Introduction to the book of Romans

Greetings, we finally finished first letter of John, and today we going to open up a new book of the bible. All Scriptures are inspired by God and good for learning, so no matter were we settle there is some important truth for us! God always speaks to our lifes if we willing to listen, so for the some time we will anchor into the Pauls letter to the church in the city of Rome. This one stands out among other letters writen by Paul. It can be considered a little bit more special, so I’m exited to start digging into God’s truth with you!

Foundation

But before we will go ahead and dive into the text, we should lay a foundation that might help us to understand scriptures a little dipper, or perhaps I should say a little easier. Why certain things are talked about and some are not, why is the Holy Spirit say sertain thing sertain way and etc. Probably it is not going to revolutionize your view of the text. Even though for some people it might be eyes opening, especially if you never considered that context before. But it is certainly can help to comprehand the scriptures. And in some cases prevents misreading.

Why we neex context?

We will start from the overview of the book and some historical background. Why? Because this additional knowledge can unlock your understanding of the certain aspects of the text. How to apply them and so on.

Because written word can be tricky. It can suffer the lacks of context. Emotions of the writer, his intentsions and etc. Which otherwise are pretty apparent when you talk face to face. Or easily clarified just by asking a person. Unlike live conversation, letters has only words. And depending on many factors you can interprite the same words differently. As social networks and messaging apps gained popularity it became very clear.

Impersise language

Many times I found myself in the position where I wrote a little message to someone. Said something pretty innocent. Maybe a little joke or what not. But, on the other end of the conversation, person misread it and got hurt. Got very offended. And then you have to deal with a conflict that would have not even happen if you would just talk in person.

So, the context is very, very important. And that is exactly why we will spend some times to acumulate this additional knowledge at the start of the book.

Who Is Paul

Book of Romans where written by an Apostle Paul. Formerly known as a Saul of Tarsus. He were a Jewish rabby. Who passionately observed and followed the law of Moses and Jewish traditions. He was one of the brightest teachers of the law of his day. And I think if he would continue to pursue that career, he would easily get to the teepety top of the corporate ladder. He was extremely smart. Very devoted. He knew how to work hard. His teachers were the best of the best. He got it all.

However Saul of Tarsus viewed Jesus of Nathareth and His followers as the threat to everything he was so passionate about. And with all his passion he started to work against that movement. He tried as hard as he can to cast it into oblivion. Persecuting and destroying individuals, families and entire communities. Once he shattered the church of Christ in Jerusalem. He went into trouble of getting permissions to do the same in the other cities.

His next target were the city of Damascus. And on his way to Damascus Saul had very dramatic experience. He met with the Lord Jesus. It was an encounter that changed Saul’s life. He turned from the main enemy of the Gospel to one of the major messengers. From being one who were persecuting people for their faith in Jesus Christ, to the one who were persecuted for the same faith. And from there on we know him as apostle Paul.

God have used his knowledge and passion to start Christian Churches all over Roman Empire. He were pretty famous figure. Largely respected in Christian communities. But not everyone looked up to Paul. There were some people and entire groups of believers who have questioned Paul’s authority. So, apostle Paul had his own share of troubles and challenges.

At the time he writes his letter to Church in Rome. He did not yet visited this community in person. And even though he had friend and co-workers who moved to live in Rome. Not everyone were familier with who he is.

Church in Rome

It is not clear how exactly church in Rome were formed, but the most common version is that the Jews who were in Jerusalem at the day of Pentecost(discribed in Acts 2) and have repented. Returned back home to the city of Rome and formed the church there. But also I believe that there were others who have heard Paul’s preaching in different part of the Roman empire and then joined the local church in Rome.

Because, remember places were the apoustol Paul went, often were trending centers, religious centers or sport centers of the day. And people who heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached by Paul(or by others) could have come from all over the Roman empire and beyond. Later those people would returne home and joine(or form) their local Christian communities.

So Church(or should I say churches) in Rome were a mix match of Jewish and Gentile believers. At the time of the letter church already existed for a number of years. It was active and famous in christian world. And unlike other letters of Paul. In his letter to the church in Rome he does not address any particular issue or problem. He’s main goal is to encorage the church. He presents comprehensive version of the Gospel. And expressed hope to not only visit them, but also that they will help him with his further ministry to those who do not know about Christ in Spain.

