ROMANS
CHAPTER 1
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
OBSERVATION
STAGE
The purpose of
the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the
normative rules of language, context and logic 
which limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Romans.
This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more
importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective
comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.
Remember that
something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in
view.
I)
[Ro 1:1]:
A)
PAUL IDENTIFIES HIMSELF FIRST AS A VOLUNTARY BENEVOLENT SLAVE OF CHRIST
JESUS
B)
PAUL'S ENSLAVEMENT IS OF CHRIST JESUS, EMPHASIS ON CHRIST = POINTING TO
HIS DIETY AND HIS ANNOINTED PURPOSE FROM GOD WITH A VIEW TO THE
ATONEMENT FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD
1)
[Compare Ps
2:1-12]:
a)
(Ps 2:1-3) Why Do The Nations Rage, And The People Plot A Vain Thing?
The Kings Of The Earth Set Themselves, And The Rulers Take Counsel
Together, Against The LORD And Against His Anointed [One] Saying, 'Let
Us Break Their Bonds In Pieces And Cast Away Their Cords From Us
b)
(Ps 2:4-12) He Who Sits In The Heavens Shall Laugh; The LORD Shall Hold
Them In Derision. Then He Shall Speak To Them In His Wrath, And Distress
Them In His Deep Displeasure: 'Yet I Have Set My King On My Holy Hill Of
Zion. I Will Declare The Decree: The LORD Has Said To Me, 'You Are My
Son, Today I Have Begotten You. Ask Of Me, And I Will Give You The
Nations For Your Inheritance, And The Ends Of The Earth For Your
Possession. You Shall Break Them With A Rod Of Iron; You Shall Dash Them
To Pieces Like A Potter's Vessel.' Now Therefore, Be Wise, O Kings; Be
Instructed, You Judges Of The Earth. Serve The LORD With Fear, And
Rejoice With Trembling. Kiss The Son, Lest He Be Angry, And You Perish
In The Way, When His Wrath Is Kindled But A Little. Blessed Are All
Those Who Put Their Trust In Him
2)
[Compare Ps 45:6-7]:
3)
[Compare Isa 9:6-7]:
C)
PAUL WAS CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE BY GOD. HE WAS HENCE SUMMONED FOR THE
PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF BEING AN APOSTLE AS DECREED AND FOREKNOWN BY GOD
TO BE RESPONDED TO BY PAUL'S OWN FREE WILL
D)
PAUL'S SLAVERY IS FURTHER DEFINED AS AN APOSTLE SET APART FOR THE GOSPEL
OF GOD
E)
THE GOSPEL OF GOD IS DEFINED IN THIS PASSAGE AS THE GOOD NEWS OF THE
POWER FOR THE SALVATION OF ALL MANKIND: OF EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES ALONE
IN THE WORK OF GOD ALONE THROUGH THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD OF HIS
SON, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD UNTO THE RECEPTION OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM
GOD AND ETERNAL LIFE
1)
[Ro 1:2-4, 16-17]:
II)
Ro 1:2]:
A)
SINCE THE NEW TESTAMENT WAS NOT YET COMPLETED PAUL IS REFERRING TO THE
PROPHETS OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WHO PROMISED BEFOREHAND THE GOSPEL
