Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study Paul’s letter to the Romans.
Bible Study: Romans: Justification by Faith
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Basics
- Author: Apostle Paul (never doubted)
- Who was Paul?
- Audience: mixed community of Jews and Greeks
- Occasion and Date: From Corinth, c. 57 AD, near the end of 3rd missionary journey
- Purpose: To explain the gospel and introduce himself to the Romans before visiting them
Literary outline
A “diatribe” is the creation of an imaginary dialogue. Diatribe was a standard form of classroom teaching in the ancient near east. A diatribe typically contained:
- apostrophe (exclamation): Rom 2:1; Rom 3:17.
- rhetorical questions: Rom 2:3-4; Rom 2:21-23; Rom 7:1; Rom 8:31-35; Rom 9:19-21; Rom 9:30; Rom 10:14-15; Rom 11:34-35.
- questions answered by abrupt answers, e.g. ‘by no means’: Rom 3:2-9; Rom 6:1-2; Rom 6:15; Rom 7:7; Rom 7:13; Rom 11:1; Rom 11:11.
- hyperbole: Rom 8:27-29; Rom 9:3.
- lists of vices and virtues: Rom 1:29-31.
- examples from the past: Rom 4:1-25.
- citations of written texts as authorities: Rom 9:1-11:36.
Classical structure of a diatribe
- a statement of the main thesis (e.g. “every person is free”)
- a demonstration by means of antithesis (e.g. how vice leads to slavery)
- a restatement of the main thesis
- a demonstration of the thesis by example (e.g. that someone was free because of his moral virtue even though he was a slave)
- an exposition of the thesis, often drawing on written works
- an answering of objections to the thesis (e.g. to the objection “aren’t there virtuous people who are prisoners?”
Romans as a diatribe
- Thesis – Rom 1:16-17
- antithesis – Rom 1:18-3:20
- restatement of thesis – Rom 3:21-31
- demonstration by example – Rom 4:1-25
- exposition of thesis – Rom 5:1-21
- answering objections – Rom 6:1-8:39
- further exposition drawing on OT texts – Rom 9:1-11:36
Genre: Understanding Epistles
Background & Outlines
Blue Letter Bible: Chronology of Acts/Epistles
Blue Letter Bible: Romans Outline
Ray C. Stedman: Overview of the Book
John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background
Charles Swindoll: Romans Introduction
Chalres Swindoll: Romans Overview Chart
Romans at a Glance (WitW)
Romans Chapter Summary (WitW)
Paul’s use of the Old Testament
ESV: The Global Message of Romans
James Van Dine: Intro to Romans
David Malick (Bible.org): An Argument Of The Book Of Romans
Maps
Journeys
Paul’s Conversion and Early Ministry– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 1st Journey – Bible-History.com
1st Missionary Journey of Paul– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 2nd Journey – Bible-History.com
2nd Missionary Journey of Paul– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 3rd Journey – Bible-History.com
3rd Missionary Journey of Paul– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s Journeys– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s Arrest and Imprisonment– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s Voyage to Rome– Holman Bible Atlas
Pentecost and the Jewish Diaspora– Holman Bible Atlas
Apostles’ Journeys – Bible-History.com
Geography
Israel in New Testament Times – Bible-History.com
New Testament Jerusalem – Bible-History.com
Herod the Great’s Kingdom – Bible-History.com
Herod’s Kingdom Divided – Bible-History.com
The Kingdom of Herod Agrippa I – Holman Bible Atlas
The Kingdom of Agrippa II– Holman Bible Atlas
Expansion of the Early Church in Palestine– Holman Bible Atlas
Key Words in Romans
Occurrences are based on New American Standard Text. “4x/3v” means the word appears 4 times in 3 verses. “3x” means the word appears 3 times in 3 verses.
