Paul’s letter to the church in Rome: An outline

The importance of the gospel was definitely in Paul’s mind when he wrote the letter. He began and ended the letter referring to the gospel. He declared what the gospel was all about, and he expressed he was not ashamed about it and wanted to preach it. He demonstrated how the ultimate will of God was revealed by the gospel. He shaded light on how the gospel has reinterpreted and redefined everything about the Jews and the Gentiles pertaining to their spiritual condition and salvation. In the same context, the gospel assigned a well defined spiritual function to the Law in the saving plan of God. Naturally, the gospel of Christ Jesus would be an obvious entry point to understand the message in the letter.

Greetings (1.1-12)

1.       From Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ, who was set aside for the gospel (1.1-6)

2.       Greetings to the church in Rome (7)

3.       Paul’s thanksgiving because of the church (8)

4.       Paul prayed for the church and made request that he might e able to visit the church (9-12)

The gospel revealed the righteousness and the wrath of God (1.13-18)

1.       Paul expressed that he was indebted to the Gentiles and he was ready to preach the gospel to them.

2.       Paul expressed that he was not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God to save everyone who believes (16).

3.       Paul testified that the gospel revealed the righteousness of God to those who believe (17).

4.       Paul declared that the wrath of God was revealed from heaven against man’s unrighteousness and ungodliness (18a)

The gospel demonstrated the certainty of God’s judgment on mankind (1.18b-2.5)

1.       Because man suppress the truth (what may be known of God is manifest in them) in unrighteousness and God gave them up to uncleanness (18b-24)

2.       Because man exchanged the truth of God for the lie and God gave them up to vile passions (1.25-27)

3.       Because they did not like to retain God in their knowledge and God gave them to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting (28-31)

·         They know who practice such things are deserving of death and yet not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them (32)

·         They know God’s judgment is against those who practice such things, and yet they practice the same while making judgment on others (2.1-4)

·         But they are treasuring up for themselves wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (5)

The gospel asserted that God would be impartial in His judgment (2.6-29)

1.       God “will render to each one according to his deeds” (6-11)

·         Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality. But to those who are self seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also the Greek. But glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

2.       For as many as have sinned without Law[i] will also perish without Law, and as many as have sinned in the Law will be judged by the Law.(12-29)

The gospel declared that man can only be justified by faith (3.1-31)

1.       The Jew might have an advantage over the Gentiles with the oracles of God, but they are not better than the Gentiles because they are also sinful like the Gentiles. This is confirmed by the word of God (1-18).

2.       Since the Law[ii] merely provides knowledge of sin and it definitely cannot justify anyone (the Jews) based on the deeds of the Law (19-20).

3.       But now the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ is revealed by the gospel, without the help of the Law, to all and on all who believe (21-22b).

4.       For there is no difference; since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and all have to be justified freely by His grace through redemption that is in Christ Jesus (22c-26).

5.       {The heart of justification: God had set forth Christ Jesus as a propitiation by his blood, through faith,

·         To demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

·         To demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.}

6.       Man can only boast on the ground of faith since man can only be justified by faith without the help from the deeds of the Law (27-28).

7.       Since God is the God of both the Jews and the Gentiles, He will justify the circumcised and the uncircumcised by faith. He cannot justify the Jews by deeds of the Law and then justifies the Gentiles by faith (29-30).

8.       The principle of faith will not make void the Law but instead will establish it[iii]. (31)

The gospel demonstrated how Abraham attained God’s righteousness by his faith (4.1-25)

1.       The scripture says that “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (1-5)

2.       David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from work (6-8).

3.       This blessedness came to Abraham while he was uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of faith (9-12).

4.       The promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith, so that he promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham  (13-16)

5.       Abraham believed that God could give life to the dead and call those things which do not exist as though they did, so that he became the father of many nations (17-18)

6.       Abraham was not disturbed by his old age and deadness of Sarah’s womb, and he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was able to perform. Because of this firm belief, it was accounted to him for righteousness (19-22).

7.       This experience was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised up because of our justification (23-25).

The gospel affirmed that faith in the work of Christ Jesus justified those who believed (4.25-5.21)

1.       Christ Jesus was delivered because of our offenses, and was raised up because of our justification. Therefore, having been justified by faith (4.25-5.6),

2.       For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly…But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him (7-9)

3.       We were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled; we shall be saved by His life. We rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have  now received the reconciliation (10-11)

4.       Grace of God came through Jesus Christ that resulted in justification, but sin and death entered the world through Adam, death spread to all men because all men sinned (12-21);

·         {For until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no Law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come}

·         {The Law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.}

The gospel reminded the believers that life under grace is a life free from sin and enslaved to serve God (6.1-7.6)

1.       Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? (6.1-14)

·         Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  Those who died in Christ death are no longer slave to sin, but are raised to newness of life in Christ.

