Epistles of Paul 66

Today we're going to cover the Book of Romans, an introduction to the Book of Romans. And the Book of Romans is a very important book because it's one of the three that people use to divert from the truth and bring in false doctrine. But as I mentioned earlier, we're going to cover just an introduction to the Book of Romans. We're actually not going to start with chapter 1 verse 1. That we'll do in the next Bible study. But just today, I'll give you a brief introduction to it.

Now let's first talk about Rome. Rome is, let's say, a city of that that was the capital of the Roman Empire. So I have here a picture that shows more or less where the Roman Empire was. And we can see Rome, in a sense, was right in the center of the Roman Empire. So it was founded in 753 BC. So it was quite an old city, some 800 years by the time of Christ, and of the Apostles. So it was quite an older city. And it set upon seven hills along the Tiber River in Italy. It's about 15 miles inland. And during Paul's time, Rome had a population of about one million people, most of them being slaves.

Paul's first visit to Rome was when he was in chains as a prisoner, coming from Caesarea or Caesarea. He arrived in Rome after a long and troublesome voyage. And immediately that he got to Rome, he started various conferences with the Jewish leaders. If we read in Acts 28 verse 16 and 17, he says, now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard. But Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him. And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to their men and brethren, thou I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. So we can see the one of the very first things he did when he got to Rome, he called a conference with the various Jewish leadership. During that his imprisonment, we can see he was in his own hired house for about two years. We can read that in Acts 28 verse 30. And it says, then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house and received hold who came to him, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him. While he was there, he received Onesimus. If we go to Philharmon verse 10 or chapter 10, Philharmon, let's just get there, Philharmon 10, it says, let's just have a look here. I think I've got, oh yeah, Philharmon 10. Sorry, I was looking and I'm looking and, Titus, sorry, Philharmon 10.

I think I've got a lot of information on that. It was also in with Epithroditus.

If we look in Philippians chapter 4, Philippians chapter 4 verse 18, Philippians chapter 4 verse 18, it says, So we know Philippians is one of what is called one of the prison epistles when he was in Rome as a prisoner, but this is a later time during when he was in prison.

All right, he wrote to prison epistles probably around about the year 60 to 61 AD, so we can see that those are Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians and Philharmon. So it was in that time when he was in prison. If we go back to Philharmon, let's just go back to Philharmon, and 22, Philharmon 22, it says, But in the meantime also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. So he was expected that he would be acquitted when he went there to prison, that first imprisonment that he was in his own house. He expected to be acquitted.

Paul was imprisoned in Rome twice. This we're referring to as his first time that he was imprisoned, around about 60-61, and the second time that's when he was killed. Between these two Roman imprisonments, the history of events, or rather sketchy, according to Philippians chapter 1 verse 26, let's just look at Philippians chapter 1 verse 26, 1 verse 26, that your rejoiceness for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. So we wonder if he was able to visit Philippi during that period. Also in Philippians chapter 2 verse 24, he says, but I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. So in the letter to Philippians, which again remember was one of the prison epistles while he was in prison, he was intending to go and visit Philippi. So we wonder if he was able to visit Philippi.

In Philippians chapter or rather verse 22, Philippians verse 22, he says, but in the meantime also preparing this room for me, it appears that he also from there that he went to Colossae.