God (160x/128v); Christ (66x)
law (77x/50v) – Strong’s G3551 in Rom 2:12; Rom 2:13; Rom 2:14; Rom 2:15; Rom 2:17; Rom 2:18; Rom 2:20; Rom 2:23; Rom 2:25; Rom 2:26; Rom 2:27; Rom 3:19; Rom 3:20; Rom 3:21; Rom 3:27; Rom 3:28; Rom 3:31; Rom 4:13; Rom 4:14; Rom 4:15; Rom 4:16; Rom 5:13; Rom 5:20; Rom 6:14; Rom 6:15; Rom 7:1; Rom 7:2; Rom 7:3; Rom 7:4; Rom 7:5; Rom 7:6; Rom 7:7; Rom 7:8; Rom 7:9; Rom 7:12; Rom 7:14; Rom 7:16; Rom 7:22; Rom 7:23; Rom 7:25; Rom 8:2; Rom 8:3; Rom 8:4; Rom 8:7; Rom 9:4; Rom 9:31; Rom 10:4; Rom 10:5; Rom 13:8; Rom 13:10. Strong’s G460 in Rom 2:12 (2x).
sin (45x/37v) – Strong’s G266 in Rom 3:9; Rom 3:20; Rom 4:8; Rom 5:12; Rom 5:13; Rom 5:20; Rom 5:21; Rom 6:1; Rom 6:2; Rom 6:6; Rom 6:7; Rom 6:10; Rom 6:11; Rom 6:12; Rom 6:13; Rom 6:14; Rom 6:15; Rom 6:16; Rom 6:17; Rom 6:18; Rom 6:20; Rom 6:22; Rom 6:23; Rom 7:7; Rom 7:8; Rom 7:9; Rom 7:11; Rom 7:13; Rom 7:14; Rom 7:17; Rom 7:20; Rom 7:23; Rom 7:25; Rom 8:2; Rom 8:3; Rom 8:10; Rom 14:23.
death (25x/23v) – Strong’s G2288 in Rom 1:32; Rom 5:10; Rom 5:12; Rom 5:14; Rom 5:17; Rom 5:21; Rom 6:3; Rom 6:4; Rom 6:5; Rom 6:9; Rom 6:10; Rom 6:16; Rom 6:21; Rom 6:23; Rom 7:5; Rom 7:10; Rom 7:13; Rom 7:24; Rom 8:2; Rom 8:6; Rom 8:13; Rom 8:36; Rom 8:38.
dead (17x/16v) – Strong’s G3498 in Rom 1:4; Rom 4:17; Rom 4:19; Rom 4:24; Rom 6:4; Rom 6:9; Rom 6:11; Rom 6:13; Rom 7:4; Rom 7:8; Rom 8:10; Rom 8:11; Rom 10:7; Rom 10:9; Rom 11:15; Rom 14:9.
faith (40x/35v) – Strong’s G4102 in Rom 1:5; Rom 1:8; Rom 1:12; Rom 1:17; Rom 3:22; Rom 3:25; Rom 3:26; Rom 3:27; Rom 3:28; Rom 3:30; Rom 3:31; Rom 4:5; Rom 4:9; Rom 4:11; Rom 4:12; Rom 4:13; Rom 4:14; Rom 4:16; Rom 4:19; Rom 4:20; Rom 5:1; Rom 5:2; Rom 9:30; Rom 9:32; Rom 10:6; Rom 10:8; Rom 10:17; Rom 11:20; Rom 12:3; Rom 12:6; Rom 14:1; Rom 14:2; Rom 14:22; Rom 14:23; Rom 16:26.
righteousness (35x/30v) – Strong’s G1343 in Rom 1:17; Rom 3:5; Rom 3:21; Rom 3:22; Rom 3:25; Rom 3:26; Rom 4:3; Rom 4:5; Rom 4:6; Rom 4:9; Rom 4:11; Rom 4:13; Rom 4:22; Rom 5:17; Rom 5:18; Rom 5:21; Rom 6:13; Rom 6:16; Rom 6:18; Rom 6:19; Rom 6:20; Rom 8:10; Rom 9:30; Rom 9:31; Rom 10:3; Rom 10:4; Rom 10:5; Rom 10:6; Rom 10:10; Rom 14:17.
unrighteousness (6x/5v) – Strong’s G93 in Rom 1:18; Rom 1:29; Rom 2:8; Rom 3:5; Rom 6:13.
justification (3x) – Strong’s G1347 in Rom 4:25; Rom 5:16; Rom 5:18. justify (1x) – Strong’s G1344 in Rom 3:30.