OF GOD
III)
[Ro 1:3]:
A)
THE GOSPEL BEFOREHAND WAS WRITTEN IN OT SCRIPTURE REFLECTING THE PROMISE
OF THE SON OF GOD TO COME TO TAKE UPON HIMSELF THE SINS OF THE WHOLE
WORLD SO THAT JUSTIFICATION UNTO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM WOULD BE BY FAITH
IN HIM ALONE
B)
THE PHRASE 'THE SON OF GOD' IS A TERM FOR THE ONE AND ONLY SON OF GOD
IMPLYING DIETY AS PROPHESIED IN OT SCRIPTURE TO PROVIDE MANKIND WITH
SALVATION FROM THEIR SINS UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
C)
THE SON OF GOD IS FURTHER DEFINED AS A DESCENDANT OF DAVID ACCORDING TO
THE FLESH, TESTIFYING TO HIS HUMAN NATURE AS PROPHESIED IN THE OT
D)
GOD'S PROPHETS IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES SPOKE OF GOD'S SON FULFILLING THE
GOSPEL OF GOD AND THE SON'S HUMAN NATURE AS A DESCENDANT OF DAVID
1)
[Compare Isa 9:6-7]:
2)
[Compare Isa 52:10, 13-15-53:12]:
3)
[Compare Isa 11:1-5]:
IV)
Ro 1:4]:
A)
THE GOSPEL OF GOD IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH THE
HUMANITY OF GOD'S SON
B)
THE GOSPEL OF GOD WAS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE HUMANITY OF GOD'S SON BY
HIS RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD
C)
THE GOSPEL OF GOD IS THE GOOD NEWS THAT THROUGH A MOMENT OF TRUSTING IN
GOD'S SON ONE RECEIVES ETERNAL LIFE
D)
THE SON OF GOD IS DECLARED TO BE JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD
V)
[Ro 1:5]:
A)
IT IS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST AND FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE THAT PAUL AND OTHERS
RECEIVED GOD'S GRACE
B)
GRACE IN THIS CONTEXT IS DEFINED AS UNMERITED BLESSING, ENABLEMENT AND
OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS AN APOSTLE
C)
'HIS NAME'S SAKE' REFERS TO THE REPUTATION OF JESUS CHRIST WHO IS HOLY
AND RIGHTEOUS AND ABSOLUTE JUSTICE
D)
PAUL'S PRIMARY FOCUS IS TO CALL PEOPLE FROM AMONG THE GENTILES TO THE
OBEDIENCE OF FAITH IN THE GOSPEL, I.E., A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN
CHRIST ALONE UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
E)
TO CALL PEOPLE FROM AMONG THE GENTILES TO THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH REFERS
TO THE GOSPEL WHICH PAUL IS TO PRESENT TO THE GENTILES SO THAT THEY MAY
BELIEVE IN IT. TO OBEY THE GOSPEL IS TO BELIEVE IN IT
VI)
[Ro 1:6]:
A)
CALLED = TO BE SUMMONED FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE PREVIOUSLY DECREED AND
FOREKNOWN BY GOD - IN THIS CONTEXT, TO BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST
B)
PAUL ADDRESSES HIS LETTER TO GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED TO BELONG TO JESUS
CHRIST AS HE STIPULATED HE BELONGED TO JESUS CHRIST
VII)
[Ro 1:7]:
A)
THE MESSAGE OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS REVOLVES MAINLY AROUND A MESSAGE
TO GENTILES RELATIVE TO CALLING THEM TO AN OBEDIENCE OF FAITH IN THE
GOSPEL, CALLING THEM TO BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST, AND CALLING THEM TO BE
