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“The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans,” New Testament Seminary Student Study Guide (2003)
The book of Romans begins the section of the New Testament called the Pauline Epistles. An epistle is “more than a letter; it is a formal teaching instrument” (Bible Dictionary, “epistles,” 667). Paul wrote his epistles to Saints in faraway places to counsel and comfort them as the Church grew. For more information about the Pauline Epistles, see “Previewing the New Testament—The Table of Contents” in this manual (p.8) and “Pauline Epistles” in the Bible Dictionary (pp.743–48).
When Was Romans Written?
The Apostle Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans before the end of his third missionary journey (around A.D.57–59; approximately twenty-five years after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ). He was in Corinth at the time and had not yet made his last trip to Jerusalem. For more information and an outline of Romans, see the section on the epistle to the Romans in “Pauline Epistles” in the Bible Dictionary (p.745).
Who Were the Romans Paul Wrote To?
Rome was the largest city and the capital of the Roman Empire (see Bible map 8). Paul was not writing to all Romans but to the members of the Church in Rome, who were baptized, given the gift of the Holy Ghost, and had an understanding of basic gospel principles. The subjects Paul wrote about would have been difficult and confusing to people outside the Church. The book of Romans is still a source of doctrinal misunderstanding among Christian churches today. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, recognize Romans as a treasure of gospel teachings and wise counsel because they have the gift of the Holy Ghost and the inspired guidance of ancient and modern prophets.
Some Important Teachings from Romans
Romans contains some of Paul’s finest doctrinal teachings. Much of it is Paul’s persuasive argument against Jewish Christians who believed that it was necessary to live the law of Moses. He taught that the law of the gospel replaced the law of Moses and explained that if it were required that everyone keep the full law in order to receive God’s blessings, then everyone would fall short. No one, except Jesus Christ, has lived or will live a sinless life.
Paul pointed out that the only way to become right with the law (he used the word justified) is to exercise faith in the Lord, repent of our sins, and strive to keep the commandments. Paul included his testimony that through the power and grace of Jesus Christ, each of us can become clean and worthy and become joint-heirs with the Savior, receiving all that Heavenly Father has.
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Now, let's delve into the key concepts and information outlined in the provided article about the Epistle of Paul to the Romans:
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Definition of Epistle: The article emphasizes that an epistle is more than a mere letter; it is a formal teaching instrument. This insight is drawn from the Bible Dictionary, which defines epistles as such on page 667. It signifies that Paul's letter to the Romans serves a deeper purpose, acting as a medium for formal instruction.
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Purpose of Paul's Epistles: Paul wrote his epistles to the Saints in distant locations as a means of counseling and comforting them, especially as the Church expanded. The article underscores that these letters were intended for specific audiences facing unique challenges as the Christian community grew.
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Dating of Romans: The Epistle to the Romans was written by the Apostle Paul during his third missionary journey, around A.D. 57–59. This timeframe places the composition roughly 25 years after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The article provides a historical context for the origin of the Epistle, situating it in Corinth before Paul's final trip to Jerusalem.
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Audience in Rome: The recipients of Paul's letter were not the entire population of Rome but specifically the members of the Church in Rome. These individuals had already been baptized, received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and possessed a basic understanding of gospel principles. The article clarifies that Paul's teachings might be perplexing to those outside the Church.
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Significance for Latter-day Saints: The article underscores that while the Book of Romans can be a source of doctrinal misunderstanding for other Christian denominations, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints view it as a treasure of gospel teachings. This unique perspective is attributed to the Latter-day Saints' belief in having the gift of the Holy Ghost and being guided by ancient and modern prophets.
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Doctrinal Teachings in Romans: Paul's Epistle to the Romans contains some of his most profound doctrinal teachings. The central focus is on Paul's arguments against Jewish Christians who insisted on adhering to the law of Moses. He asserts that the law of the gospel supersedes the Mosaic law and emphasizes the role of faith, repentance, and obedience in justifying individuals before God.
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Salvation through Christ: Paul stresses that no one, except Jesus Christ, has lived a sinless life. He teaches that the only way to be justified or made right with the law is through faith in the Lord, repentance, and striving to keep the commandments. The article highlights Paul's testimony that, through the power and grace of Jesus Christ, individuals can become clean and worthy, becoming joint-heirs with the Savior and receiving all that Heavenly Father has.
In summary, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the Epistle of Paul to the Romans, covering its historical context, purpose, audience, and the doctrinal teachings that make it significant, especially for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
