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New Testament · Epistle · Book 45 of 66

Book of Romans

Paul’s fullest explanation of the gospel: all have sinned, all who believe are justified by faith, and all are called to new life in Christ.

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16 Chapters

Romans 1–16

Author

Paul

Written

c. A.D. 56 – 57

Written From

Corinth

Summary
Title
Author
Date
Outline
Need
Justification
New Life
Israel
Living
Closing
Overview

Book of Romans Summary

Romans is Paul’s most complete statement of the gospel. He wrote to Christians in Rome, a church he had not founded or visited, to introduce himself and his message, to build up the church, and to gain their support for his coming mission to Spain (15:22–24). His theme is stated in 1:16–17: the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, Jew first and also Gentile, and the righteous live by faith.

Paul first shows that everyone, Jew and Gentile alike, is under sin and in need of God’s righteousness (1:18–3:20). He then explains how people are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, not by works, using Abraham as the example and contrasting Adam and Christ (3:21–5:21). Chapters 6 through 8 describe the new life that follows, freed from the power of sin and the law and led by the Spirit, ending with the assurance that nothing can separate believers from the love of God.

Chapters 9 through 11 take up God’s plan for Israel and the place of the Gentiles. The rest of the letter applies the gospel to daily life, with calls to give oneself as a living sacrifice, to love, to respect authorities, and to welcome one another across differences. It closes with Paul’s plans and a long list of personal greetings.

About the Name

Title

The letter is named for its recipients, the Christians at Rome, the capital of the empire. The early Greek title is Pros Romaious, “To the Romans.”

Paul had not founded this church (1:10–13), which included both Jewish and Gentile believers. Many Jews had been expelled from Rome under Emperor Claudius (Acts 18:2), and tensions between Jewish and Gentile believers are part of what Paul addresses, especially in chapters 9–11 and 14–15.

Who Wrote It

Author Details

The letter names Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God (1:1). A scribe named Tertius wrote the letter down at Paul’s dictation and adds his own greeting (16:22).

Paul’s authorship of Romans is accepted by virtually all scholars, including those who question some of his other letters.

When It Was Written

Date of Writing

Romans was probably written about A.D. 56–57 from Corinth, during the three months Paul spent in Greece at the end of his third missionary journey (Acts 20:2–3). He was about to take a collection to Jerusalem (15:25–26).

The letter commends Phoebe of Cenchreae, Corinth’s port (16:1), and sends greetings from Gaius, the host of the church (16:23), which fits a Corinthian setting.

Study Guide

Romans Outline

16 chapters in six parts. Tap any section to expand it, and tap a verse reference to read it at BibleGateway.

Read Romans at BibleGateway
Part I

The Gospel and Humanity’s Need

1:1–3:20 · All are under sin

  1. Greeting from Paul, set apart for the gospel · 1:1–7
  2. Paul’s desire to visit Rome · 1:8–15
  3. The gospel is the power of God for salvation; the righteous live by faith · 1:16–17
  1. God’s power and nature are plain from creation · 1:18–20
  2. Exchanging the truth about God for a lie · 1:21–25
  3. God gives people over to their choices · 1:26–32
  1. Do not judge others while doing the same things · 2:1–4
  2. God judges according to deeds, without favoritism · 2:5–11
  3. Judgment by the law and by conscience · 2:12–16
  1. Boasting in the law yet breaking it · 2:17–24
  2. True circumcision is of the heart · 2:25–29
  3. The advantage of the Jews and God’s faithfulness · 3:1–8
  1. There is no one righteous · 3:9–18
  2. The law makes us conscious of sin · 3:19–20
Part II

Justification by Faith

3:21–5:21 · Righteousness through faith in Christ

  1. Justified freely by grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus · 3:21–26
  2. Boasting is excluded; one God who justifies by faith · 3:27–31
  1. Abraham was credited with righteousness by faith, not works · 4:1–8
  2. Before he was circumcised · 4:9–12
  3. The promise comes by faith · 4:13–17
  4. Abraham’s faith in the God who gives life · 4:18–25
  1. Peace, access to grace, and rejoicing in suffering · 5:1–5
  2. Christ died for us while we were still sinners · 5:6–11
  1. Sin and death entered through one man · 5:12–14
  2. Grace and life through one man, Jesus Christ · 5:15–21
Part III

New Life in Christ

Chapters 6–8 · Freed from sin and led by the Spirit

  1. Baptized into Christ’s death and raised to walk in newness of life · 6:1–14
  2. Slaves to righteousness instead of sin · 6:15–23
  1. An illustration from marriage · 7:1–6
  2. The law and sin · 7:7–12
  3. The struggle with sin within · 7:13–25
  1. No condemnation for those in Christ Jesus · 8:1–4
  2. Living by the Spirit, not the flesh; children of God · 8:5–17
  3. Future glory, and creation waiting with hope · 8:18–27
  4. God works for good; called and glorified · 8:28–30
  5. More than conquerors; nothing can separate us from God’s love · 8:31–39
Part IV

God’s Plan for Israel

Chapters 9–11 · God’s faithfulness to His people

  1. Paul’s anguish for his own people · 9:1–5
  2. Not all who descend from Israel are Israel · 9:6–13
  3. God’s mercy and sovereignty · 9:14–18
  4. The potter and the clay; a remnant · 9:19–29
  1. Righteousness by faith, not by works · 9:30–10:4
  2. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved · 10:5–13
  3. They have heard, but not all have obeyed · 10:14–21
  1. A remnant chosen by grace · 11:1–10
  2. Salvation for the Gentiles and the olive tree · 11:11–24
  3. All Israel will be saved · 11:25–32
  4. Doxology: the depth of God’s wisdom · 11:33–36
Part V

Living Out the Gospel

12:1–15:13 · Love, humility and unity

  1. Offer your bodies and be transformed by the renewing of your mind · 12:1–2
  2. One body, many members, different gifts · 12:3–8

Read this passage · 12:9–21

  1. Submission to governing authorities · 13:1–7
  2. Love fulfills the law · 13:8–10
  3. The night is nearly over; put on Christ · 13:11–14
  1. Do not judge one another over disputable matters · 14:1–12
  2. Do not cause a brother or sister to stumble · 14:13–23
  3. Bear with one another as Christ accepted you · 15:1–6
  4. Accept one another; Jews and Gentiles glorify God together · 15:7–13
Part VI

Personal Plans and Greetings

15:14–16:27

  1. Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles · 15:14–21
  2. Plans to visit Rome and go on to Spain · 15:22–33
  1. Commendation of Phoebe · 16:1–2
  2. Greetings to believers in Rome · 16:3–16
  3. A warning about those who cause divisions · 16:17–20
  4. Greetings from Paul’s companions · 16:21–24

Read this passage · 16:25–27

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