SAINTS
B)
PAUL'S LETTER IS TO ALL IN ROME WHO ARE LOVED BY GOD AND CALLED, I.E.,
SET APART, TO BE SAINTS
VIII)
[Ro 1:8]:
A)
PAUL THANKS GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST FOR ALL OF THE SAINTS IN ROME
RELATIVE TO THEIR FAITH BEING REPORTED ALL OVER THE WORLD WHICH
TESTIFIES TO THE SOVEREIGNTY AND GRACE OF GOD
B)
THE FAITH OF THE BELIEVERS IN ROME WAS BEING REPORTED ALL OVER THE
CIVILIZED WORLD, I.E., THE ROMAN EMPIRE
IX)
[Ro 1:9-10]:
A)
PAUL EXPRESSES THANKS TO GOD FOR ALL OF THE ROMAN BELIEVERS WHOSE FAITH
IS BEING REPORTED ALL OVER THE WORLD WHOM HE DECLARES HE SERVES WITH HIS
WHOLE HEART
B)
PAUL RELATES THAT GOD IS HIS WITNESS THAT HE HAS AT ALL TIMES BEEN
PRAYING FOR THE BELIEVERS IN ROME
C)
PAUL PRAYS THAT IT IS GOD'S WILL TO COME TO THE BELIEVERS IN ROME
X)
[Ro 1:11-12]:
A)
PAUL LONGS TO SEE THE BELIEVERS IN ROME TO IMPART SOME SPIRITUAL GIFT TO
THEM TO MAKE THEM STRONG IS THE CONTEXT
B)
SPECIFIC GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE NOT IN VIEW, RATHER SPIRITUAL
GIFTS ONE BELIEVER IMPARTS TO ANOTHER WHILE IN FELLOWSHIP TO MAKE ONE
ANOTHER STRONG
XI)
[Ro 1:13]:
A)
PAUL PLANNED BUT WAS PREVENTED FROM COMING TO THE ROMAN BELIEVERS - THE
PURPOSE TO HAVE A HARVEST OF SALVATION AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH AMONG THEM
AS HE DID AMONG THE OTHER GENTILES
XII)
[Ro 1:14]:
A)
PAUL IS OBLIGATED TO BOTH GREEKS AND NON-GREEKS, WISE AND FOOLISH ALIKE
B)
THE GOSPEL IS APPLICABLE TO ALL MANKIND, NOT TO A LIMITED FEW
XIII)
[Ro 1:15]:
A)
PAUL IS OBLIGATED TO ALL MANKIND AND THUS HE IS EAGER TO PREACH THE
GOSPEL TO THOSE IN ROME AS WELL
XIV)
[Ro 1:16]:
A)
PAUL'S UNASHAMED CONFIDENCE AND EAGERNESS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL COMES
FROM HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT THE GOSPEL IS THE POWER OF GOD FOR THE
SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE OF EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES - A MOMENT OF FAITH
IS IN VIEW
B)
THE CONTENT OF WHAT ONE IS TO BELIEVE IN ORDER TO BE SAVED UNTO ETERNAL
LIFE IS TO BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE SON OF GOD FROM THE DEAD
WHICH BY IMPLICATION PROVIDES THE ONE WHO BELIEVES WITH PAYMENT FOR ONES
SINS AND SALVATON UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
C)
THE GOSPEL IS TO BE PRESENTED FIRST TO THE JEW, THEN BUT NOT TO THE
EXCLUSION OF GENTILES
XV)
[Ro 1:17]:
A)
A RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD IS REVEALED AS IMPUTED TO ONE WHO BELIEVES (A
MOMENT OF FAITH) IN THE GOSPEL AND RECEIVES SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
B)
THE ONE WHO IS RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH IS THE ONE WHO WILL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE
AND WILL LIVE OUT HIS TEMPORAL LIFE IN A RIGHTEOUS MANNER AS HE LIVES
BY THAT SAME FAITH
1)
[Compare Hab 2:4]:
2) [Ro 1:17b Greek Interlinear]:
3) [Compare Ro 1:17]:
