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Grade 11
Unit 2
BIBLE 1102
ROMANS: PART I
CONTENTS
I.
II.
III.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
2
The Roman Empire • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
3
The Roman Church • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
9
The Book of Romans • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
13
PAUL’S EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS • • • • • • • •
18
Salutation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
18
State of Condemnation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
22
State of Justification • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
28
THE WAY ACCORDING TO ROMANS • • • • • • •
37
Sin • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
37
Salvation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
41
GLOSSARY
50
••••••••••••••••••••••••
Author:
Editor:
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Alan Christopherson, M.S.
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ROMANS: PART I
In 2 Timothy 2:15 you have been exhorted to
“study to shew [show] thyself [yourself] approved
unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The
same man who wrote these words authored the
book of Romans. He appreciated the importance of
education. The apostle Paul was a noted Jewish
scholar and a Roman citizen. He had been a
Pharisee well known for his persecution of those
who called themselves Christians. Then one day he
encountered the very Jesus Whom he had been
persecuting, and from that moment he began to
increase in the wisdom and knowledge of Christ. A
yearning grew in his heart to see other young
Christians become established in the doctrine of
Jesus.
The Epistle to the Romans is Paul’s masterly
exposition of man’s need for salvation. He had
found that there is no other foundation that can be
laid than that which is in Jesus Christ (1
Corinthians 3:11). The letter was written to a
group of Christians Paul had never met, yet he
intended to visit them as soon as possible. The
book of Romans sets forth the theme of justification by faith and of sanctification through the Holy
Spirit.
In this LIFEPAC® you will scan the Christian
church as viewed in the setting of the mighty
Roman Empire. You will focus on the first eight
chapters of the book of Romans for a close-up of the
basic Christian truths concerning sin, salvation,
and sanctification. Finally, you will be exposed to a
scripturally-based approach to proclaim to others
the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
OBJECTIVES
Read these objectives. The objectives tell you what you will be able to do when you have successfully completed this LIFEPAC.
When you have finished this LIFEPAC, you should be able to:
1.
List the first five emperors of the Roman Empire.
2.
List the five social classes of Rome’s population.
3.
Describe the characteristics of the empire in terms of land area, political control,
cities, education, occupations, and clothing.
4.
Explain the official state religion.
5.
Relate the attitude of the empire toward the Christian church.
6.
Tell how the Christian church began in Rome, where believers assembled, and how
they worshiped.
7.
Tell where and when Paul wrote the Epistle to the Romans.
8.
List at least five reasons why Paul wrote Romans.
9.
Briefly outline the first eight chapters of Romans, chapter by chapter.
10.
Illustrate the Roman form of a letter.
11.
Describe how Paul introduced himself to Roman believers.
12.
Memorize the theme of the letter in Romans 1:16-17.
13.
Explain the downward progression of sin.
14.
Contrast Jewish faithlessness to Abraham’s faithfulness.
15.
Contrast the works of Adam and Jesus.
16.
Explain the transfer from sin and carnality to righteousness and a walk in the Spirit.
17.
Describe the problem of universal sin and its effects.
18.
Relate the process of salvation by faith in Jesus.
19.
Define the process of sanctification through Jesus by the Holy Spirit.
20.
Memorize the following Scriptures: Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:1, Romans
5:8, Romans 6:11, and Romans 8:1.
1
Survey the LIFEPAC. Ask yourself some questions about this study. Write your questions here.
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I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Before studying any book of the Bible, you
should gain an understanding of the historical perspective of the author. Though every word of
Scripture is relevant today, you must keep in mind
the fact that the authors were real people, writing
to real situations. The inspiration of the Holy Spirit
has revealed to us Jesus Christ, through God’s
eternal Word. In this section you will explore the
Roman Empire at the time when the apostle Paul
wrote his Epistle to the Romans; you will discover
how the Roman Church began and functioned; and
you will determine when, where, and why Paul
wrote the book of Romans.
SECTION OBJECTIVES
Review these objectives. When you have completed this section you should be able to:
1. List the first five emperors of the Roman Empire.
2. List the five social classes of Rome’s population.
3. Describe the characteristics of the empire in terms of land area, political control, cities,
education, occupations, and clothing.
4. Explain the official state religion.
5. Relate the attitude of the empire toward the Christian church.
6. Tell how the Christian church began in Rome, where believers assembled, and how they
worshiped.
7. Tell where and when Paul wrote the Epistle to the Romans.
8. List at least five reasons why Paul wrote Romans.
VOCABULARY
Study these words to enhance your learning success in this section.
equestrian
exactitude
forum
freedmen
pantheism
plebes
Praetorian guard
procurators
saint
senatorial aristocracy
stole
syncretism
toga
tunica
Note: All vocabulary words in this LIFEPAC appear in boldface print the first time they are used. If you are
unsure of the meaning when you are reading, study the definitions given.
