Romans

1
Romans

• Date 57/58
• Written From Corinth, 3rd miss. Tour
• Themes Being right with God
• Jews and Gentiles are saved the same way
• Treat each other respectfully
• Plans for Spain

2

• Paul was in Corinth (Rom 15 16).
• He had wanted to visit them in Rome but had not
  been able to come.
• For now he is going to Jerusalem to take the
  collection.
• Then he will come to Rome.
• He wants them to help send him to Spain.
• Paul wrote Romans ca. 57/58.

3
Church in Rome

• We dont know how it was started.
• Perhaps by Jews who had gone home from Jerusalem
  on Pentecost Acts 2.
• It was there at least by 49 Priscilla and Aquila
  had to leave during Claudius edict.

4
Claudius Edict

• Because the Jews of Rome were indulging in
  constant riots at the instigation of Chrestus,
  Claudius expelled them. (Suetonius, Life of
  Claudius, 25)
• Most historians think Chrestus is a reference
  to Christ.
• The Jews and Jewish Christians were likely
  arguing (fighting) over Jesus as the Messiah.

5
Reasons for Romans

• Introduce himself he had not been there.
• Ask their help for his mission to Spain.
• To reconcile Jewish and Gentile groups in the
  Church.
• In the absence of Jewish Christians, the Church
  continued to grow became primarily Gentile.

6

• After the Jews returned, both groups struggled
  with leadership, how things should be done, etc.
• By this time the Church was primarily Gentile and
  no longer associating with the synagogues. So
  things were very different.
• Since the Gentiles were the majority and in
  leadership, they looked down on the Jews.
• Both Jews and Gentiles need to learn to accept
  each other and work together.

7

• Rom 161-2 is a recommendation for Phoebe.
• Phoebe is taking the letter. She needs their
  help in making plans for Pauls ministry to
  Spain.
• Paul calls Phoebe a deacon in the Church at
  Cenchreae and a patron for his own work and the
  Church in Cenchreae.

8
Main Ideas of Romans

• Rom 116-17
• In it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is
  revealed, . . . For the one who is righteous
  will live by faith.
• 118-425 Being righteous through faith
• Jews and Gentiles are the same before God
• Both are sinful both need redemption
• Both are save the same way, through faith

9

• 51-839 The Life available in Christ
• 5 peace with God
• 6 sanctification living the life Christ lived
• 7 freedom from condemnation
• 8 the help of Gods spirit
• 9-11 Where does Israel fit in with Gods plan
  and how should we view Israel?

10

• 121-21 A plan for Life
• We should offer ourselves to Him as a living
  sacrifice.
• The way we think should be shaped by Gods love,
  mercy, and forgiveness rather than by the world
  around us.
• 131-7 Be responsible citizens
• 138-14 Love should be the determining factor in
  our relationships.

11

• 141-1513 Love those who do not agree with
  you
• Weak and strong
• Food offered to idols observance of special days
• These things are not matters of doctrine.
• 1514-1627 Pauls travel plans, future plans for
  ministry in Spain, trip to Jerusalem, Phoebe,
  greetings to many in the congregation

12
House Churches in Rome

• Several house (tenement) churches
• Priscilla Aquila 163, 5
• Asyncritus, Phlegon, 1614, 15
• Philologus, Julia 1615
• 1610
• 1611
• 14 other individuals named associated with other
  house churches

13
Figure 1. A Hypothetical Roman Tenement Building.
In the upper-left corner, a chamberpot is being
dumped on the street below. In the lower-right
corner, a chamberpot is being emptied into a
barrel located under a staircase. Both methods of
waste disposal were common in ancient Rome (based
on Macaulay) From http//www.waterhistory.org/his
tories/rome/
14
Romans Today

• We must realize no one has an advantage before
  God because of who we are.
• We must be careful about our attitude toward
  others.
• Within the Church social status should not be an
  issue.
• We need to learn to work together in spite of our
  differences.

15

• Much of the time, the issues we fight about are
  not salvation issues.
• If something is not a salvation issue, why should
  we make it a test of fellowship.
• The tests of fellowship that we sometimes use may
  be more an issue of feeling comfortable.
• Unless we allow God through his Spirit to shape
  our thinking we will think and act like the world
  (ch. 12).

16
Pictures of Rome

• http//www.roman-empire.net/tours/rome.html