Romans: Theology for EverybodySample

Have you ever gotten a text, email, voicemail, or call from someone who failed to identify themselves? When we don’t know who is speaking, it is hard to know exactly what they mean. The same thing is true when we begin to study a book of the Bible. For starters, we know that God is the divine Author. If we can also determine the human author, understanding the meaning of their message is easier.

The first thing we learn about Paul in the Scriptures is that his pre-conversion name is Saul as he is named after the Old Testament king. Saul is a religious terrorist. He oversees the murder of the early church leader Stephen in Acts 7. Acts 8:1-3 says, “And Saul approved of his execution…Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.” 

Then, Jesus came down from Heaven to deal with Saul personally. The religious terrorist was knocked to the ground, blinded, humbled, and confronted by Jesus Christ. Stephen had prayed to forgive Saul while he was dying, which goes to show that when we forgive someone and pray for them you never know what Jesus Christ might do next in their life. 

Saul was converted, and for the rest of his life looked back at his early life with repentant remorse whenever he shared his testimony. As a former self-righteous lost religious zealot, he knows all too well the danger of legalism and man-made traditions, which is why he attacks them as enemies of the gospel of grace. As someone who was in no way seeking or choosing Jesus, the doctrine of election makes perfect sense in light of his own salvation testimony. As someone who lived a rigid religious life without the Holy Spirit, his constant emphasis on the need for life in the Spirit is the obvious need for everyone to him. 

Jesus coming down from Heaven on a mission to convert Paul helps explain his passion to be in ministry traveling constantly to preach Jesus to others as a missionary. Lastly, the forgiveness and grace that Paul received from Christ, Stephen, and other Christians explain his devotion to preaching the gospel of forgiveness and grace of God through Jesus Christ.

Paul’s story is one of redemption, as he went on to write 13 of the books of the New Testament and was called by Martin Luther “the wisest man after Christ”. He suffered for His faith through imprisonment, shipwreck, beating, and more, but he never turned back to his old life, allowing the Holy Spirit to use him greatly.

Reflection:

• How does this information about Paul help answer some of your questions or confusions about Romans so far? 
• Why is it important to know about an author before interpreting their writings?
• If you know Jesus, think about when you first met Him. What did he save you from and how have you changed since? 
• What does Romans 1:1-6 teach us about Paul? How does he introduce himself? What do you highlight when you introduce yourself to others?