2
THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Throughout the histories of the world, one of
the most impressive of ancient civilizations has
been the Roman Empire. It included the land areas
around the Mediterranean Sea. Its millions of peo-
ple spoke many languages, were engaged in many
occupations, and worshiped many different gods;
but they were united by the military power and
government of the Romans.
The political situation. At the time the book
of Romans was written, Rome was the capital center of the civilized world. The Roman government
possessed the coastal land areas of Europe, Asia,
and Africa surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.
Commerce flourished throughout the empire.
Because of excellent roads and seaports, communication and transportation were easily accessible.
The city of Rome was the great metropolis of the
vast empire, and because of power, fame, and popularity, Rome became known as the Eternal City.
Rome was noted for its development of civil law
and legal justice. The enforcement of law and order
was designated to district governors and Roman
soldiers. The Roman army formed a civilizing force
as well as a conquering one. When soldiers were
neither fighting nor patrolling the empire’s boarders, they were building roads, bridges, and walls. A
handpicked group of soldiers served as bodyguards
for the emperor and were called the Praetorian
Guard.
The early Roman Empire was a cultural world
of holidays and festivals featuring public entertainment at government expense. Charioteers
raced the oblong arena called a circus.
Amphitheaters, such as the Colosseum, featured
mighty gladiators matched with each other or with
wild beasts, condemned criminals, or Christians.
They were sometimes thrown to lions or other animals for the amusement of governmental authorities and the public’s pleasure. Roman theaters presented Greek and Roman plays. Huge establishments known as public baths housed pools, gymnasiums, art galleries, and libraries. The empire was
a world within a world.
3
Generally, the first 100 years of the history of
Rome is described in terms of the personal lives of
the emperors. Many were inferior men, but
through the reigns of both good and bad emperors,
competent administrators gave the Roman government the efficiency to become one of the world’s
greatest empires.
leader, he was among the best; but as an emperor
he did not know how to work well with the governing society of the capital. He made the mistake of
turning over temporary rule to a friend named
Sejanus while he retreated to the island of Capri.
Sejanus murdered all followers of Tiberius and
ruled a reign of terror for five years. In retaliation,
Tiberius had Sejanus put to death and continued
killing anyone whom he mistrusted. During the
reign of Tiberius, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Jesus Christ was put to death. The
emperor’s death in A.D. 37 was a relief to the governing class in Rome.
The grandnephew of Tiberius became the third
emperor of Rome. His real name was Gaius, but he
is known by his nickname Caligula. The first eight
months of his reign were characterized by his mildness and acts of justice. However, he suffered from
a severe illness that left him mentally imbalanced,
resulting in a reign of cruelty and torture. He considered himself a god and had a temple built in his
honor. In A.D. 41 he was murdered by the officers
of his own guard.
The First Emperors of Rome
Name
Augustus
Reign
27 B.C–A.D. 14
Tiberius
A.D. 14-37
Caligula (Gaius)
A.D. 37-41
Claudius
A.D. 41-54
Nero
A.D. 54-68
Augustus, first Roman emperor, for whom the
month of August is named.
Around 27 B.C., shortly before the birth of
Jesus, Augustus named himself emperor. He was
the supreme authority, aided and advised by
appointed senators. During his reign he restored
peace and order to the land after 100 years of civil
wars. He developed an efficient postal system,
improved harbors, and established colonies. An
elaborate highway system connecting the most
remote parts of the empire with Rome was built
during his reign. Thus evolved the phrase, “all
roads lead to Rome.” Augustus introduced many
reforms, and the resulting peace and prosperity
won him the admiration and great respect of the
people.
After Augustus’ death, his stepson Tiberius
became emperor. He followed the peaceful policies
laid down by Augustus in the early part of his
reign. As a governor of the provinces and military
Caligula was known as the mad emperor of Rome.
The fourth Roman emperor was the nephew of
Tiberius and step-grandson of Augustus. His name
was Claudius. During his reign he formed the
nucleus of the empire’s first cabinet of statesmen.
Another of his outstanding achievements was the
accumulation of the southern part of Britain as a
province of Rome. Claudius was poisoned by his
fourth wife in A.D. 54. She wanted the empire for
her son Nero.
Nero was seventeen when he became emperor,
so the senate actually ruled until he came of age.
When Nero began to rule, he had his stepbrother,
his mother, and his wife murdered. He became like
4
a wild animal, murdering anyone who was the
least suspicious of threatening his position. His
private life was one of wicked immorality. He is
generally regarded as one of the most evil of all
men. In A.D. 64 a great fire destroyed the city of
Rome. Legend says that Nero may have started the
fire himself and played the fiddle while Rome
burned. Nero placed the blame on the Christians
and began severe persecutions under accusations
of arson and treason. The apostle Peter may have
been among those who were killed under Nero.
Paul may have suffered from his persecutions as
well.
Nero motioning thumbs down,
which meant death for a gladiator in the arena.