XVI)
[Ro 1:18]:
A)
THE PHRASE "IS REVEALED" IN V. 18 HAS IN VIEW MAKING THE WRATH
OF GOD FROM HEAVEN OBSERVABLE BY MANKIND IN TEMPORAL TIME. THIS
CORROBORATES THE INTERPRETATION OF THE SAME PHRASE "IS REVEALED"
IN V. 17 WHICH REFERS TO MAKING A RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD EVIDENT TO
MANKIND SO AS TO BE OBSERVABLE IN A BELIEVER BY MEN IN TEMPORAL TIME
WHEN THAT BELIEVER IS FAITHFUL TO HIS BELIEF IN THE GOSPEL
B)
GODLESSNESS = THAT WHICH IS REBELLIOUS TOWARD GOD, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS,
HOLINESS & SOVEREIGNTY - NOT WORSHIPPING HIM, UNBELIEF
WICKEDNESS
= THAT WHICH IS SINFUL, EVIL - MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS VERSE, THAT
EVIL WHICH SUPPRESSES THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD: THAT HE EXISTS, IS RIGHTEOUS
AND SOVEREIGN, AND REQUIRES MAN TO BE RIGHTEOUS. IMMORAL UNBELIEVERS ARE
IN VIEW
C)
IMMORAL UNBELIEVERS WHO NEITHER WORSHIP NOR ACKNOWLEDGE GOD ARE IN VIEW,
WHO BY THEIR GODLESSNESS AND WICKEDNESS SUPPRESS THE TRUTH THAT GOD
EXISTS, IS SOVEREIGN, RIGHTEOUS AND EXPECTS MAN TO BE RIGHTEOUS
D)
JUST AS AN ABSOLUTELY PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD IS IMPUTED TO
INDIVIDUALS WHEN THEY BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL AND IS REVEALED TO MANKIND
AS PRESENT WITHIN THOSE INDIVIDUALS FOR THOSE MOMENTS WHEN THEY ARE
FAITHFUL TO THEIR BELIEF IN THE GOSPEL; SO THE TEMPORAL WRATH OF GOD IS
REVEALED TO MANKIND FROM HEAVEN IN SOME MANNER AGAINST ALL THE
GODLESSNESS AND WICKEDNESS OF MEN WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD BY
THEIR WICKEDNESS
E)
THE WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED TO MEN AGAINST ALL THE GODLESSNESS AND
WICKEDNESS FROM HEAVEN, POINTING TO THE FACT THAT GOD IS
ACTIVELY RESPONDING TO MAN'S GODLESSNESS AND WICKEDNESS ON THE EARTH
FROM MOMENT TO MOMENT FROM HEAVEN
F)
ONE MUST HAVE THE TRUTH PLAINLY SET BEFORE THEM IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE
ABLE TO SUPPRESS IT BY THEIR WICKED, GODLESS BEHAVIOR
1)
[Compare Ro 1:19]:
XVII)
[Ro 1:19]:
A)
THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GOD IS PLAIN TO MEN WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH ABOUT
GOD, WHICH KNOWLEDGE DECLARES THAT HE EXISTS, IS THE SOVEREIGN CREATOR,
IS RIGHTEOUS AND REQUIRES MAN TO BE RIGHTEOUS
B)
THE PHRASE "GOD HAS MADE IT PLAIN TO THEM" IMPLIES THAT GOD
HAS PROVIDED INFORMATION TO MAN ABOUT HIMSELF IN A MANNER WHICH IS
READILY DISCERNIBLE, I.E., NATURAL REVELATION
XVIII)
[Ro 1:20]:
A)
FOR SINCE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD GOD'S INVISIBLE QUALITIES - HIS
ETERNAL POWER AND DIVINE NATURE - HAVE BEEN CLEARLY SEEN, BEING
UNDERSTOOD FROM WHAT HAS BEEN MADE, SO THAT ALL MANKIND OF ALL AGES ARE
WITHOUT EXCUSE - INCLUDING THOSE WHO DO NOT WORSHIP GOD AT ALL
B)
GOD'S ETERNAL POWER AND DIVINE NATURE AND WHAT CAN BE KNOWN ABOUT HIM
HAS BEEN MADE PLAIN AND CAN CLEARLY BE SEEN IN CREATION