And we read that also in Colossians chapter 4 verse 9, because again Colossians is one of the prison epistles and in Colossians chapter 4 verse 9, it reads, with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you, they will make known to you all things which are happening here. So it is possible that he may have gone to Colossae. It's also very probable that he went to Spain in Romans 15. In Romans 15, Romans 15 verse 24, Romans 15 verse 24, we can see that he wanted to go to Spain. We'll talk a little bit more about that a little later. Romans 15 verse 24, it says, Whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you, for I hope to see you on my journey and be helped on my way there by you. So he was, when he wrote Romans, which we'll go to in a moment, when he wrote the book of Romans, which was before he was imprisoned, we're going to look at that, he was writing to the brethren in the Roman brethren, saying that he hopes to see them when he goes to Spain. So he was hoping, as we'll see a little later, that at the end of his third journey to go and take the offering and the food that he collected for the brethren in Jerusalem and give it to brethren in Jerusalem and do offerings there. And then on the fourth trip, he was planning to go to Spain and on the way stop by Rome. But obviously, as we know, that didn't happen. But he was intending to go to Spain, and it is possible that after he left this prison, he could have gone to Spain. Look at also verse 28 of Romans 15 verse 28. Therefore, when I have performed this and I have sealed to them this fruit, as I mentioned that he was going to Jerusalem to give the blessings, the collections they had done, and he says, when I've sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. It was he he intended to go to Rome on the way to Spain on a fourth trip. But as we know, he ended up going to to jail in Rome. That's why he was in prison, house prison. So, between these two Roman imprisonments, his activities are rather sketchy. As I mentioned, you could have gone to Philippi, could have gone to Colossae, you could have gone to Spain. But we may be quite sure, or at least look quite a bit more sure, that he did visit Ephesus and Macedonia. Look at 1st Timothy, 1st Timothy chapter 1, 1st Timothy chapter 1 verse 3, 1st Timothy chapter 1 verse 3.

He says, as I heard you, when I went into Macedonia, remain in Ephesus, that I may charge some that they teach no other doctrine. So, it does appear that he went to Macedonia and Ephesus. In 2nd Timothy chapter 4 verse 13, 2nd Timothy chapter 4 verse 13, it appears that he says, they bring the cloak that are left with coppers and throwers when you come.

And the book Special Deportments, that part of the portion is an interesting one that has to do with canonization of the New Testament. But that's not part of the subject today. But he probably, from this, after this imprisonment, he went to Troas. In verse 20 of also 2nd Timothy chapter 4, we see Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus, I have left in Miletus sick. So, he also went to Corinth and Miletus. In Titus 1 verse 5, Titus 1 verse 5, he says, For this reason I left you in Crete. So, he also went to Crete. And in Titus 3 verse 12, and I sent Artemis to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. So, we can be rather sure that he did visit a number of places between his two imprisonments, because indeed it was during the time between these two imprisonments that Paul probably wrote 1st Timothy and Titus from Macedonia.

Right. We then have Paul's second imprisonment, which was run about 66 to 67 AD, and that from there he was martyred. In 2 Timothy, which was written during his second arrest or imprisonment, 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 8, 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 8, we read, Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings of the Gospel, according to the power of God. So, this was his second arrest, that he was there again in Rome, and that's when he actually died. He didn't come out. In 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 8 and 9, 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 8 and 9, says, Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my Gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer. So, he's now imprisoned as an evildoer. That is his second imprisonment, even to the point of change, but the Word of God is not changed. So, this, 2 Timothy, he is his final epistle in anticipation of his death about 66 or 67 AD. It was here in Rome that tradition states that Paul was beheaded. Paul died having his head cut off. Peter died being crucified upside down. All original pastels, in fact, were martyred except John. Now, how did the church in Rome start? The church in Rome started, and we can see that in Acts chapter 2 verse 8 through 11. Acts chapter 2, that's on the day of Pentecost. In Acts chapter 2, we can see the people from Rome.

Let's read, starting from verse 8. That's when there were people from different areas speaking different languages. And how is it that we hear each in our own language in which we were born? So there was this miracle of speaking in different languages or tongues, but in different languages. And so dialects, in other words, dialects of different matter tongues, let's call it that.

And then it says, verse 9, there were Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those who were in Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia, Persia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya, adjoining Serene, visitors from Rome. So there were there people from Rome, both Jews and Proselytes. So there were a number of people from Rome that came there. And then Christians and Arabs, and we hear them speak in our own language the wonderful works of God.

