly blind to their spiritual inferiority to believing Gentiles.
In 3:5, the query is posed, “If our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man)” (NKJV). If the premise were true, “How will God judge the world?” which He obviously does and will do. The scriptures have thus already supplied the answer to this empty argument.
The question seems so absurd one might wonder why it is raised. Could these be questions Paul actually was asked? Would his opponents have been so foolish as to suggest these unscriptural ideas? It sounds like something that would come up only as a barb to mock someone in a theological argument.
Questions from theological debate
One writer has suggested many of the questions raised in the epistle to the Romans were being put to Gentile believers by unbelieving Jews. Paul brings the matters up so he can give to the Gentile believers effective answers with which to defend the Truth.
The scene is not hard to imagine. From Paul’s remarks, the Roman ecclesia must have been largely comprised of Gentiles (1:5-6, 14-15). In their early years in the Truth, they might not be as familiar with the Old Testament as were some Jews who rejected the Gospel. The unbelieving Jews would no doubt try to undercut the faith of the Gentile believers by confounding them in religious debates. The believers needed help, especially in developing arguments based upon the Old Testament. Thus the epistle is filled with theological issues which are explained in a manner particularly useful for defending the gospel to Jewish attacks.
We benefit from this approach for we are greatly enriched by the deep spiritual reasoning that we enjoy in this epistle.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One