Even though Paul does not address any particular issues in his letter. He does spent considerable part of his letter helping Jewish and Non-Jewish believers to settle their arguments. We will address this topic once we get there but, short version is that most lickly church have started as primaraly Jewish. And non-Jew believers were the minority and were largely overlooked. Due to the Jewish culture and tradition of the day (them being special nation).

Then under the reign of the emperor Claudius all Jews were expelled from the city of Rome. And were allowed to return only 5 years later. When they got back to their homes and churches. They have found that at this point church consist primerly of non-Jewish believers and now Jews were overlooked and undervalued. So people in the church with different backgrounds would argue about the traditions and the law. About what should be followed and how things should be. So Paul, as a Jewish rabby on one side and apostile for Gentiles on the other helps them to settle thier arguments and find path of love and peace.

At the moment of the writing Paul was located at the city of Corinth, during his third missionary journey. In the city of Corinth believers struggled to respect Paul as an apostile. Also, they have struggled with all kids of immoral behaviors and pagan believes. And that is what Paul had to deal with at the time and those obsticles also could have their influence on the letter to Rome.

Paul’s introduction

So, with all that being said. Let’s start reading.

Romans 1:1-8

¹Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,²which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,³concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh⁴and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,⁵through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,⁶including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

⁷To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul starts his letter to the churches of Rome from, classical greetings section. Back in the day that’s was a pretty standart way to write the letter. But, besides formal greetings he also says a couple extra things. One of which is that Paul introduces himself. As I already mentioned earlied Paul did not started the church in Rome. And therefore people could have questions like WHO IS PAUL? And what he has to do with our fellowship?

When you introduce yourself to a new group of people, that what you usually do. You say your name and then who you are. You present your identity or credatioals in a very condensed form, in a singular word of a centanse.

Our presentation back home

When me and my falmily go back home. We often visit different churches and share about our ministry here in Batumi. And that is very regular thing you have to do. You go up on the stage(if it’s a church gathering) or you maybe just sit a bit more upright if it is a less formal group. And you say something among the lines “Hello, my name is Viktar. And for the last 15 years me and my wife serve God as a missionaries”

Conferance Inviroment

In the conferance inviroment a persone would get up on the stage and say: “Hi, my name is Tim. I worked at X for the last 10 years. In cyber secyrity departement and today I’m gonna talk about most common volnurabilities in modern web applications.”

So, the person presents himself and also presents his credentials. He proves his experties and gives us reasons to respect his oppinions. He proves that he really knows his field.

Presentation of Paul

Let’s see how does apoustol Paul presents himself.

He says: “Hello, I’m Paul and I am a servant of the Chris Jesus”.

The word “servant” as it translated in ESV bible. In original text sounds like “δοῦλος” - [doolos] - which translates as a slave. Or one devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests.

Paul’s presents himself as a slave of Jesus Christ. Litterally says that “I do not belong to myself. I disregarded my own will and I’m fully devoted to the will of my master”.

He continues:

Romans 1:1

¹Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle…

The word called translates as “invited” or “divinely selected and appointed”.Paul, have been devinely selected and appointed to be an apostle. Jesus Christ himself desided that Paul should be one of his special people, apostles. Who is the apostle? Apostle is a delegate, messenger, or the one sent forth with orders.

Here Paul presents us his authority. Provides the reasons why we should listen to him. And as you see it is NOT because he is very smart. NOT because he has a PhD. NOT because he was taught by the best theachers of the law. NOT because he is exceptionally good at all things God’s law. None of that. Paul had all those credentials, but he not using thouse as a proof of this experties if you will.

His authority does not come from him. His authority comes from the fact that he is a servant or a slave of the Jesus Christ, who were apointed to be his messenger, special worker. Paul were sent with orders from the master. And whatever Pauls says. He does not say on his own behalf. But on the behalf of the one who sent him.

He disregarded his own will and fully devoted to the will of his Master. So, his authority comes from his belonging to the master.

