ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:1 The Gospel as the Revelation of God’s Righteousness. This first section includes Paul’s opening greeting (vv. Romans 1:1), thanksgiving (vv. Romans 1:8), and statement of the letter’s overall theme (vv. Romans 1:16). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:2 Jesus fulfilled the OT prophecy that a descendant of DAVID would rule forever. He is the Messiah (see 2 Samuel 7:12; Psalms 132:1; Isaiah 11:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTa [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:4 As the eternal SON OF GOD, Jesus has reigned forever with the Father and the Holy Spirit. “Son of God” was a Jewish title for the Messiah. Christ’s reign as Messiah began when he was raised from the dead ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS (through the Holy Spirit). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:5 Paul’s mission is to all humanity. His goal is TO BRING ABOUT THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH (see Romans 16:26). Saving faith results in obedience. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:7 LOVED BY GOD AND CALLED. God shows his love by calling his people to himself. All believers are God’s SAINTS, his “holy ones.” GRACE means God’s unmerited favor. PEACE is not just the absence of conflict. It echoes the OT concept of blessing, in which the person and communi... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:8 THANK. Paul typically follows the greeting in his letters with a thanksgiving (compare 1 Corinthians 1:1; Philippians 1:1). He is thankful because the kingdom of God is advancing throughout ALL THE WORLD. It is no longer confined to the Jews but has also spread to the Genti... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:13 Paul neither “planted” nor “watered” the church at Rome (see 1 Corinthians 3:6), but he still rejoices in the HARVEST of their increased maturity and obedience. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:14 Paul was UNDER an OBLIGATION to Jesus Christ, who appointed him to be the apostle to the Gentiles. GREEKS. Those who spoke Greek and adopted Greek culture in the Greco-Roman world. BARBARIANS. Those outside of Greek culture. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagNam... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:15 PREACH THE GOSPEL TO YOU ALSO. The gospel is not just the initial call to saving faith. It is also the call to keep on walking by faith (Romans 6:4; Romans 8:4; 2 Corinthians 5:17). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:16 JEW FIRST. The Jews have priority in salvation history because they are God’s chosen people. See chs. Romans 9:1. GREEK refers here to all Gentiles. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:17 THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD most likely means “righteousness from God.” It reflects a right standing before God that is given to people by God (see Philippians 3:9). The phrase likely has this meaning in Romans 3:21 and 2 Corinthians 5:21 as well (see notes on those verses).... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:18 God’s Righteousness in His Wrath against Sinners. God’s wrath is rightly revealed against all people, since all have sinned (Romans 3:23). Paul describes the sinfulness of the Gentiles (Romans 1:18), and the Jews (Romans 2:1), and of all people, Jew and Gentile alike (Roma... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:19 THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE. The entire natural world reveals God through its beauty, complexity, design, and usefulness. WITHOUT EXCUSE. God has given sufficient evidence of his existence and character. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:21 THEY KNEW GOD. All people know God exists. They also know a lot about him, even if they do not have a saving knowledge of him. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:22 Even brilliant people who do not honor God miss the whole purpose of life and are therefore FOOLS (see Proverbs 1:7). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:23 Idolatry is the most basic sin. In addition to the IMAGES housed in great temples, Roman families commonly kept images of “house gods” in their homes. People today still devote their lives to, and trust in, many things other than God. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElemen... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:24 Three times Paul says GOD GAVE THEM UP to sin (vv. Romans 1:24, Romans 1:26, Romans 1:28). Each time the “giving up” is a reaction to idolatry. The idol worshiper refuses to recognize that God our Maker is the center of all existence. He worships the “creature” rather than... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:25 EXCHANGED THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD FOR A LIE. All non-Christian religions are based on false ideas about God. They are not just “different paths” to God. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:26 Not only homosexual acts but also homosexual PASSIONS or desires are DISHONORABLE before God. Just as idolatry is unnatural (contrary to what God intended), so too homosexuality is CONTRARY TO NATURE. God made men and women with physical bodies that have a “natural” way of... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 1:32 People do not generally sin in innocent ignorance. They KNOW GOD’S RIGHTEOUS DECREE (at least in an instinctive way) that their evildoing deserves punishment. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]