·         Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.  

2.       Shall we sin because we are not under Law but under grace? (6.15-7.4)

·         Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?  (An illustration from slavery)

·          Or do you not know, brethren, for I speak to those who know the Law, that the Law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? (An illustration from a marriage)

3.       For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the Law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. Now we have been delivered from the Law so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit. (7.5-6) 

The gospel reminded the believers that it was the power of sin and not the Law that produced death (7.7-25)

1.       Is the Law sin? (7-12)

·         No! On the contrary, the Law is spiritual, holy, and good and with its specific function. It is sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire.

·         It is sin; taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.

2.       Is it the good Law that brings death to me? (13)

·         No! It is the power of sin that produced death in me through what is good.

3.       Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin dwells in me. (14-20)

4.       The law of the mind wills to do good, but the law of the flesh warring against it, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?(21-24)

5.       I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord (because He will deliver me)! (25)

The gospel asserted that there will be no condemnation to those who are in Christ, who walk according to the Spirit, and as children of God they would be ensured of God’s love (8.1.39)

1.       There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.(7.25-8.1)

2.       For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made the believers free from the law of sin and death.  And they are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in them. (2-11)

3.       Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.  For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  (12-17)

4.       For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  (18-27)

5.       And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.   (28-30)

6.       For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(31-39)

The gospel provided the first reason why the Jews did not attain God’s righteousness (9.1-29)

1.       Paul wished that he himself be accursed from Christ for his countrymen who were given the rich promise of God, but have not attained righteousness. (1-5)

2.       But it is not that the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.   (6-13)

3.       God will save the remnant of Israel. God show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles. (14-29)

The gospel provided the second reason why the Jews did not attain God’s righteousness (9.30-10. 21)

1.       (An irony): The Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have obtained the righteousness of faith. But Israel who pursued the Law of righteousness did not obtain it, because they did not seek it by faith. (9.30-33)

2.       Paul prayed that the Jews might be made right with God, but they preferred to establish their own righteousness out of their ignorance of God’s righteousness. (10.1-3)

3.       Two things about the righteousness of faith; (10.4-13)

·         Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

·         The righteousness of the law says, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”

But the righteousness of faith says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  

4.       God has done everything possible to bring them in, but they refused. On the other hand, when God turned to the Gentiles with the gospel and they obeyed. (14-21)

The gospel provided the third reason why the Jews did not attain God’s righteousness (11.1-36)

1.       God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (1-10)

2.       But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. This is a mystery that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.  For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.(11-36)

The gospel calls for a commitment to a body life (12.1-21)

1.       Believers should present themselves to God as a reasonable service. (1-2)

2.       Believers should commit themselves to the  ministry to one another with multiple gifts (3-21)

The gospel demands a civil and social responsibility from the believers (13.1-14)

1.       Be subject to the governing authorities (1-7)

2.       Owe no one anything except to love one another (8-14)

The gospel demands the strong to take care of the weak (14.1-15.7)

1.       Receive one who is weak in the faith (1-23)

2.       We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak (15.1-7)

3.       This attitude of the strong fending for the weak is very much the grand achievement of the mission of Christ Jesus; “Jesus Christ has become a servant to circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy”. (8-14)

Paul’s personal plan and greetings to those who were in Rome (15.15-16.27)

1.       Paul reminded the believers of the grace of God that was upon him; (15.15-16)

·         That he might be a minister to the Gentiles.

·         That the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

2.       Paul expressed his confidence in Christ Jesus for He had accomplished through him in word and deed, in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to make the Gentiles obedient, and for that reason he had fully preached the gospel from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum. (17-19)

3.       Paul shared that he would not duplicate the gospel work of others and for that he was prevented from coming to Rome. He was ready to visit them after he planned to move on to Spain. (20-24)

4.       But he had to go to Jerusalem first to deliver aid to the saints and he would visit them when he had finished the task before going to Spain (25-29)

5.       Paul requested their prayer for the task in Jerusalem (30-33)

6.       Personal greetings (16.1-24)

7.       Doxology: Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began……To God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. (25-27)

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[i] The word “Law” with the capital letter “L” refers to the Law of Moses and the word “law” with the small letter “l” will be interpreted differently according to the context.

[ii] This is the chief function of the Law defined and assigned by the gospel of Christ Jesus, to bring the knowledge of sin to those who knew the Law (Jews and the proselytes) by magnifying the sinfulness of sin in them.

[iii] The word “establish” has the connotation of “confirming” in the present context. It is more reasonable to interpret that the Jews have confirmed by their faith in Christ Jesus that the Law was assigned to them specifically to convince them of their sins and bringing them to Christ. In other words, it is an acknowledgment of the fact that the Law was assigned by the gospel of Christ Jesus.