Example #1

Imagine, you walking down the street. The day is really good. Sun shining on you, slight wind blows into your face. You go about your bisness enjoing the moment. And then suddenly some guy on the street stats talking to you. You don’t really understand what he is saying. You, as a polite persone would, smile and say sorry, I don’t have time. And keep walking. The guy behing you demand you to stop, but you not even thinking about it. Happened to me few times. I’m sure some of you have had simmilar expiriance. No problem what so ever.

Example #2

But let me share with you the other story that happen to me some time ago. Maybe year or two back. Everything was pretty much like in the first case. Nice day, beautiful weather. And the guy… actulay two of them. With the differance being that they had a Police uniform. They asked me to stop and I did. They asked me some questions and I aswered. They’ve asked me to open my backpack and I obeyed. I did this not because Gocha and Merab told me. No, but because officers Beridze and Kochalidze requested it. While they are on duty they act not on their own behalf, but on the behalf of the state. State grants them authority. And if you do not obey, you gonna get charges pushed against you. Not because you did’t listen to Gocha and Merab, no, but because while they on the duty they represent their “master” the state of Georgia. And disobeying them is the same as disobeying their master.

Same with apostle Paul. In his work he does not represents himslelf. He does not speak of himself. He is apointed by the master to do the work. And as long as he is on duty, you should listen to what he is saying. Because disobeying him is the same as disobeying the master who sent him.

Why it is important? Why we spend some much time talking about things that at the first look are not important and obvious.

Because, back in the day, as well as now there are people who doubds Pauls authority. People saying that you should only obey things that Jesus spoke himself, but whatever apostles sayed is not so important, they could have been wrong. They are just people after all.

Yes, they were just regular, everyday people. But those pepole were selected and apointed by God to speak on his behalf. God grants them authority and we should listen and submit. Because, apostles on duty spoke on behalf of God. And all that is written in the bible were inspired by the Holy Spirit. All scripture are good and inspired by God bible says. So, please, do not get trapped by the enemy, by your pride that says “You know better then them”. “You need no man to teach you”. It will set you up for the falure.

Not only Pual is chosen by God to be his worker. But also he is not just any worker. Like a multitytool. He is a special instrument. Dedicated to one job.

Romans 1:1

¹Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

I love tools. I have a few. I know how to work with my hand and fix things, or at least I manage to make them less broken then they were before. And I have this nice multitool. It’s not a cheap knockoff. It’s a legit one. It’s a present from a friend. Solid, made in USA all that. And it does work. It is a handy thing. can be a knife, a saw, a pliers, screwdriver and more. But the moment you need to do something tiny bit more special that regular task, it not gonna help. As good as it is it’s going to be useless. But, I have other tools that are highly specialized. And I keep them in the box until the moment I need them. Because, when I need them nothing else will help. Yes, maybe they do one thing, but they do that one thing soooo goood.

Apostle Paul is like that highly specialized tool. God apointed him to a very specific job. To bring the Gospel to Gentiles. To me and you. So, we as non jewish believers should pay extra attention to what the Paul says. Because, God apointed him to be a messenger specifically to us.

Application.

You might say like “yeah, it’s all good and all. But what is the practicality of this all? It is nice to know maybe even interesting but, how does it impacts my life”.

I’m glad you asked because it is very important part. Typically we do not study the bible for the sake of it. We study the bible to help ourself to alighn with the will of God for us.

Respect the authority of the bible

And the first thing that we leared is that we should not doubd the authority of the scriptures. Regardless wether it is the words of Jesus, or any other apostile they all come from the same source. So, we shoud give up on our pride and submit to scriptures.

Disregard of one’s will

Second is that to be God’s servant is mean to disregard your own will for the will of God. If you want to serve the Lord you should give up control. Leave your plans and vision for your life and start praying and asking “God, what do You what from me?” And it is not easy thing to do.

Notes…

For some time already we are talking about what it is to be a true fallower. As we studied the letter of John this topic would come up again and again. Some time in the past Matt preached to us that following Jesus is not the same as following someone on the social network. It’s not about reading statuses and reacting to posts. Giving your thumbs up and likes.

Following Jesus means to live the kind of life he lived. Just like Paul: “Disregard your own will. And submit to God’s will for your life”