Romans 1:1-17 Exposition and Discussion Guide

Romans 1:1-17 Leader’s Guide
Exposition and Notes

One thing to note as we start this study guide. If possible, encourage people to use the ESV, NASB, NKJV, or even TNIV. The NIV translation of Romans is pretty bad. It drops words, rearranges word orders, and makes interpretive calls that should not be made. Further, the rigor of the logic of Romans gives rise here especially to the need for a word-for-word translation such that the logic of the passages is preserved. I’d state here in Romans that the ESV is the most literal of the versions (even more than the NASB).

Another note: I’m planning on skipping a section or two. I don’t think that your typical freshman student is going to be fed for instance, well anyway, from Romans 2:17-3:8 or so – yet. In the study that will be 3:9-31, I will write a short explanation for that section.

One other thing to do – hammer in the content of the gospel at every chance you get, before, during and after each study. The formula I like is as follows: “The Gospel is the Good News that Jesus’ obedience to God, suffering the wrath of God for the sins of believers, and coming back to life as King over everything reconciles everyone who believes in him to God.”

1:1-7 – Greeting
This is like every greeting in the ancient world in that the writer introduces himself, and then says ‘to’ his audience. So here, Paul, to the beloved of God in Rome.

Note how Paul introduces himself though; he doesn’t focus much on himself. He’s a slave of Christ (owned and commanded by him), called to be an apostle (authoritative proclaimer of God’s word in the same way that the OT prophets were), set apart for preaching the gospel of God. He, as well as the other apostles, have been particularly given grace/apostleship (as a specific Church office) to bring about the ‘obedience of faith.’ (That could mean ‘obedience that is faith’ or ‘obedience which comes from faith.’ It doesn’t matter which. When we get to ch. 6 we’ll see that they can’t exist without each other.)

That obedience of faith is among every nation – and is for the sake of God’s name – that is, his glory.

In other words, what has happened in history, is that God called and appointed apostles to preach the gospel throughout all the nations for the sake of their obedience of faith – for his glory.

That happens now as we proclaim what those apostles wrote.

That’s not the point here, though. The point here is that we’re on the receiving end. We are of those who have ‘obedience of faith,’ who are called to belong to Jesus, who are called ‘saints,’ and who are loved by God (in a special and specific way – not in the same way God loves everyone).

Note finally here the gospel. This isn’t a full out exposition of it – it’s just telling us what the gospel is about. Now, this is complicated. There are two eras of history after the fall. You can call them Kingdom of Darkenss vs. Kingdom of God, etc. Or you can call them ‘age of the flesh’ and ‘age of the Spirit.’ The age of the Spirit – or the Kingdom of God – has come crashing down into this present age of the flesh in the person of Jesus.

We see that in the age of the flesh – into the old world – Jesus was incarnated to be the heir of David’s throne. See 2 Sam 7:8-16. Every other offspring of David had to be disciplined by God. Jesus was born into this line and didn’t. And in the old system, Jesus is the heir of David’s throne.

But in the new age – which has begun in Christ’s resurrection – he is ‘appointed to be the Son of God in power.’ Here we should see ‘Son of God in power’ as a title. He is King over this new realm/age that has begun. He is the King in the Kingdom of God. See also for this Philippians 2 (declared Lord), Hebrews 2 (crowned with glory), Matthew 28 (has been given all authority), etc. Through Jesus death/resurrection he has earned the Kingship over the new age.

There are several things that your students should get from this passage. First, they should understand that they are recipients of the word of God through the apostles for the sake of God’s glory. Second, they should understand as such, they are counted obedient, belong to Jesus Christ, are saints, and are loved by God in a special and particular way – and that he wants to give them grace and peace (which means the joy that comes from knowing him.) And last, they need to understand that the gospel is about Jesus – who has ushered in the new era of the Kingdom of God by dying and rising from the dead – and that he’s King over it.

