Sermon Tone Analysis

Romans 1a

Saul a Benjamite named after the King, Shǎ-ool ~~ שָׁאוּל

*Jew* by birth and education

       *Greek* by culture

             *Roman* by citizenship

 

Born in Tarsus of Cilicia in about 1 A.D., Paul was from a well-to-do family and as was customary he was trained in the family business - as a *tent maker*.

Pau~~lov means little and was his Gentile name.

Paul studied under *Sanhedrin Elder Gamaliel*, grandson of Pharisee founder Hillel.

Born                          ±     1 A.D.

Jerusalem                        20

Conversion                      34

Tarsus                             37

Antioch                            42

Famine                            44

1st                                    47-48

Council                            49

2nd                                   50-53

3rd                                    54-58

Caesarea                         58-60

Rome                               60-62

Death                               67

 

Romans stands first in every list…

 

Augustine, John Chrysostom, Calvin, Luther and Wesley

 

On his way to *Spain*, Paul plans to stop in Rome.

Probably *several churches* were in Rome

 

It is evident that *Peter* was not in Rome at that time

 

*Phoebe* of Cen-chre-a

 

The city of Rome was founded in *753 B.C.* on the Tiber River at a ford that was indispensable for traveling between northern and southern Italy.

The 7 *hills* surrounding the Tiber River valley provided hilltop fortifications for times of attack.

In Paul’s day, Rome had a population of approximately *one million* (the largest city in the world) and was the political hub of the vast Roman Empire.

A Jewish colony existed in Rome after *63 B.C.*, when Judea became a part of the Roman Empire, this colony grew.

By *59 *B.C. *Cicero* wrote of it as powerful and influential.

* *

At times the Jews suffered *expulsion* from Rome, as in *19 *A.D. due to financial scandal

* *

*Suetonius:* Claudius expelled all Jews from Rome *‘because they were constantly rioting at the instigation of Chrestus’* in *49 A.D.*, Priscilla and Aquila had come to Corinth (Acts 18:2).

*Nero 54 A.D.* with *Seneca* and Prefect *Burrus* helping he was an excellent Emperor until 59 A.D.

 

Textual variants in chapters 14–16 as *Origen 200* said, was due to Marcion

 

A possibility is that Paul took the opportunity in this letter to the Romans to *rehearse the speech* he was going to give when he arrived in Jerusalem with the collection.

If all of the *Bible were lost* except Romans, scarcely any fundamental doctrine would be lacking.

Paul quoted from the *OT* more often than in all his other letters combined—showing how important the OT is to understanding the gospel.

Romans shows the root of salvation: *faith alone*.

James shows the fruit of salvation: good works.

If by faith alone, what is to keep a person from going out and sinning as much as he pleases?

*Doesn’t God care* about righteousness anymore?

This is how *Paul’s teaching affected many* in New Testament times too.

*How could faith be enough*?

In *Galatians* we catch glimpses of themes that Paul now fully develops.

To most people now as then, Law and righteousness seem *inseparably *linked.

In his letter *Paul fully answered the objections* of the people of his day, and he answers the doubting of our time.

Law from the beginning was intended to serve as a *mirror*, to reveal sin.

The Law was not a standard we must *struggle to achieve*, but a measure against which we might discover *how far short we each fall*.

The Old Testament introduced the principle of a justification that comes by faith.

*Abraham and David* are examples of men who were called righteous by God not on the basis of their good deeds, but because they trusted in His Word.

As *David said, “Create in me a clean heart.”*

*God’s acts are “always righteous”* (Jer.

12:1), for all God does is in *harmony with His character*.

God, as the Creator and the moral Judge of the universe, is Himself *the one valid standard of what is right*.

Righteousness is not to be measured by what a *person does *or does not do.

As Peter said, “*You know I love You*.”

 

 

*1*Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God

 

    Pau~~lov dou~~lov Cristou~~ Ijhsou~~,

       A Jew can never be the slave of anyone other than God.

*       My life no longer belongs to me!!!! *

* *

*       Called to be… & Set apart…*

 

    eujagge>lion qeou~~ * Gospel of **/God/*

* *

*2*which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures

    grafai~~v aJgi>aiv * Holy Scriptures*

* *

*3*concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh

* *

    sa>rx * Flesh*

* *

*4*who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord

* *

    ajnasta>sewv nekrw~~n * Resurrection*, not        revivification!

The actual impact of the Greek is, *acknowledged as   the one true Son-of-God-in-power according to the       Holy Spirit because of the resurrection – so Jesus the Christ is our true Lord.

*

      

*5*through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake

* *

    uJpakoh<n pi>stewv  Result of hearing is believing and      behaving accordingly *Obedience of faith*

* *

      uJpe<r on behalf of… or for the benefit of… *His Name*

* *

*6*among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

* *

    klhtoi~~v aJgi>oiv * Called as saints *Elect or more     accurately selected to be separate from the rest.

8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.

*Thankful* to God through, dia<, Jesus as mediator.

The fact that people had *bowed the knee to Christ in            the capital city* was significant for the cause of Christ   around the world.

9For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you,

 

       Serve is latreu>w, meaning to worship (LXX of priestly     service).

Paul’s ministry work is an *act of worship*.

Paul’s worship through service is ultimately spiritual –     flowing from his *changed heart* not as a religious duty.

10always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you.

Obviously a *strong desire* to visit Rome, but only in   accord with *God’s perfect will*.

11For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established;

 

       Paul did not mean he would *grant* the Roman church spiritual gifts.

The context here is that Paul will hopefully       *encourage* the believers in Rome – move them closer to God with the spiritual gift or gifts *required*.

*These gifts can be:* Prophecy, serving, teaching,      encouraging, giving, leadership, mercy, wisdom,       knowledge, faith, healing, wonders, discernment,      tongues, interpretation, apostles, evangelists and pastors (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4).

12that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Through the *gifts already given* by God, the apostle and the Romans would encourage and edify each other   and ultimately serve God’s purpose; *win-win-win spiral.*

* *

13I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.

*Turf concerns* of Paul indicate that no other Apostle had made it to Rome yet.

He alludes to the same thing in     *15:22*.

14I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

Paul knew he had been *set apart for personal        salvation* and the *gospel* of God leading to his deep      conviction that given such a *privilege he was now in       debt* to all men, that is, to preach the gospel to them.

15So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Summary verse…

 

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel for it has the *powe*r    to bring *anyone* into a right relationship with God      through Christ at the *moment they believe* in God’s       *saving action in Christ*.