Spirit/spirit (34x/27v) – Strong’s G4151 in Rom 1:4; Rom 1:9; Rom 2:29; Rom 5:5; Rom 7:6; Rom 8:2; Rom 8:4; Rom 8:5; Rom 8:6; Rom 8:9; Rom 8:10; Rom 8:11; Rom 8:13; Rom 8:14; Rom 8:15; Rom 8:16; Rom 8:23; Rom 8:26; Rom 8:27; Rom 9:1; Rom 11:8; Rom 12:11; Rom 14:17; Rom 15:13; Rom 15:16; Rom 15:19; Rom 15:30.
flesh (26x/22v) – Strong’s G4561 in Rom 1:3; Rom 2:28; Rom 3:20; Rom 4:1; Rom 6:19; Rom 7:5; Rom 7:14; Rom 7:18; Rom 7:25; Rom 8:3; Rom 8:4; Rom 8:5; Rom 8:6; Rom 8:7; Rom 8:8; Rom 8:9; Rom 8:12; Rom 8:13; Rom 9:3; Rom 9:5; Rom 9:8; Rom 13:14.
grace (21x/18v) – Strong’s G5485 in Rom 1:5; Rom 1:7; Rom 3:24; Rom 4:16; Rom 5:2; Rom 5:15; Rom 5:17; Rom 5:20; Rom 5:21; Rom 6:1; Rom 6:14; Rom 6:15; Rom 11:6; Rom 12:3; Rom 12:6; Rom 15:15; Rom 16:20; Rom 16:24.
life (18x) – Strong’s G2222 in Rom 2:7; Rom 4:17; Rom 5:10; Rom 5:17; Rom 5:18; Rom 5:21; Rom 6:4; Rom 6:10; Rom 6:22; Rom 6:23; Rom 7:10; Rom 8:2; Rom 8:6; Rom 8:11; Rom 8:38; Rom 11:3; Rom 11:15; Rom 16:4.
wrath (12x/10v) – Strong’s G3709 in Rom 1:18; Rom 2:5; Rom 2:8; Rom 3:5; Rom 4:15; Rom 5:9; Rom 9:22; Rom 12:19; Rom 13:4; Rom 13:5.
judgment (9x/8v) – Strong’s G2919 in Rom 2:1; Rom 2:3; Strong’s G2917 in Rom 2:2; Rom 2:3; Rom 5:16; Strong’s G1341 in Rom 2:5; Strong’s G4993 in Rom 12:3; Strong’s G1253 in Rom 14:1; Strong’s G968 in Rom 14:10. Note 6 different Greek words translated judgment.
Commentaries
Top 5 Commentaries on Romans – Ligonier.org
Best Commentaries on Romans – Tim Challies
Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: Romans
Matthew Henry’s Complete Complete Commentary on the Bible: Romans
Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible: Romans
Alford Exegetical Commentary: Romans
Reformation Study Bible Notes: Romans
Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Romans
Jack Crabtree: Romans Sermons 2009
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
Letter
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: Romans, Theology of
Holman Bible Dictionary: Romans, Book of
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Romans, Epistle to
McClintock and Strong: Romans, Epistle to
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Romans, Epistle to
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Romans, Epistle
Rome
Rome – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
Rome and the Roman Empire – Holman Bible Dictionary
Paul
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: Paul the Apostle
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Paul
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Paul
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Paul
Holman Bible Dictionary: Paul
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Paul the Apostle
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Paul
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Paul
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Paul, the Apostle
McClintock and Strong: Paul
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Paul
The Jewish Encyclopedia:
Timothy
American Tract Society: Timothy
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary:
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Holman Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Timothy
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Timothy
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Timotheus, Timothy
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Timothy
McClintock and Strong: Timothy
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Timothy
Timothy in Acts: Acts 16:1-3; Acts 17:14-15; Acts 18:5; Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4
Articles
Battle, John A. “Paul’s Use of the Old Testament in Romans 9:25-26
Dockery, David S. “Romans 7:14-25: Pauline Tension in the Christian Life,”
Garlington, D. B. “The Obedience of Faith in the Letter to the Romans: Part I:
Garlington, D. B. “The Obedience of Faith in the Letter to the Romans: Part II:
Garlington, D. B. “The Obedience of Faith in the Letter to the Romans: Part III:
Garlington, D. B. “The Obedience of Faith in the Letter to the Romans: Part III(b):
Hugenberger, Gordon. Homosexuality
Longacre, Robert E. and Wilber B. Wallis. “Soteriology and Eschatology in Romans,”
Merkle, Ben L. “Romans 11 and the Future of Ethnic Israel,”
Rapinchuk, Mark. “Universal Sin and Salvation in Romans 5:12-21
Reid, Marty L. “A Consideration of the Function of Ro 1:8-15 in Light of Greco-Roman Rhetoric