➨
Match the following items. (Do not match name for name.)
1.1
_____
Praetorian Guard
a. Augustus
1.2
_____
Eternal City
b. baths
1.3
_____
self-acclaimed emperor
c. Rome
1.4
_____
Tiberius
d. Gaius
1.5
_____
Augustus
e. emperor’s bodyguard
1.6
_____
Caligula
f. Tiberius
1.7
_____
second emperor
g. roman soldiers
1.8
_____
persecuted Christians
h. reformer
1.9
_____
Nero
i. Claudius
1.10
_____
formed first cabinet
j. center of civilized world
1.11
_____
circus
k. played the fiddle while Rome burned
1.12
_____
gymnasiums
l. chariots
1.13
_____
built roads
m. Sejanus
1.14
_____
Rome
n. Nero
➨
Fill in the following chart with the correct names and dates.
1.15
_____________________________________
27 B.C.-A.D. 14
1.16
_____________________________________
A.D. 14-A.D. 37
1.17
Caligula
____________________________________
1.18
Claudius
____________________________________
1.19
_____________________________________
A.D. 54-A.D. 68
5
➨
Answer true or false.
1.20
1.21
1.22
1.23
1.24
1.25
____________
____________
____________
____________
____________
____________
➨
Write the name of the emperor to which the statement applies.
1.26
1.27
1.28
1.29
1.30
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
The Roman Empire included all of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Tiberius was emperor when Jesus was born.
Caligula was known as the mad emperor of Rome.
Gaius was Caligula’s nickname.
Rome was noted for civil law and legal justice.
Claudius was poisoned by his fourth wife.
the grandnephew of Tiberius
accumulated the southern part of Britain
emperor when Jesus was put to death
brought peace to Rome
developed an efficient postal system
The population. The Roman Empire was
composed of all different races of people. No one
was an “average Roman.” Germanic tribesmen, cultured Greeks, Jewish scholars, and Egyptian farmers were included among those who claimed
Roman citizenship. One common denominator
among this variety of peoples was the use of one
common language. Many other languages were
spoken within the empire, but Greek was spoken
in all the provinces during the first century.
Creation of unity among the diverse nationalities was the most serious internal problem for the
empire. The problem was attacked politically by
the emperors; either the Roman government was
superimposed on the native governments of the
provinces, or a client king was recognized. In either
case, the Roman presence was clear to all. The
Roman Empire recognized the emperor as the
supreme authority to the point of making him a
god. He was advised by a senate of about six hundred men. The provinces were ruled by governors,
also called procurators, appointed by the emperor. The provinces had little voice in the government, but local officials were permitted to manage
local affairs.
Taxation was a constant reminder of Roman
authority. Roman soldiers patrolled the provinces
to maintain peace among them and to protect them
from non-Roman invasion. The price that the
provinces paid for peace consisted of accepting
Roman political institutions and paying the high
taxes. Aside from political control, Rome did not
intrude into social and religious affairs in the
provinces.
Social classes among the Romans were very
definite. Money and talent were beginning to be
more significant than birth and legal status. Five
basic classes were seen. The top class was the sen-
A Roman Soldier In Full Armor
atorial aristocracy. Besides being noble by birth,
these people were required by Augustus to meet a
monetary worth requirement comparable to
$50,000. The chief source of such capital for senatorial families was land and commerce. The second
class was the equestrian order. Their capital
requirement was $20,000. They were successful
businessmen who often became the governors of
Roman provinces. The class of freedmen, or emancipated slaves, composed the third class of Roman
society. They were often aggressive businessmen
able to become wealthy and occupy positions of
power. Some were employed by the emperor to
manage administrative departments of the government. The fourth class was made up of plebes.
They were freeborn Romans but were poor and
6
often on public relief. They served as construction
workers, farm hands, and common laborers. Their
wages were low because they had to compete with
slaves for jobs. Slaves formed the bottom rung of
the social ladder. Slavery was accepted throughout
the Mediterranean world, and the ranks were
filled with Rome’s conquered people. Most provincial foreigners were considered equal with slaves
unless citizenship was granted to them by the
emperor. Citizenship was granted mainly to native
political leaders in the provinces or to those persons who made outstanding contributions to the
empire.
Roman dress often indicated a person’s social
class. Both men and women wore a short-sleeved
garment called a tunica that hung to the knees.
Over this, the men who were Roman citizens wore
a toga, an oblong drape with rounded corners. The
style and color of the toga varied according to the
person’s age and position. Women wore a similar
garment called a stola, a long tunic fastened with
clasps. Both citizens and noncitizens wore cloaks of
various shapes. Their clothing was homemade, and
styles seldom changed. Both men and women wore
sandals. The women were especially fond of elaborate jewelry and ornate hair styles. Sometimes
they dyed their hair and powdered it with gold
dust. The temperature around the Mediterranean
remained mild in the winter and hot in the summer, much like the climate of southern California.
