Romans Ch1 1–7

This opening study in our verse-by-verse journey through the book of Romans was taught by pastor Barry Forder on 1st August 2024.

On their website, Libertly University in America state: "The great apostle Paul authored at least 13 New Testament epistles. If he were here today with us, and was asked which epistle was the most needed for this time in history, I believe he would say without hesitation, the book of Romans. And the reason? Well, 2000 years ago he warned that “in the latter times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Tim. 4:1). So then, the only real cure for bad doctrine is biblical doctrine; thus, the most theological book ever written – the book of Romans!"

That is quite a statment, but one that will undoubtedly prove to be true as we begin a study through this incredible book.

John Calvin said: “if we understand this epistle we have a passage opened to us to the understanding of the whole of Scripture”.

Additional study notes from this session:

• “Paul” = the least; the little one. Understood grace.
  • “I am the chief of sinners” 1 Tim 1:12-15
  • Significantly, the most devoutly religious man who ever lived! Phil 3:1ff
• So God has already saved one who is far worse than you or me!...

Paul sent greetings to the church that met in the home of Aquila and Priscilla. Rom 16:5

• Many of the believers in Rome were Paul’s converts
• He was writing to believers
  • Not preaching for them to be converted
  • Teaching them what salvation is really all about

• Though he never mentions it, he wrote from Corinth.
  • Cenchrea being its eastern harbor. 16:1
• Written at the close of his third missionary journey on c. AD 57-58

In 1947 a Bedouin boy made one of the greatest archeological discoveries of all time in a cave at Qumran in southern Israel.

Much is said about the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls,…

They comprise some 800 documents

…dating from around 250 BC to 68 AD

Among the Scrolls are partial or complete copies of every book in the Hebrew Bible

except the book of Esther

But what is not so widely publicised is that fragments of a number of New Testament books were also discovered in cave 7… including the Book of Romans.

The caves at Qumran are famous for the hoard of Old Testament and other manuscripts that have been found there. But the thing which receives the least publicity (if any publicity at all) is the fact that the caves have also yielded fragments of New Testament books. This absence of publicity – this blanket denial of their identity – is not to be wondered at.

It was really most awkward. In fact, it still is very awkward for them, for it means that the fragments must have been written out – copied from even earlier exemplars – well before A.D. 68, which undermines everything that the critics have been claiming all these years.

The fact of the matter is this, that these manuscripts were deposited in the caves at Qumran by the year A.D. 68 at the very latest, when Qumran and the surrounding area was overrun by the Roman 10th legion, and according to the critics, the New Testament had not been written by that time. - Dr Bill Cooper

This means that Romans – which we know was written by Paul – was written at a time the Christian church in the Roman world was not being persecuted, but was allowed to flourish and thrive!

Construction of the Colosseum began under the Roman emperor Vespasian between 70 and 72,

By that time, Romans, and indeed copies of the Book of Romans were already in circulation among the Christian church!

• God’s righteousness,
• Our iniquity, and
• God’s remedy through Grace

The Bible tells us in Jeremiah 17:9 that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked

Self-help books simply give you a new set of rules to follow that all too quickly you break and fail to keep!

• Christ did not come to make bad men good; but to give dead men life!

• “The most profound of all literature”

Martin Luther had tried relentlessly to get right with God… but failed. A wise old monk told him to read Habakkuk – a man who like Luther knew a thing or two about struggling!

• Habakkuk 2:4 has lead to a Trilogy of epistles by Paul in NT.
• The Just... (Who are they?) Romans Rom 1:17
• ...Shall live (How?) Galatians Gal 3:11
• ...By Faith! Hebrews Heb 10:39

May you be blessed and encouraged by this study.