Romans

John D. Harvey, Andreas J. Köstenberger, Robert W. Yarbrough, Andreas J. Köstenberger, Robert W. Yarbrough

• Publisher: B&H Academic
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781433676130
• eBook ISBN: 9781433691683
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Commentary

The Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament (EGGNT) closes the gap between the Greek text and the available lexical and grammatical tools, providing all the necessary information for greater understanding of the text. The series makes interpreting any given New Testament book easier, especially for those who are hard pressed for time but want to preach or teach with accuracy and authority. Each volume begins with a brief introduction to the particular New Testament book, a basic outline, and a list of recommended commentaries. The body is devoted to paragraph-by-paragraph exegesis of the Greek text and includes homiletical helps and suggestions for further study. A comprehensive exegetical outline of the New Testament book completes each EGGNT volume.

ROMANS

Introduction

AUTHORSHIP

Romans has been accepted as Pauline since post-apostolic times (1 Clem 32.2; 35.5; 50.6; Polycarp 3.3; 4.1; 6.2; 10.1; Ignatius, Eph. 19.3; Magn. 6.2; 9.1; Trall. 9.2; Smyr. 1.1). That conclusion is seldom disputed, and the internal evidence supports it:

1.The salutation identifies Paul as the author (1:1).

2.The author’s background fits that of Paul (11:1; cf. 2 Cor 11:22; Phil 3:5).

3.The author’s companions, travels, and ministry all fit the record of Paul’s activities in Acts (15:14–33; 16:21–23).

4.The language and style are similar to other letters ascribed to Paul.

5.The content of the letter reflects others ascribed to Paul.

PLACE OF ORIGIN AND DATE

Internal statements suggest that the letter was written close to the end of Paul’s third missionary journey, most likely from Corinth.

1.Acts places Paul in Achaia for three months before he traveled to Jerusalem (Acts 20:1–3).

2.Gaius, whose household Paul baptized in Corinth (1 Cor 1:14), was Paul’s host (16:23).

3.The collection had been completed (15:25–29), and Paul was ready to leave for Jerusalem (15:25).

4.Timothy and Sopater, who accompanied Paul when he left Greece for Jerusalem (Acts 20:4), were present with Paul when he wrote (16:23).

Gallio’s time as proconsul in Achaia dates Paul’s first visit to Corinth at AD 50–52 (Acts 18:12–17). His subsequent ministry in Ephesus for three years (Acts 18:18–19:10) places his second visit to Corinth at AD 56–57. Paul’s departure for Jerusalem after the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Acts 20:4–6) makes early AD 57 the most likely date for the letter.

AUDIENCE, OCCASION, AND PURPOSE

By the first century, Rome’s population was at least one million and consisted of people of all socioeconomic levels from across the empire. As early as 139 BC Rome had a Jewish population estimated at 40,000. Both Julius Caesar and Octavius declared Judaism a legal religion, but the Jews in Rome still experienced racial discrimination. Tiberius expelled all Jews in AD 19, and Claudius did the same in AD 49. Jews from Rome were present at Pentecost (cf. Acts 2:10) and most likely carried the gospel back to Italy with them. Claudius’s expulsion of all Jews probably reflects an initial Christian presence in the synagogues of Rome. Nero allowed the Jews to return after Claudius’s death (AD 54), and Paul expected to encounter an active Christian church when he passed through Rome on his way to Spain (1:8–12; 15:22–24; 16:3–16).

Much of Romans is devoted to issues of particular interest to Jewish readers (2:1–3:8; 3:19–20, 27–31; 4:12–15; 5:13–14, 20; 6:14; 7:1–8:4; 9:30–10:8; 13:8–10). Yet the epistolary sections of the letter are styled for Gentiles (1:1–17; 15:14–16:27), and Paul includes his readers among the Gentiles to whom he was called to minister (1:5–6, 13; 15:14–21). It is probably best to see Romans as written to a mixed congregation of Jews and Gentiles, with Gentiles in the majority.

Paul anticipated traveling and ministering in the western Mediterranean area after he had delivered the collection to the church in Jerusalem (15:14–33). With those travel plans in mind, he wrote to introduce himself to the church in Rome, clarify the nature of his “gospel to the Gentiles,” and correct the attitudes and behavior of the Jewish and Gentile believers in the church. Rather than trying to identify a single purpose for the letter, it is probably better to think of a cluster of purposes that address missionary, theological, and pastoral concerns.