Therefore, they wore the same clothes year round.
In spite of class distinctions, schools were available for a wide range of men, women, and children.
They were not exclusively for the wealthy. The
three levels of education included primary, secondary, and advanced. At age seven, children entered
the primary school where they learned the Greek
and Latin classical writers, music, and mathematics. In the secondary schools, students learned to
write in the classical style. Professional occupations of law, rhetoric, medicine, and philosophy
were learned in the advanced level of education. If
a person attended all three levels, he generally finished at about age twenty. Jewish education was
parallel to the Roman structure, but the curriculum consisted almost entirely of the Scriptures.
The occupations of the people were much the
same as they are today. Mining ranked among the
most important industries because of the needs
involved in vast building projects. Manufacturing
varied from province to province throughout the
Roman Empire: perfume from Alexandria, silk
from Phoenicia, wool from Pergamum, bronzeware
from Corinth, and glassware from Syria. Traders
had plenty of business importing grain, drugs, precious stones, and ivory and exporting oil, wine, and
manufactured goods. Agriculture formed a basis of
economic life in the Roman Empire. Romans grew
all varieties of fruits and vegetables. Olive trees
yielded olives for food and oil. Livestock of many
kinds was tended. Rich landowners often owned
houses in the country and in the city. Even when
Rome became a vast empire years later, agriculture was regarded as the only fit occupation for a
gentleman.
The cities of the Roman Empire generally
resembled the city of Rome. At the time of
Augustus, the population of Rome was about one
million. Elaborate mansions were owned by the
wealthy, and private dwellings were owned by
many others. Most Romans were crowded into
apartment houses built five to six stories high.
They were built close to the crowded, twisting,
unmarked streets of the city. Residential areas and
shops surrounded a group of public buildings
called a forum. Temples were erected throughout
the city in honor of the various gods. The magnificent buildings of the Eternal City were ornamented with white marble, triumphal arches, and great
columned porches. The Romans borrowed much of
their style from the Greeks, but made their buildings larger and more ornate.
Transportation throughout the empire was
easily accessible. The Romans traveled more easily,
quickly, and safely than any other people before
them or after them until the 1700s. Seaports were
located all along the Mediterranean coast. On land,
the famous Roman road system connected all parts
of the empire. Wealthy people hired carriages and
drivers, but most Romans walked or rode horses or
mules.
The Romans sent news by sea more often than
by land because it was faster. The postal system
was established on land, but it was used only for
official governmental correspondence. Generally,
businesses and wealthy individuals provided their
own messenger systems. Any important announcements were either posted on buildings or, in the city
of Rome, circulated in a government newspaper.
7
➨
1.31
1.32
1.33
1.34
1.35
1.36
Answer true or false.
____________
No one was an “average Roman.”
____________
The emperor Gaius considered himself a god.
____________
The provinces were ruled by senate members.
____________
High taxes were a means of maintaining Roman political control.
____________
Social and religious life was strictly censored in the provinces by Roman
officials.
____________
Only the elite were allowed an eduction.
➨
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words or phrases.
1.37
The Roman Empire consisted of the land areas around the __________________________________ .
1.38
The common language of the early empire was __________________________________ .
1.39
The provinces paid for peace by accepting Roman institutions and ___________________________ .
1.40
The emperor was advised by the __________________________________ .
1.41
Another name for the governor of the provinces was __________________________________ .
1.42
The elite social class was the __________________________________ .
1.43
Governors were usually selected from the __________________________________ order.
1.44
The class of freedmen, or _____________________________ , generally became wealthy and
occupied positions of power.
1.45
The fourth social class consisted of free-born Romans called __________________________________ .
1.46
Most provincial foreigners were considered equal with __________________________________ .
1.47
The main sources of income for senatorial families were commerce and ______________________ .
1.48
One of the empire’s major industries was __________________________________ .
1.49
Another basis of Roman economic life was __________________________________ .
1.50
Jewish curriculum consisted mainly of a study of the __________________________________ .
1.51
The group of public buildings surrounded by residential areas was called the ________________ .
1.52
Many forms of Roman art and architecture were borrowed from the _________________________ .
1.53
The postal system was only for __________________________________ correspondence.
➨
List the names of the five social classes in rank from highest to lowest.
1.54
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1.55
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
1.56
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
1.57
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
1.58
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
8
➨
Name the articles of clothing.
1.59
1.60
1.61
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
1.59
➨
1.62
1.60
1.61
Complete this activity.
Using the past two sections of material, pretend you were on a tour of the ancient city of Rome.
Describe in detail all the features of the Eternal City on another piece of paper. Your teacher
will check your essay with you.
✔
Adult check ______________________
Initial
Date
THE ROMAN CHURCH
God has all the history of the world in the
palms of His infinite hands. Nothing has ever happened outside of His control. Before the Christian
church developed, He set the stage for it in the
Roman Empire. Though a state religion existed,
the Roman attitude toward religion was conducive
to the growth of the Christian church. Believers
were free to worship when, where, and how they
chose, with very little interference from the Roman
government.
