Paul wrote this Epistle to the Church in Rome. Neither Paul nor the
other Church leaders like James and Peter had yet been to Rome. Most likely , the Roman Church had been
established by believers who had been at Jerusalem for Pentecost (2:10) and travelers
who had heard the Good News in other places and had brought it back to Rome for
example Pricilla and Aquila – Acts 8:2, Romans 16:3 – 5
Paul wrote this Epistle to the Romans during His
ministry in Corinth
(Acts 20:3; Romans 15:12) to encourage the believers and to express his desire
to visit them some day.
The
Romans Church had no New Testament because the
Gospel were not yet being circulated in their final written form. Thus, this
Epistle may well have been the first piece of Christian literature the Roman
believers had seen. It was written to both Jewish and Gentile Christian, it is
a
systematic presentation of the Christian faith.
Like an intelligent, articulate, and committed man of
the Gospel, Paul presented the case for the gospel clearly and forthrightly in
his Epistle to the believers in Rome.
The believers were his brothers and sisters in Christ and he longed to see them
face to face. He had never met most of them, yet he loved them. He sent his
letter to introduce himself and to make a clear declaration of the faith.
Speaking directly to his Jewish brothers and sisters,
Paul shares his concern for them and explain how the fit into God’s plan. God
has made the way for Jews and Gentiles to be united in the body of Christ –
both group can praise God for his wisdom and love. Paul explains what it means
to live complete submission to Christ – using Spiritual gifts to serve others,
genuinely loving others and being good citizens. Freedom must be guided by loves
as we build each other up in the faith. He also stress unity, especially
between Gentiles and Jews. He concludes by reviewing his reasons for writing,
outlining his personal plans, greeting to his friends, and giving a few final
thoughts and greetings from his traveling companions.
As we are reading and studying the book of Romans, we
need to re – examine our commitment to Christ and reconfirm our relationship
with other believers in Christ’s body.
“Therefore
since, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ (5:1). For in the gospel a righteousness’ from
God is recommended, a righteousness that is by FAITH, from first to last, just
as it is written: “ the righteous will live by FAITH”- (1:17). I am not ashamed
of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of every one
who believes: first for the Jews then for the Gentile – (1:16)