OUTLINE

The following outline is informed by epistolary analysis (1:1–17; 15:14–16:27) as well as an analysis of the argument of Romans (1:18–15:13). Note that 16:24 is omitted in key early manuscripts. See the discussion of 16:21–23.

I.Letter Opening (1:1–17)

A.Salutation (1:1–7)

B.Thanksgiving (1:8–12)

C.Occasion for Writing (1:13–15)

D.Thesis (1:16–17)

II.Letter Body (1:18–15:13)

A.The revelation of God’s righteousness (1:18–4:25)

1.God reveals his righteousness through wrath (1:18–3:20)

a.Because humankind suppresses God’s truth (1:18–23)

b.Because the Gentiles practice unrighteousness (1:24–32)

c.Because the moral person judges others (2:1–16)

d.Because the Jews transgress the law (2:17–29)

e.Because God always acts righteously (3:1–8)

f.Because all are under sin (3:9–20)

2.God reveals his righteousness apart from law (3:21–31)

a.Through faith in Christ (3:21–26)

b.Apart from works (3:27–31)

3.God reveals his righteousness in response to faith (4:1–25)

a.Apart from works or circumcision (4:1–12)

b.Apart from law (4:13–25)

B.The provision of God’s righteousness (5:1–8:39)

1.God’s righteousness is imputed in Christ (5:1–21)

a.Bringing peace, hope, and reconciliation (5:1–11)

b.Counteracting the effects of Adam’s sin (5:12–21)

2.God’s righteousness is appropriated in Christ (6:1–23)

a.By understanding our death with Christ (6:1–14)

b.By serving our new master (6:15–23)

3.God’s righteousness is not lived out according to the law (7:1–25)

a.Because dying with Christ brings release from the law (7:1–6)

b.Because the law brings knowledge of sin (7:7–12)

c.Because sin uses the law to produce death (7:13–25)

4.God’s righteousness is lived out according to the Spirit (8:1–30)

a.Who gives us life and assurance (8:1–17)

b.Who gives us hope of glory (8:18–30)

5.God’s righteousness results in victory (8:31–39)

C.The vindication of God’s righteousness (9:1–11:36)

1.Paul’s concern for Israel (9:1–5)

2.God’s righteousness is vindicated by his sovereign working (9:6–29)

a.According to his sovereign calling (9:6–13)

b.Out of his sovereign mercy (9:14–18)

c.Under his sovereign authority (9:19–29)

3.God’s righteousness is vindicated despite Israel’s unresponsiveness (9:30–10:21)

a.Reflected in their failed pursuit (9:30–10:4)

b.Rooted in their flawed understanding (10:5–13)

c.Resulting in their frustrating disobedience (10:14–21)

4.God’s righteousness is vindicated by his plan for salvation history (11:1–32)

a.To preserve a Jewish remnant (11:1–10)

b.To bring salvation to the Gentiles (11:11–24)

c.To restore Israel (11:25–32)

5.Paul’s praise to God (11:33–36)

D.The practice of God’s righteousness (12:1–15:13)

1.God’s righteousness is practiced in Christian living (12:1–13:14)

a.By giving ourselves wholly to God (12:1–2)

b.By humbly exercising spiritual gifts (12:3–8)

c.By pursuing total transformation (12:9–21)

d.By being subject to authorities (13:1–7)

e.By loving one another (13:8–10)

f.By living in light of Jesus’s return (13:11–14)

2.God’s righteousness is practiced in Christian liberty (14:1–15:13)

a.By accepting one another (14:1–12)

b.By pursuing peace with one another (14:13–23)

c.By pleasing one another (15:1–6)

d.By following Christ’s example (15:7–13)

III.Letter Closing (15:14–16:27)

A.Paul’s mission (15:14–21)

B.Paul’s travel plans (15:22–29)

C.Paul’s prayer request (15:3...

Table of contents

• Acknowledgments
• Publisher’s Preface
• General Introduction to the EGGNT Series
• Abbreviations
• Romans
• Exegetical Outline
• Grammar Index
• Scripture Index