The organization. The Roman Empire was a
conglomeration of many peoples, customs, and reli-
gions. The emperor exercised political control
throughout the empire, but social and religious
affairs were generally not disturbed. Only when
independent religions clashed with the official
state religion did the political powers of the empire
intervene.
The Romans adopted their pantheistic beliefs
from the Greeks. They worshiped individual gods
that were personified abstractions of the powers of
nature such as the sun, moon, thunder, and wind.
Besides the major deities, they had thousands of
lesser gods because the Romans believed that a dif9
furnished opportunity for the planting and growth
of Christian truth.
At first the presence of Christianity was unnoticed by Roman officials. It appeared to them merely as a reformed and more spiritual form of
Judaism. Christians were only another Jewish sect.
This friendly relationship became strained when
Gentiles began to be converted. Exclusive Judaism
finally began to persecute the infant church to the
point of accusing Christians before Roman courts.
At first the Roman government protected the new
faith, not only from Jews, but also against the populace. Acts 21:27-32 records the story of Roman soldiers helping Paul escape a mob of people in
Jerusalem who were trying to kill him. Christian
missionaries such as Paul soon recognized an ally
and a power for good in the Roman Empire. In
writing to Roman Christians, Paul counseled them
to submit in obedience to the ruling authorities
(Romans 13:1). Toward the accusation of the Jews
against their rivals, the Romans either showed
indifference (Acts 18:12-16) or recognized the innocence of the accused, as did both Felix (Acts 24:2225) and Porcius Festus (Acts 25:24-27). The Jews
finally disowned Christians in formulating a
charge of disloyalty to Caesar (Acts 17:5-7), thus
making a strong distinction in the eyes of Rome
between Jews and Christians. Christians were no
longer considered a Jewish sect, but were recognized as a distinct religion based in the person and
teachings of Jesus Christ.
ferent god represented every object as well as the
many events that occurred in a person’s life. For
example, they had a goddess of fever, a god of gold
coins, a god of a door, etc. Such a religion was never
a matter of feeling, but of form. Pleasing the gods
was dependent upon the exactitude of prayers
uttered and the perfection of all ceremonial activities. The slightest error in word or gesture would
invalidate the entire proceeding. Sometimes the
same ritual was repeated thirty or even fifty times
because of one wrong movement.
Since the emperor was the most powerful person alive, he was also considered deity. He was
believed to have in his hands the ultimate destiny
of all the people residing within the boundaries of
the Roman Empire. Imperial worship included reverence to the emperor himself and to his image,
whether it be a portrait or life-size statue. Often in
festival parades, as the emperor rode past, the people were expected to bow before him in adoration.
Under the reigns of Gaius and Nero, imperial worship included making a sacrifice to the emperor.
Though a state religion existed, the Roman
religious policy was one of syncretism. The government tolerated all religions of its conquered
peoples and did not impose worship of their gods as
exclusively powerful. Such a disposition allowed
Jews to settle in all parts of the Graeco-Roman
world and to administer Jewish government under
Roman authority. Jewish synagogues were found in
almost every city. In many cases the synagogues
➨
Complete the statements.
1.63
The Roman policy toward religion was one of __________________________________ .
1.64
Roman pantheism was an adaptation of the beliefs of the __________________________________ .
1.65
Belief in nature and nature gods is called _____________________________ .
1.66
Romans believed _________________________________ was more important than feeling.
1.67
The institution that fostered the planting and growth of Christianity was the
__________________________________ .
1.68
The Roman government first thought Christianity was a __________________________________ .
1.69
Christians were charged as being disloyal to __________________________________ .
1.70
Who were the Christians’ first persecutors? __________________________________
➨
Answer these questions.
1.71
Why did the Romans worship the emperor? Give a complete answer. ________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
10
1.72
1.73
1.74
How did the Romans worship the emperor?_______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
What was Gallio’s response to Jewish accusations?_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
How did Felix respond to the Jews’ charge against Paul?__________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
The local church. The church is an organism
held together by belief in the Lord Jesus, by participation in a common life and salvation, and by common aims and interests. The New Testament use of
the term church carries with it the concept of holiness. The term was specifically applied to groups of
believers assembled together for the worship of
God, the exercise of discipline, the edification of fellow believers, and the fulfillment of Christian service. By the time the apostle Paul wrote his letter to
the Romans, many such churches had been formed
throughout the Roman Empire. Scholars do not
know exactly who founded the church at Rome. It
was probably not founded by Peter, since his ministry was to the Jews, as we are informed in
Galatians 2:9. Paul had not yet been to Rome.
Probably the nucleus of the church at Rome had
been formed by the Romans who were at
Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. Twenty-eight
years lapsed between Pentecost and the time Paul
wrote to the Romans. During those years,
Christians migrated to the capital city from
throughout the empire.