I beg your pardon. So there were people there from Rome. Now we read a little later in verse 36 through 41, still of Acts 2. We see that starting in verse 36, we see that Peter was giving this sermon. And in verse 36, they came to believe, they came to understand and believe, when Peter told them, he says, he says, therefore let all the house of Israel know surely that God has made this Jesus, whom you have crucified, you have crucified. And yeah, these were people that came from different areas, but the Jewish nation and the Romans, and in fact us, because of sin, we have caused Christ to have died for us. That was part of God's plan that Christ would die for us, because we read in Revelation 13 verse 8, if I'm not mistaken, that he the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the wall. So we see that they then realized that he was the Lord and Christ, and that's what he says. And when they heard this, they were cut to the heart. In other words, they believed, and then they said to Peter, and the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? They realized, oh no, what have we done? We killed the Lord and the Messiah, and so what are we going to do? And Peter then said, repent, and let each one of you be baptized by the authority. It was in the name, by the authority of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for the prophecies to you and your children and to all who are afar off as men as our Lord, our God will call. And then we can see that that was applicable for them. And they said, okay, they were repented and they baptized, and with many other words he testified, exhorted them, saying, be safe from this perverse generation. Then those, now this is the point that I wanted to mention, those who gladly received this word were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added were baptized. And surely a number of them were from Rome. And so that's how it's very possible how the church started in Rome. There were Jews and Gentiles, as we read, in verse 10, and there were a number of people, nearly 3,000 people, or about 3,000 people, and so surely some of them were from Rome.

Let's just go and read Romans chapter 1 verse 13. Romans chapter 1 verse 13.

Romans chapter 1 verse 13. We read it.

Now I do not want you to be an away-breeder that I often plan to come to you, but was injured until now, that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. So there were the Jews and Gentiles in Rome, and Paul had not been there yet, but the church had already started.

Also in Romans chapter 2 verse 17, Romans chapter 2 verse 17, he says, indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God. So we can see in Romans 1 verse 13 that they were the Gentiles, and we can see in Romans 2 verse 17 that they were also Jews.

Now Romans, therefore, is an epistle that, for instance, in chapter 1 is basically written to the Gentiles, and chapter 2 of Romans is basically written to the Jews, whilst then Romans 3 and beyond is written to both of them, but take and basically talking about mankind in general or as a whole. Now, so there was a church already in Rome. Paul had not gone there yet. He wanted to have gone there, as we've seen. Now was that just one congregation? Probably not. Let's just look. Maybe there were actually more than one, maybe two. In Romans 16 verse 5, Romans 16 verse 5, we read, likewise greet the church that is in their house. Who's their house? That is, if we read a little earlier, he is in a killer and Priscilla's house. It says in verse 3, greet Priscilla and a killer, my fellow workers in Christ who rest down, and likewise greet the church that is in their house. So it's talking about Priscilla and a killer's house. Now we mention here a number of people. Quite a number of people, a lot of names. Now it's probably would be difficult, I would imagine, to fit all these people in their home, and they probably were others because he's greeting specific number of people. So it's possible there was more than just one congregation.

Right. Let's get back to a little bit of timing now. At the time of writing the epistles, Paul's epistles, he started with Thessalonians, then Galatians and Corinth, and then Romans. At the time of writing the epistles, the Jews were starting to return to Rome. They started returning about AD 50 according to a book entitled The Life of Claudius by Suetonius, Book 5, chapter 25. What happened is Emperor Claudius had expelled the Jews out of Rome around about year AD 41. So AD 41, they had been expelled. AD 50, they were starting to come back. And this was due to ongoing political unrest in the Jewish communities. A big apart. The Jewish communities were demanding greater rights.

The Jews were refusing to stop gathering at synagogues and religious meetings. And so Claudius expelled them for disobeying his orders. So, but by the year 50, they were starting to come back.

In Acts 18 verse 2, that is run about the year AD 49 to 50, Acts 18 verse 2, Paul went from Athens to Corinth. We see that. Acts 18 verse 2. Let me get to Acts 18 verse 2. And it says here, Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth, and he found a certain Jew named Achille, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome.