Turner, David L. “Cornelius Van Til and Romans 1:18-21
Young, Richard A. “The Knowledge of God in Romans 1:18-23: Exegetical and Theological Reflections
Robert Gromacki: ISRAEL: Her Past, Present, and Future – Romans 9–11
David Hocking: The Importance of the Modern State of Israel
David Hocking: Israel’s Disobedience and the Sovereignty of God
David Larsen: The Postmodern Abandonment of Israel
David Larsen: Tracing The Critical Steps in the Establishment of the Modern State of Israel in 1948
Thomas McCall: Israel: From Gaza to Eternity
Thomas McCall: Palestine vs. Israel as the Name of the Holy Land
Thomas McCall: The Evangelical Defection from Modern Israel
David Reagan: The Evil of Replacement Theology: Its Origin, History, and Contemporary Relevance
Andrew Robinson: Comfort My People: 19th Century British Evangelicalism and the Restoration of Israel
Greg Koukl: Paul, Romans and Homosexuality
Aaron Morris: The Plain Sense(s) of Scripture: Questioning interpretive singularity in Galatians 3 and Romans 4
Daniel B. Wallace: May Women be Deacons? A Prelude to Dialogue
Daniel B. Wallace: Junia Among the Apostles: The Double Identification Problem in Romans 16:7
Translations
Jack Crabtree: Romans Translations
FF Bruce Expanded Paraphrase:
Romans 1:1-3:20 – The Epistle to the Romans: An Expanded Paraphrase
Romans 3:21-4:25 – The Epistle to the Romans: An Expanded Paraphrase
Romans 6:1 – 7:25 The Epistle to the Romans: An Expanded Paraphrase
Romans 9:1- 11:36 – The Epistle to the Romans: An Expanded Paraphrase
Romans 12:1-16:27 – The Epistle to the Romans: An Expanded Paraphrase
GotQuestions.org
Treat like any commentary: read carefully and thoughtfully.
What are the Pauline epistles?
What does it mean to not be ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:16)?
What does “from faith to faith” mean in Romans 1:17?
Why did Paul say the gospel brings salvation to the Jew first and then the Gentile?
What does it mean to have a reprobate mind?
Does Romans 2:7 teach works salvation?
What is circumcision of the heart?
What does it mean that no one seeks God?
What are the works of the law (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16)?
What does it mean that all have sinned?
What does it mean that the wages of sin is death?
What is meant by “call those things which are not as though they were” (Romans 4:17)?
What is Christian reconciliation? Why do we need to be reconciled with God?
What does it mean to be dead to sin?
Is Romans 7:14-25 describing a believer or an unbeliever?
What does it mean that there is no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1)?
What is the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2)?
What does it mean that Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh?
What is the Spirit of adoption (Romans 8:15)?
What does it mean to be co-heirs/joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17)?
What does it mean that all creation groans (Romans 8:22)?
What does it mean that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28)?
What does “if God is for us, who can be against us” mean in Romans 8:31?
What does it mean that we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37)?
What is predestination? Is predestination biblical?
What are principalities and powers?
What should we learn from the symbolism of the potter and clay in the Bible?
Why did God love Jacob and hate Esau (Malachi 1:3; Romans 9:13)?
What does it mean that Christians are not under the law?
Is public confession necessary for salvation (Romans 10:9-10)?
Why was Paul called the apostle to the Gentiles?
What does it mean that the church has been grafted in Israel’s place?
Will all Israel be saved in the end times?
What does it mean to be a living sacrifice?
What does it mean to not conform to the pattern of this world (Romans 12:2)?
What does it mean to be transformed by the renewing of the mind?
What is a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)?
How can I overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21)?
Was the American Revolution a violation of Romans 13:1-7?
What does it mean that love is the fulfillment of the law in Romans 13:8?
What does it mean that we are not to cause others to stumble?
What does it mean to put on Christ in Romans 13:14?
What are the disputable matters in Romans 14:1?
What does it mean and when will it happen that every knee shall bow?
Was Junia/Junias a female apostle?
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