Some who settled in Rome were Paul’s own converts and intimate friends. In Romans chapter 16,
Paul greeted twenty-four of his acquaintances who
had relocated in Rome. Paul’s first greeting is to
Priscilla and Aquila. Acts 18:1-3 relates Paul’s first
meeting with them. We are told that the Jews were
banished from Rome at the command of Emperor
Claudius. Aquila and his wife Priscilla were among
them. They settled in Corinth, where they lived
and worked with Paul over a year and a half.
Subsequently, the couple moved back to Rome and
became teachers of a Roman congregation that
assembled in their home.
The Roman congregation consisted of Christian
Jews and Gentiles. The church was a mixed community socially and racially. Generally, Christian
communities of the first two centuries derived
their adherents from the lower classes of the
Roman population—slaves, freedmen, free-born
Roman citizens of low rank, and non-Romans of
various nationalities.
Apparently, the believers in Rome were not
centrally organized. Rather, they were associated
into various small groups. In Romans 16:5, Paul
mentions “the church” that met in the house of
Aquila and Priscilla. In Romans 16:10-11, Paul
addressed the households of Aristobulus and
Narcissus. Romans 16:14 refers to five men and
“the brethren which are with them” as an individual unit. Lastly, verse 15 salutes another group
consisting of “…Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and
his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which
are with them.”
Paul’s traditional greetings to the churches at
Corinth, Galatia, and Thessolonica are not the
same as his greeting to the Romans. Rather than
specifying the church, “the church of Rome,” Paul
simply greets (Romans 1:7) “all that be in Rome,
beloved of God, called to be saints…” Such a salutation includes all small groups of believers found
in the capital city.
Since Jewish Christians were influential members of Roman congregations, the term synagogue
could have been employed to designate the assemblies. James 2:2 is a good example of this. James was
admonishing all Christian churches to halt discrimination in favor of the wealthy in the “synagogue.”
Generally the apostles began their evangelistic
efforts in Jewish synagogues and transferred their
labors from there to other meeting places when
opposition forced them to do so. If synagogue members had been united in accepting Jesus as Lord, it
would easily have been transformed into a Christian
church with very few modifications.
After a group of believers were cast out of a synagogue and met together for worship, the older and
more experienced men would by common consent
become the leaders, or elders, of the church. Once a
church was established in basic doctrine, the evangelistic apostle would move on to the next city, leaving the appointing of leadership to the local assembly. At the time Paul’s Epistle to the Romans was
written, the office of deacon or deaconess was
already recognized (Romans 16:1), but basically the
churches had very little structure. By the time
11
Ephesians and Timothy were written, much more
structure had been introduced (Ephesians 4:11-13, 1
Timothy 3:1-13).
The worship of early Christians was very free
and informal. Mainly, it consisted of prayer, the
singing of psalms, the exercising of the gifts of the
Spirit as listed in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, and
the reading and exposition of the Scriptures.
Church meetings were essentially free from mere
ceremonialism.
➨
1.75
1.76
1.77
1.78
1.79
➨
However, the rites of baptism and the Lord’s
Supper were ordinances recognized by all
Christian churches. The Lord’s Supper, or “love
feast,” was a full meal shared by believers for fellowship and the commemoration of the Lord’s atoning work on the part of baptized believers. The crux
of the Christian church, then as now, was uniting
in worship and fellowship around the person of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Choose the best answer to complete these statements.
The Christian community was not considered an organization held together by
________________________________________________________________________________________________ .
a. participation in a common life
c. the founding of a popular apostle
b. belief in the Lord Jesus Christ
d. common aims and interests
The church at Rome was probably founded by __________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________ .
a. Paul
c. Aquila and Priscilla
b. Romans present in Jerusalem
d. Peter
on the Day of Pentecost
The Christian community was mainly comprised of ____________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________ .
a. the lower classes of the empire
c. the wealthy and powerful
b. Paul’s own converts and friends
d. Jewish believers
Priscilla and Aquila were not ______________________________________________________ .
a. Jews
c. Paul’s friends
b. banished from Rome
d. Gentiles
When moving into a new area for the purpose of evangelizing, the apostles generally went first
to _______________________________________ .
a. a love feast
c. a synagogue
b. a home church
d. a forum
Complete these activities.
1.80
List four general reasons why believers assembled together.
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
d. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
1.81
List four elements used in worship in the early Christian church.
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
d. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Complete this activity.
➨
1.82
Briefly describe how Paul met Priscilla and Aquila and what position they held in the Roman
church. _________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
12
THE BOOK OF ROMANS
throughout the empire. Paul believed that, because
the Roman church had begun without any authoritative leadership, Roman Christians needed a thorough
grounding in the fundamental doctrines of the faith.
The first eight chapters of the book of Romans illustrate Paul’s fears that Judaizing influences, with all
their legalistic Jewish traditions, might reach Rome
and destroy the work of God among the people.