And he came to them. And because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked for by occupation. They were tent makers. So Achille and Priscilla had recently come from home, and they had obviously become Christians while in Rome, because we don't see Paul baptizing them. They were already Christians at that time.

In verse 11 of Acts 18, we see, and he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. So that's, he was in Corinth, and then he was teaching the word of God for a year and six months, for about 18 months. From the Corinth around about that time, at around about towards the end of that period, or later into that period, he wrote first Thessalonians and then later second Thessalonians. So that was during that time of Acts 18 verse 11. Then a little later, run about late AD 52 or AD 53, basically during the time of Acts 18 verse 19. And when he says, he came to Ephesus, and right, so he came to Ephesus, but he entered a synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. And from there, it's what we believe, that we wrote Galatians from that area, late 52 or early 53.

Later, he wrote 1 Corinthians during his third journey. So let's just look very briefly at Paul's journeys, just to understand this again in context. So let's just briefly look at his journeys.

And let's just do that one. All right, yeah, it is his first journey, first missionary, that he left Antioch, and he went through Cyprus, and he basically visited the area of Galatia, and then he came back. So that was his first journey. Then we have his second journey. We have here that when he left Antioch, and then he came through, again, through Galatia. Then he went to Europe, to Macedonia, and we can see when he went through that area, and then he ended up in Corinth, and he was there for about a year and a half, as I mentioned. And that's where he wrote 1 and 2 Corinthians, and then he came back through Ephesus, and then he came back. So somewhere along the line there, we believe that's where he probably wrote Galatians, either there or a little later there after the second journey. So that's probably when he wrote Galatians about that time frame. And then we got his third trip, that then he, again, went from through the area of Galatia, the area of Galatia, and then he got to Ephesus, where he wrote 1 Corinthians, which I made reference to just now. He wrote 1 Corinthians during his third journey, and that is part of the section of Acts 19 verse 21. Acts 19 verse 21, we see there, and when these things are accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, and when he passed through, messed down into Achaia to go to Jerusalem, and after that, I must also see Rome. So it was around that time that he was in Ephesus, and there was a riot, a riot there in Ephesus, as we can see. So it was during around about that time, then he had to go up to to leave there, and that was the period around that he wrote 1 Corinthians. Then, later on, he wrote 2 Corinthians probably from Philippi, because he wanted to know the result of that letter. And from there, and that was 1 Corinthians was about early or mid-AD 55, and 2 Corinthians was when he was in Macedonia, and that is in Acts 20 verse 1. He says, and departed to go to Macedonia, and so that was Acts 20 verse 1, and that was around about the fall of AD 55 when he wrote 2 Corinthians. Then he moved and he came to actually 2 Corinthians where he wrote Romans.

That was round about, and he says, yeah, now verse 2, Acts 20 verse 2, and when he had gone over that region, encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece, in other words, to Corinth, and stayed there three months. So he was collecting the gifts from the different people and to take back to Jerusalem. And while he was there in Corinth for about three months, that's when he wrote the book of Romans. All right, so in Romans chapter 1 verse 11, Romans chapter 1 verse 11, he says, for I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift so that you may be established.

So Paul had never been to Rome when he wrote this letter from Rome, I beg pardon, to Rome from Corinth. He had never been in Rome. So he says, I'm looking forward to coming see you to impart a special gift. And in verse 13, which we read already, says, I do not want you to be an aware brethren that I often planned to come to you, but it was ended until now that I might have some fruit among you also. And then in verse 15 he says, so as much as it is in me, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you who are in Rome also.

So again, he had not yet been to Rome. As I mentioned a little earlier, but just as a point of recap, he had intended to go to Rome after this trip, this third missionary trip. He would then go to Jerusalem and then his intent was to go to Rome. If we read that in Romans 15, Romans 15 verse 19, starting Romans 15 verse 19, we see, in many signs and wonders by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Eilirachim, I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ.

And so I have made that my aim to preach the Gospel, not the way Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation. And as for this reason, I also have been much injured from coming to you, but now no longer having a place in these parts and having a great desire these many years to come to you.

