Romans Part 01

We will be switching gears once again and diving into one of the Epistles, the book of Romans. It is written to believers in the hub of the Roman Empire. "The Eternal City" is the label Romans assigned to Rome. Why? Because men such as the Roman poet Tibullus (54–18 B.C.) and the Latin poet Ovid (43 B.C.) believed that no matter how many empires rose and fell, Rome would not fail. Founded in 753 B.C., Rome became the capital of the Roman Empire. Located on the banks of the Tiber River, about fifteen miles from the Mediterranean Sea, Rome sits in what is now modern Italy. At the time the Apostle Paul wrote Romans, the city had a population of more than one million people. The entire New Testament story takes place under the dominion of the Roman Empire, which connects prophetically with the fourth beast of Daniel. Rome was not merely another city. It was the center of the empire, and the Roman world shaped the environment in which the gospel spread.

Rome's greatness was not based solely on military strength. One of the empire's greatest advantages was its extensive road system. Roman roads allowed fast and efficient movement of armies, government officials, commerce, and eventually messengers carrying the gospel. Roman cities were often planned with similar layouts, producing a unifying cultural effect across the empire. A typical Roman city featured major north-south and east-west roads intersecting near the forum, which served as the center of public, civic, commercial, and community life. Theaters, temples, baths, circuses, and amphitheaters helped spread and reinforce Roman culture. Baths functioned as centers of public life where people gathered, relaxed, and socialized. Larger cities often contained amphitheaters, essentially two semicircular theaters joined together, with the Colosseum being the most famous example. The circus was one of the most popular forms of entertainment, especially for horse and chariot races.

Slavery was prominent throughout the Roman Empire. Many slaves were prisoners of war, and some estimates place the number of slaves throughout the empire as high as tens of millions. Roman religion was also woven into daily life. Worship was not limited to public temples, as many people maintained household shrines and practiced religion in their homes. This background helps us understand the setting of Paul's letter. He was not writing into a neutral world. He was writing to believers living in the very heart of a powerful, pagan, and status-conscious empire.

By multiple indications, the Church at Rome originated with the Feast of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2:1, 8–10. While the setting in Acts was in Jerusalem, those called by God would have followed Christ’s instruction to remain in Jerusalem until Pentecost and then likely returned to Rome, where they helped establish a fledgling congregation.  

This biblical perspective of the origin of the New Testament Church stands in stark contrast to the traditional Catholic view of Rome. Catholics, meaning "all-encompassing, or universal" contend that Catholicism is the true Church primarily because of the papacy, with Peter serving as the first pope. Scripture, however, is often cited as presenting a different picture. First, Catholics place Peter in Rome, yet Romans 16 indicates that Peter is not present in Rome at the time Catholic tradition states he was there. Second, Romans 1:11 shows that Paul desired to come to Rome to establish spiritual gifts among the brethren, something he likely would not have emphasized had Peter already been serving there in the capacity claimed. Third, Peter is specifically recorded as being in Babylon in 1 Peter 5:13. Fourth, Galatians 2:8 states that Peter's primary commission was to the Jews, whereas Paul's commission was to the Gentiles, and Rome was predominantly a Gentile city. Some historians and writers, including Alexander Hislop in The Two Babylons, have suggested that the Peter referenced in later traditions may actually have been Simon Magus, or Simon the Magician of Acts 8, rather than the Apostle Peter.

The congregation in Rome also existed within a complicated Jewish and Gentile setting. Acts 18:2 records that Claudius Caesar ordered the Jews to leave Rome. Claudius ruled from A.D. 41 to 54, and this expulsion disrupted Jewish life in the city. When Jews later returned, the congregation likely faced challenges in navigating relationships between Jewish and Gentile believers. Restrictions placed upon Jews would have affected early Christians as well, since the early Church was often viewed in connection with Judaism and frequently met in synagogue settings. Rome was therefore a difficult place to live faithfully, especially for Jews and Jewish Christians. This background is important because Romans contains extensive discussion regarding Jews and Gentiles, the law, identity, calling, advantage, and faith.

Internal and external evidence indicates that Romans was written around A.D. 55–57, most likely while Paul was in Corinth during the three-month stay recorded in Acts 20:1–3. The letter was written before Paul had personally visited the congregation in Rome. Romans 1:11, 13, and 15 clearly show Paul's desire to come to Rome, though he had not yet done so. Acts 19:21 likewise records Paul's intention to travel to Jerusalem and then to Rome. As we recall from Acts 28, Paul's first visit to Rome eventually occurred in shackles, where he lived under house arrest. It was in Rome that Paul later received Onesimus and Epaphroditus, and it was there that he was likely martyred between A.D. 65 and 67.

Romans addresses the problem of human sin and reconciliation with God. It is one of Paul's most organized and theologically rich letters. Rather than being a collection of scattered thoughts, the book builds a carefully developed argument. Paul writes to a congregation he has not yet visited, introduces himself as a servant and called apostle of Jesus Christ, and announces the central theme of the letter: the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, revealing the righteousness of God from faith to faith.

A simple overview of the book helps reveal its structure:  

• Romans 1–8 provide a deeper explanation of the gospel, discussing sin, justification, faith, grace, law, the Spirit, and life in Christ. These chapters remind us that all humanity has gone astray.  
• Romans 9–11 explain God's dealings with Jews and Gentiles, demonstrating how His promises, election, calling, mercy, and plan of salvation fit together, including how the Jews will ultimately be saved.  
• Romans 12–15 contain practical exhortation for the brethren to move forward in Christian living through service, relationships, conscience, and faithful conduct.  
• Romans 16 concludes the letter with personal greetings and final comments.

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org  

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.