After delivering the collection to Jerusalem, Paul
hoped to visit Rome. From Rome, he intended to carry
the gospel to Spain. Thus, he wrote to acquaint
Roman Christians with his desires to use Rome as a
base for evangelism in Spain and to secure the financial support of that church for his work farther to the
west.
The church in Rome was already showing the
vitality that later would play a significant role in
the history of the world. Yet Paul wrote his letter to
the Roman church, which he had never personally
visited, to introduce himself and to establish the
growing church in the basic doctrines of Jesus
Christ.
The occasion. During several years of intense
missionary activity, Paul had been collecting contributions from the Gentile churches in Greece and
Asia Minor for the needy Jerusalem church, which
had been the springboard for the Christian church
as a whole. (The collection is referred to in Acts
11:27-30.) His hope was that these gifts would
allay certain suspicions that some in the Jewish
Christian community at Jerusalem felt toward him
concerning his activities with the Gentiles. The collection had been completed when the apostle Paul
wrote to the Romans. Paul was awaiting an opportunity to personally present the gifts in Jerusalem.
At the time the letter was written, Paul was in the
midst of his third missionary journey. The dating of
the letter is generally accepted as the winter of
A.D. 57-58, during the fourth year of Nero’s reign.
Phoebe, Paul’s Letter Bearer
Paul learned that a woman named Phoebe, a deaconess in the Corinthian church, was preparing to
sail to Rome (Romans 16:1-2). Her visit presented an
opportunity for Paul to send his letter to the saints in
that city. The Roman Empire had no postal system
except for official governmental business. Personal
letters had to be carried by friends or special messengers.
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
The letter was written shortly after the composition of 2 Corinthians, during Paul’s three-month
visit to Greece referred to in Acts 20:2-3. It was
probably written in Corinth from the home of
Gaius, a wealthy Corinthian Christian (Romans
16:23).
Paul had never been to Rome so he did not actually know the church in the capital city. Yet, apparently the witness of the church in Rome had spread
13
➨
Fill in the blanks with the correct answers.
1.83
Paul wrote to the Romans during his ___________________________ missionary journey.
1.84
The ruling Roman emperor at the time the letter was written was __________________________ .
1.85
His host was a wealthy Christian named ___________________________ .
1.86
Paul had just completed writing ___________________________ .
1.87
The dating of Romans is the winter of ___________________________ .
1.88
Paul planned to travel to ___________________________ after visiting Rome.
➨
Complete this list.
1.89
List four reasons why Paul wrote the book of Romans.
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
c.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
d. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
➨
Answer the following questions.
1.90
Why did Phoebe deliver the letter to the Romans? ____________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
1.91
Why did Paul want to go to Jerusalem before visiting Rome?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The persuasion. Paul had never personally
visited the Roman Christians. He had friends in
the various congregations, and was looking forward
to meeting more of the brothers and sisters in the
Lord. Before his personal visit, he felt it necessary
to introduce himself and to send greetings to
friends and coworkers. He was concerned for
Phoebe, his letter bearer, and wanted to commend
her to the church at Rome. Besides establishing
relations, Paul wanted to acquaint Roman believers with his travel plans and ask for their aid concerning the projected trip to Spain.
The letter goes much farther than introducing
Paul and his travel plans. In his letter to the
Romans, Paul gives the most complete, systematic
statement of his theology we have. A much briefer
note would have been sufficient, unless he had
other purposes in mind. Romans is the longest,
weightiest, and most influential of all Paul’s letters. It conveys the full richness of his experience
with Christ as well as the full maturity of his
thought.
Why would the apostle put so much effort into
this letter addressed to a group of believers he had
never met? Perhaps Paul was conscious of a kind of
turning point in his life. He had completed a number of missionary endeavors and was planning to
begin work in a totally new region. He had
preached the gospel in the east: now his attentions
were turned toward the west. He must have
intended this letter to be a summary and restatement of his basic thinking as well as instruction of
the fundamental doctrines of salvation to believers
in Rome. The bulk of the letter deals with the problem of sin and what God has done about it. Paul
attempted to fortify the Romans against the error
of the Judaizers by the careful explanation of the
grace of God, void of human acts of righteousness.
Paul purposed to explain the unbelief of Israel,
indicating its extent and duration, and also reveal
God’s favor toward His “chosen nation.”
Paul urged his readers to become whole-heartedly involved in the full Christian life through participation and interaction with His church body. He
14
admonished the Roman church to remain subject
to higher authorities and to remain in an attitude
of submission and love toward one another, maintaining unity in Christ Jesus.
Paul’s persuasion is one of instructional clarification and admonition written in a style of pater-
➨
1.92
1.93
1.94
1.95
➨
1.96
1.97
1.98
1.99
1.100
➨
1.101
✞
nal tenderness. His letter to the Romans is the
great “Gospel Manifesto” for the world. Paul viewed
Rome as a center of the world for which Christ died
and recognized it as a key city for the dissemination of the “Good News” of Jesus Christ.