So he really desires to come to see the brethren in Rome. Whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. Then I might reference about it a little earlier. So he was intending to go to Rome after visiting Jerusalem at the end of his third missionary journey. And then verse 25, but now I'm going to Jerusalem to minister to the signs in order to give them those those collections that he had gathered.

So he was going to visit them. He was taking the collection to Jerusalem, and then after that he was planning to go to Spain and stop in Rome. But as we know, he never made it. He was taken a prisoner. In Acts 19 verse 21, Acts 19 verse 21, and he says, and as we see, it was intent to go to Rome. After I've been there, I must also see Rome, Acts 19. So it was his intent to go first to take the collection from Corinth to Jerusalem at the end of those three months that he was in Corinth, and then from Jerusalem to go to Spain and visit Rome on his way to Spain.

In Acts 24, we see when he's now in Jerusalem and he's defending his case before Felix, Acts 24 verse 17. Acts 24 verse 17, now after many years, I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation. So the reason, as he's defending his case before Felix, the reason why he went to Jerusalem was not to create trouble, but to bring these alms, in other words, money for the poor, and to present offerings.

It was the collection and those things for the poor, and to present offerings. In Acts 20 verse 3, which we mentioned earlier, that's when he was there in Corinth. In Acts 20 verse 3, that's when he wrote the letter to to Romans.

To prove that a little further, let's also look at Romans chapter 16. Romans chapter 16, which is the concluding remarks in Romans chapter 16 verse 21 and also verse 23, he says, He says, Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sossypater. So, and then we see also in verse 23, he says, Gaius, my host, and the host of the whole church, greets you. So he is now writing from Corinth, and he mentions these different names. Timothy, he mentioned Gaius, and Sossypater, which is abbreviated as Sopeater. So you see, we see that in Acts 20 verse 4, while he was in Corinth, these three also mentioned Acts 20 verse 4.

We see Sopeater of Berea, accompanying him to Asia, also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derby, and Timothy. And so we've got three names that they wear in Corinth, and as he's concluding the letter that he wrote from Corinth to the Romans, he says these Timothy, fellow worker, and these other people greet you as well. So therefore, it was indeed written from Corinth at that time. Now, another important point that we need to mention is that Peter, the apostle Peter, never went to Rome. Never went to Rome. There was a different Peter that went to Rome, and the Catholic Church says that Peter went to Rome, but that's not true. In Acts chapter 8 verse 9, we can see which Simon actually went to Rome. Acts 8, that's why people say Simon Peter, right? Because Simon Peter was his name, but the eyes are different. Simon, Acts 8, and we believe this was, and there's a lot of secular evidence that Simon Magus did go to Rome, but in Acts 8 verse 9, we see, but there was a certain man called Simon who previously practiced sorcery in words, magician, and in the city, and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great. So this was the person that went to Rome. Now, Simon Magus never received God's Holy Spirit. Look at verse 17 of Acts 8. He said, well, let's go back to verse 14. He sees the apostles, and Peter was there, and they had come down, prayed for them, and that they should, they might receive the Holy Spirit, for as yet it, as it should be, God's Holy Spirit, had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. So they'd be baptized in Jesus' name, but just being baptized in Jesus' name does not mean you have received God's Holy Spirit. And then in verse 17 says, and they lay their hands on them, and they received God's Holy Spirit. So receiving God's Holy Spirit is after laying on of hands, after the baptism in the name of Jesus. And when Simon, that's Simon Magus, saw that through the laying on the hands of the apostles, and the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, and saying, give me this power also that anyone on whom I may lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit. And Peter said, your money may perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money. You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. So Simon Peter, the true Simon Peter, never went to Rome, but Simon Magus was, and he was interpreted as an anepir. And Peter in Latin, he's got a word like butter, which means father, and that is a very much of an ancient Babylonian belief that brings that word father into that religion. So in summary, the apostle Peter was not in Rome, and the apostle Peter was not an apostle to the Gentiles. Now it's probable that Peter was in Babylon when we look in 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 13. We read, She who is in Babylon elect together with you greets you, and so does mock my son.

