This past Sunday, we started a brief study during our Bible Study time of Paul's logic and argument presented throughout Romans. I wanted to post some thoughts from that study and also an outline for the weeks to come.
Please note that this is not designed to be a comprehensive outline of the book, but is merely a presentation of one way of looking at the flow of Paul's argument so that we see some of the unity and breadth of the letter. My purpose, as stated last Sunday was to show that many of the conclusions by scholars and Bible teachers or uses of Romans as proof texts are against the context and are contrary to the clear purpose of the letter.
First, let us consider the way Paul begins his argument.
Romans 1:16-17
In 1:16, he states that he is not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation of both Jew and Greek. Now this is very important as it sets up the rest of the book. Paul, a Jew by birth, is making a statement that the Gospel of Jesus will bring salvation not only to the Jews, but also to those whom the Jew despised. It will come to those of both groups through faith in the Gospel, not through the works of the Law. This theme will run the entire length of the letter and is seen as Paul commands both Jew and Gentiles, slaves and slave owners, to greet one another in Christian love (16:1-24).
The statement (in 1:16-17) will cause a chain reaction of issues that the apostle foresees and raises in our minds as he responds to the issues throughout the letter. In other words, the entire letter revolves around the controversial proposition that God is now saving both Jew and Gentiles from the sins through one means, namely the Gospel of Jesus.
Romans 1:18-32 - The Guilt of the Gentiles
Paul then explains something that is less controversial. He states that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. Notice that phrase "the Law" is never mentioned! Contrary to the systematic theology of many, Paul does not have to use the Decalogue (commonly referred to as the Ten Commandments today) to show the guilt of these people. God's wrath is said to come upon them because of their "ungodliness" and "unrighteousness". They were not thankful to God and did not glorify Him. They were filled with wickedness, covetousness, malice, envy, strife, deceit, hostility, etc.
The text in Romans 2:12 makes it clear that the Gentiles have sinned apart from having the Law! In 3:19, we see that the Law speaks to the Jews, not to the Gentiles.
Romans 2:1-3:8 - The Guilt of the Jews
Now Paul turns to the controversy of his beliefs. He now addresses the Jews who would agree with him of his assessment of the Gentiles. However, he states that they are just as guilty as the ungodly Gentiles. The Jews made their boast of themselves because they "rely upon the Law" and "receive instruction from the Law" (2.17-18). Notice that the phrase "the Law" is used 27 times in chapters 2 and 3! The Law did not make the Jews righteous. Paul's point is that the Law's purpose was to show the Jews that they were guilty, even though they were the chosen people of God!
Notice in 3.19-20 that Paul states the Law speaks to the Jews (the one group under the Law) and its purpose is so that (this is a purpose clause in the Greek language) "every mouth would be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God." He then says that through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. His emphasis is to bring the Jews under the guilt of sin just as the Gentiles are under the guilt of sin.
Romans 3:9-20 - Conclusion that all are guilty, both Jew and Gentile and in need of salvation through the Gospel.
Now Paul confirms that all are guilty, leaving no room for a Jew to boast over the Gentiles.
Romans 3:21-26 - The Gospel of Salvation through faith, to the Jew and to the Gentile
Paul now lays forth the Gospel message, emphasizing that justification come through faith. The Law does not protect a person from the wrath of God. The Law does not bring about righteousness.
With all of that being said, not Paul must defend himself against all of the accusations against faith in the Gospel verses the history of Jewish belief. Here, I will present the outline that I am planning to continue through the next few weeks of study. It mainly consists of Paul's statements following this pattern:
A) Statement
B) Question ("What then, shall we say...")
C) Emphatic Answer ("May it never be!")
D) Defense
However, there are a few things that I have included in the outline that do not follow this pattern but are important to continue following his argument.
- Romans 3:1-4: Is God unfaithful since some of the Jews will die in unbelief and not be saved?
- Romans 3:5-18: Is God unjust because Israel's unrighteousness shows His righteousness?
- Romans 3:27-5.1: Is the Law given to Israel nullified by the Gospel of faith?
- Romans 5.20 - 6:13: Shall the Jews continue to sin since the purpose of the Law was to make sin increase and thereby magnify grace?
- Romans 6:14-7.3: Shall the Jews continue to sin because they are not under the slave master of the Law?
- Romans 7:4-7: Is the Law given to Israel sin since it aroused sinful passions?
- Romans 7:8-24: Since the Law kills by the results it brings, is it therefore sinful?
>Paul’s Crux – Has the word of God failed? (Romans 9.1-8)
- Romans 9:10-17: Is God unjust because He rejected Esau, who was a child of Isaac?
>Paul’s Reaffirmation of the Gospel (Romans 10)
- Romans 10.18-11:6: Did God reject his people since he foretold through the prophets that he would reject Israel and embrace another people?
- Romans 11.7-32: Has Israel fallen beyond recovery?