1:8-15 – Why Paul Wanted to Visit the Christians in Rome
A few notes first. Paul credits God for their faith, and is happy about it. He defends that statement by saying that God has seen him always praying for the Roman churches. Particularly, he’s praying that he can come see them. He wants to see them to give them the spiritual gift of encouragement by his faith – and he wants to be encouraged by their faith.

Note that this is parallel to ‘harvest.’ And that harvest comes from preaching the gospel. In this passage we have two of the primary means of Christian growth – fellowship (encouraged by each other’s faith) and sitting under the preaching of the gospel.

Note also that Paul owes people the gospel, not God. He’s been given something he didn’t earn, and he owes it to people who are in the same state he was in – under God’s wrath. And he owes it also to Christians – who are in need of hearing about their God for their encouragement and holiness.

Your students from this should get first, the importance of sitting under the preaching of the gospel. They should second, get the importance of fellowship. Both of these things result in obedience to God. They should finally get the fact that they owe others the gospel.

1:16-17 – A summary of the content of the Gospel
These verses are difficult. Here’s the logic: Paul’s eager to preach the gospel to Christians in Rome because he’s not ashamed of it. He’s not ashamed of it because it’s the power of God saving all believers without distinction (Jews got the revelation of the gospel first, though). The gospel is God’s power for saving all believers because in it God’s righteousness is revealed ‘from faith to faith.’ That statement is defended by the citation of Habakkuk 2:4.

Why is the revelation of God’s righteousness good news? And why on earth does it save? First, God is acting righteously in saving as he promised in the OT.

But also, 1:18 says God’s righteousness condemns us because we’re unrighteous. We see the gospel saves all believers because God’s righteousness is revealed. (From faith to faith – honestly, no one really knows what that means. Something to do with faith.)

The keys lie in Hab. 2:4 and Heb. 10:38. First, note that there are people being considered righteous by God – even though they’re not righteous – we see that as early as 1:18, and definitely in 3:10-12. Also note that it’s the people’s faith (Heb. 10:38 is clear on that.) So through their faith, God considers them righteous. And they get the opposite of the wrath in 1:18 – life.

And how’s this happen? God’s righteousness. There is a righteousness from God that is credited/counted/imputed to everyone who believes – and therefore they escape and are saved from wrath – and given life. How this works is hammered out more in 3:20-26. Well, actually, 3:20-5:21.

So what should students get from this section? The foundation of an excitement and boldness about the gospel – because it saves all believers from God’s wrath. It works to do that by God considering us righteous through faith – by the work of Christ.

Bible Study Suggested Discussion Guide
-What are some things that cause Christians to grow to obey God better?
-This section of Romans gives us the most important answers to that question.
-Enter into a time of prayer
-Have someone read vv. 1-7
-Observations? Questions?
-What do we learn about Paul here? You may have to explain ‘apostleship.’
-What do we learn about the gospel? You will have to explain vv. 3, 4.
-What is the gospel? Be ready with your own definition.
-What does this section say about us? We fit in with the recipients – not the apostle. We’re on the receiving end of the apostle’s ministry – now through Scripture. So look at what the passage says to the recipients.
-You need to be excited about what the Scriptures say about us, incidentally. So have spent time meditating on these truths and praising God for them.
-Have someone read vv. 8-15
-Observations? Questions?
-What do you see about how Paul – and thus, God – feels about the Christians in Rome?
-What does Paul want to do in Rome? Why?
-What does this say about what we need to do to grow as Christians?
-Have someone read vv. 16-18
-Observations? Questions?
-What do we learn about the gospel here? Be prepared to ask questions about the logic of the passage – how the phrases relate to each other.
-At this point, you’re just going to need to explain v. 17 in the context of Hab. 2:4 and Heb. 10:38. Make sure to tie in Romans 3:20-26 and ahem Jesus. There’s no way folks are going to interpret this well. But at this point preach the gospel to them.
-Enter into prayer – particularly worshiping God for the gospel.