So it is possible that Peter may have been in Babylon, but that's not necessarily Rome, although modern modern Babylon is interpreted as being Rome, but that's where people get a little bit confusing. Peter appears to therefore be in Rome, and that's where people get a little bit confusing. Peter appears to therefore have been the apostle that was coordinating the activities of the other apostles as they went to the Israelites, but Peter did not go to the Gentiles.

Also, there's another very important scripture here in Romans chapter 1 verse 11. Romans chapter 1 verse 11, which we have read, but I just want to bring an important point here. It says, For I long to see you, that's Paul saying to the Romans, I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift so that you may be established. It was Paul long to see them to impart a spiritual gift to the church. By having an apostle come in there, he would be the first apostle to go there to bold on the church, but if Peter had been there, that would have been an insult to Peter, because, you know, then Peter would be the one that had important that spiritual gift to Rome. You know, it's like, for instance, the minister is a pastor in a certain area, and then he has another minister coming to that area and says, oh well, I want to go there so I can impart a gift to you without mentioning the pastor. It would be, in a sense, an insult to the pastor, because it's bypassing the pastor. So that is another clear evidence that Peter had not been in Rome. Also, in Romans chapter 15 verse 20, which is a verse we also have read a little bit before, but a little earlier, Romans 15 verse 20, it says, And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation. You see, he's talking about going to Rome in this section, and his purpose is not to build on another man's foundation. So if Peter had been there, then it would have been Peter's foundation. So he said, I've made it my aim not to go and build on another man's foundation. In other words, that was not his job given to him by God. In Romans chapter 16, in verses 5 through 16, Paul mentions a whole bunch of names that he's greeting to the Romans. There's some 35 names mentioned here. But Simon Peter, it's not mentioned. Simon was not there. And so we can see that Paul went to Rome later as a prisoner. He also went a second time when he died and was beheaded. The letter to the Romans was written before he went there the first time. We've seen that Peter was never there. And so next study, we're going to look therefore at Romans in a little bit more detail. But let me just give you a very simple overview and purpose of the Book of Romans. The purpose of the Book of Romans is to explain the problem of human sin and reconciliation. It basically covers, let's call it, the theme, is God's plan of salvation. And it covers the basics. For instance, from chapter 1 to chapter 3 addresses repentance. Chapter 4 and 5, we could talk that it addresses faith. Chapter 6 and 7 talks more about baptism. So we can see repentance, faith, baptism. Chapter 8 talks about God's early spirit. In other words, the laying on our hands. Chapters 9 and 11 talks about points related to the resurrection. And chapter 12 onwards related to eternal judgment. And so the purpose of the Book of Romans is is, in a sense, an encapsulation of God's plan of salvation, but explaining the problem of human sin and reconciliation and how God is doing it through God's plan of salvation.

And looking at Romans, maybe in a slightly different way, from chapter 1 to 8, it shows that everybody's gone off the track, Jews and Gentiles. And then from around about Romans 7 to 11, it starts explaining God's dealings with Jews and his concern for them, because we can see that in particularly in Romans 10 and 11, it's very pertinent and important chapters about that. And then Romans 12 to 15 is to exhort the brethren to grow and answer questions that they have. And then chapter 16, he concludes with some final comments. So in conclusion, Romans is one of the most important books, just like the Book of Galatians and the Book of Colossians. These are three that people use to derail or to confuse people with false doctrine. In other words, to derail those people that are trying to learn and get confused.

The Book of Romans, however, is easier to understand than the Book of Galatians, because the Book of Romans elaborates a little bit more detail in more common, let's call practical language, so it is easier to understand than the Book of Galatians.

But the Book of Romans is one that is also extremely important to help us understand key theological terms such as law, grace, reconciliation, propitiation, and atonement. So until next week, brethren, we'll then follow on by actually starting to go through Romans, starting in chapter one.