Romans: Theology for EverybodyMuestra

We live in a world of instant messaging and instant coffee where everything is faster today than yesterday. Imagine sitting down to handwrite the entire letter of Romans, hoping you don’t make a mistake and have to start over. And then handing it to a guy who takes a few weeks to deliver it a few hundred miles away. To me, it’s clear that only God could have preserved the Scriptures, and it’s amazing that the church in Rome received this letter, let alone that we are reading it still.

The Christian churches meeting throughout the city of Rome were the original recipients of Paul’s letter. While many churches had been planted by the apostles, including many planted under Paul’s leadership to non-Jewish Gentiles, no one is exactly sure who planted the church in Rome, but Paul mentions men, women, slaves, Jews, Gentiles, rich, and poor who all worshipped together as one church of believers.

The Christians in Rome likely gathered as house churches (Romans 16:4-5). The size of their gatherings would have ranged from small to large, depending upon the size of the home or other building each group was able to secure as was common for the first Christians. 

The book of Romans is a letter written in the common format of the ancient world. The introduction is longer than any of Paul’s other letters, in large part because he had not yet been to Rome, did not personally know the people, and so he was introducing himself in hopes of coming to finally visit them after previous failed attempts.

His hope was to travel to Rome to encourage the church there and also raise financial and spiritual support so that he could then set up a new mission outpost in Spain. In Romans 15:23-24, Paul says, “But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.” 

Although Paul was not physically with the church, the Holy Spirit was and spoke through him to them. And although the church comprised many people and locations, the letter was written for each and every member. This is how we know that the Scriptures are inspired by God: that they are both written and received in a supernatural way. 

Reflection:

• Christians are sinners but Paul says that, in Christ, God has “called us to be saints” who live new lives as people forgiven for the past and made new for the future (1:7). What changes in your life would help you fulfill living out your calling as a saint since the Holy Spirit makes you holy?
• Paul starts by focusing our attention on God’s love, grace, and peace for us. God’s grace is named around over 150 times in the New Testament, about 100 times it is from Paul. The book of the New Testament that mentions God’s grace the most is Romans, where it appears around 24 times. How has God’s grace shown up in your life?
• How does knowing more about the recipients of the letter help answer any questions or confusion you have about Romans?