The Good News of Salvation in Jesus Christ

Studies in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans

Lesson 1 : Introduction

AUTHOR / AUTHENTICITY OF THE EPISTLE  –  TIME / PLACE OF COMPOSITION  –  HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: PAUL  –  ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH AT ROME  –  STRONG JEWISH PRESENCE IN ROME BEFORE GOSPEL  –  HOW DID THE GOSPEL FIRST REACH ROME?  –  EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THE CHURCH WAS AT ROME FOR A LONG TIME  –  WAS PETER EVER IN ROME?  –  WHAT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR CATHOLICISM’S TEACHING OF PETER AND ROME?  –  CONDITION OF THE CHURCH AT ROME  –  PURPOSE FOR WRITING:  (1)  TO INFORM THEM OF HIS LOVE FOR THEM  (2)  TO ESTABLISH THE ROMANS IN THE FAITH  (3)  TO PUT IN WRITING PAUL’S ESTABLISHED VIEWS ON DOCTRINAL ISSUES  (4)  TO POSSIBLY ESTABLISH A MISSIONARY BASE  (5)  TO REQUEST PRAYER FOR THE JERUSALEM OFFERING  (6)  GENTILE / JEWISH RELATIONS  (7)  TO CORRECT POTENTIAL RUMORS OF PAUL’S PREACHING  (8)  TO INSTILL HOPE IN THE HEARTS OF BELIEVERS  –  PLACEMENT IN NEW TESTAMENT  –  INFLUENCE OF BOOK OF ROMANS  –  ANALYSIS AND OUTLINE OF THE EPISTLE  –  SUGGESTED READING / REFERENCES