Choose the best answer.
Before visiting the Romans, Paul wanted to _____________________________________ .
a. introduce himself
c. commend Phoebe
e. not a, b, or c
b. send greetings
d. a, b, and c
f. only a and b
Paul wanted Roman support for his trip to _____________________________________ .
a. Asia Minor
c. Jerusalem
b. Corinth
d. Spain
The bulk of the letter deals with _____________________________________ .
a. Judaizers
c. sin and God’s solution to it
b. justification through human
d. life in the body of Christ
righteousness
Paul’s letter to the Romans is _____________________________________ .
a. his shortest letter
c. the least influential of his letters
b. a “Gospel Manifesto”
d. instruction only for the chosen nation
Complete the following purposes for Paul’s Epistle to the Romans.
Paul wrote the book of Romans to:
Fortify them against the errors of the ________________________________________________________ .
Explain the unbelief of _______________________________________________________________________ .
Urge them to participate and interact with __________________________________________________ .
Admonish them to maintain unity by submitting to __________________________________________
and to each other.
Instruct them in the fundamental doctrine of ________________________________________________ .
Answer the following question.
Besides the purposes mentioned in 1.96-1.100, why did Paul put so much effort into this letter?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Review the material in this section in preparation for the Self Test. The Self Test will check
your mastery of this particular section. The items missed on this Self Test will indicate specific
areas where restudy is needed for mastery.
15
SELF TEST 1
Match these items (each match, 2 points).
1.01
1.02
1.03
1.04
1.05
1.06
1.07
1.08
1.09
1.010
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
procurator
tunica
Roman religious policy
Eternal City
Jews
forum
Phoebe
collection
“Gospel Manifesto”
pantheism
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
group of public buildings
Paul’s messenger
the book of Romans
short–sleeved garment
syncretism
governor of a province
worship of forces of nature as gods
Rome
first Christian persecutors
Jerusalem
Complete these lists (each answer, 3 points).
1.011
1.012
List the first five Roman emperors in the order of their reign.
a. ___________________________________________
b. ___________________________________________
c. ___________________________________________
d. ___________________________________________
e. ___________________________________________
List the five social classes of the Roman Empire in the order of highest to lowest rank.
a. ___________________________________________
b. ___________________________________________
c. ___________________________________________
d. ___________________________________________
e. ___________________________________________
Write the letter for the correct answer (each answer, 2 points).
1.013
1.014
1.015
1.016
1.017
1.018
Paul’s planned missionary expansion was to _______________ .
a. Jerusalem
c. Corinth
b. Spain
d. Rome
Women wore an outer garment called a _______________ .
a. toga
c. stola
b. tunica
d. cape
A constant reminder of Roman authority was _______________ .
a. the Praetorian Guard
c. the state religion
b. judaizers
d. taxes
The dating of the writing of Romans was _______________ .
a. A.D. 54-55
c. A.D. 56-57
b. A.D. 55-56
d. A.D. 57-58
The postal system was _______________ .
a. highly developed
c. poorly developed
b. only for the wealthy
d. only for governmental business
The reforming emperor was _______________ .
a. Augustus
c. Nero
b. Caligula
d. Claudius
16
1.019
1.020
1.021
1.022
Roman soldiers did not _______________ .
c. enforce law
a. build roads
b. patrol the empire’s borders
d. govern the provinces
Education was _______________ .
c. only for children
a. reserved for the wealthy
b. available to all
d. available only for professional training
The Christian community was not considered an organization held together by _____________ .
a. belief in the Lord Jesus
c. the founding of a popular apostle
b. common aims and interests
d. a common life and salvation
The bulk of the Epistle to the Romans deals with _______________ .
a. Judaizers
c. justification through human righteousness
b. life in the body of Christ
d. sin and God’s solution for it
Complete the following statements (each answer, 3 points).
1.023
1.024
1.025
1.026
1.027
1.028
1.029
1.030
1.031
1.032
Roman religion was a matter of _____________________ rather than feeling.
Christianity was initially considered by the Romans to be a _____________________ .
The only fit occupation of a Roman gentleman was _____________________ .
The common language used by Romans in the first century was _____________________ .
Apostles began their evangelistic work in the Jewish institutions called _____________________ .
The Roman Empire included the land area around the _____________________ .
Charioteers raced around an oblong arena called a _____________________ .
The emperor’s bodyguards were known as the _____________________ .
Many forms of art and architecture were borrowed from the _____________________ .
Paul’s friends, Priscilla and Aquila, were banished from Rome when _____________________ was
emperor.
Describe the Roman Christian church (this answer, 10 points).
1.033
Include information on how it began, where they met, and what the meetings included.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
✔
88
110
17
Score
Adult check
______________________
______________________
Initial
Date