XIX)
[Ro 1:21-23]:
A)
IF ONE SUPPRESSES THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD BY WICKEDNESS WHICH INCLUDES
NEITHER GLORIFYING GOD NOR GIVING THANKS TO HIM, ONE DETERIORATES INTO
FUTILE THINKING WHEREIN ONES FOOLISH HEART (MIND) BECOMES DARKENED
(EVIL) - IMMORAL UNBELIEVERS ARE IN VIEW
B)
THE WICKED, UNGODLY BEHAVIOR OF IMMORAL UNBELIEVERS SUPPRESSES TRUTH
ABOUT AND EXCHANGES THE GLORY OF THE IMMORTAL GOD - HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS,
ETERNAL POWER AND DIVINE NATURE - FOR IMAGES MADE TO LOOK LIKE MORTAL
MAN, BIRDS, ANIMALS AND REPTILES
XX)
[Ro 1:24]:
A)
SEXUAL IMPURITY IS AN EXPECTED OUTGROWTH OF GODLESS AND WICKED BEHAVIOR
WHEREIN GOD GIVES THE IMMORAL UNBELIEVER OVER TO SUCH DESIRES. THIS IS
ONE WAY IN WHICH THE WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED TO MEN THRU OBSERVING THE
UNRESTRAINED LIFESTYLE OF IMMORAL BELIEVERS
B)
GOD ACTS AS A RESTRAINER OF THE SINFUL DESIRES WITHIN MAN
XXI)
[ Ro 1:25]:
A)
TO KNOW GOD WHICH KNOWLEDGE IS MADE PLAIN TO ALL MEN, YET BE GODLESS AND
WICKED IS TO SUPPRESS THE PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT GOD, TO BECOME FUTILE AND
FOOLISH IN ONES THINKING UNTO A DARKENED MIND, AND TO EXCHANGE THE TRUTH
OF GOD FOR A LIE AND WORSHIP AND SERVE CREATED THINGS RATHER THAN THE
CREATOR
B)
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT MEN WORSHIP GOD, HE IS DECLARED AS BEING
FOREVER PRAISED
XXII)
[Ro 1:26-27]:
A)
FOR MEN TO KNOW GOD WHICH KNOWLEDGE IS MADE PLAIN TO ALL MEN, YET BE
GODLESS AND WICKED IS TO SUPPRESS THE PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT GOD, TO BECOME A
FUTILE, IMMORAL UNBELIEVER, FOOLISH IN HIS THINKING UNTO A DARKENED
MIND, WHO EXCHANGES THE TRUTH OF GOD FOR A LIE AND WORSHIPS AND SERVES
CREATED THINGS RATHER THAN THE CREATOR. BECAUSE OF THIS GOD GIVES THE
IMMORAL UNBELIEVER OVER AS AN EXPRESSION OF HIS WRATH TO THE
UNBELIEVER'S SINFUL DESIRES, EVEN SHAMEFUL HOMOSEXUAL LUSTS
B)
HOMOSEXUALITY IS STIPULATED AS A SHAMEFUL, UNNATURAL, INDECENT, PERVERSE
LUST THAT BECOMES PREVALENT IN WOMEN AND MEN DUE TO THEIR GODLESSNESS
AND WICKEDNESS
C)
SEXUAL RELATIONS BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN ARE NATURAL, I.E., ORDAINED
BY GOD AS HIS NATURAL ORDER. ALL SAME SEX SEXUAL ACTIVITY IS CONDEMNED
AS WICKED AND GODLESS
XXIII)
[Ro 1:28-31]:
A)
THE WORD "FURTHERMORE" IN V. 28 CONTINUES TO PORTRAY THE
DOWNSLIDE OF HUMAN DEPRAVITY IN IMMORAL UNBELIEVERS RESULTING FROM NOT
THINKING IT WORTHWHILE TO RETAIN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND GOD'S WRATH
TURNING THEM OVER TO THEIR OWN CHOICE OF EVERY INCREASING
SELF-DESTRUCTIVE SIN LEADING TO PREMATURE PHYSICAL DEATH
SO
A DELIBERATELY GODLESS AND WICKED LIFESTYLE PATTERN IS THUS FILLED UP
WITH EVERY KIND OF WICKEDNESS, EVIL, GREED AND DEPRAVITY. ONE BECOMES
FULL OF ENVY, MURDER, STRIFE, DECEIT AND MALICE. SUCH INDIVIDUALS ARE
GOSSIPS, SLANDERERS, GOD-HATERS, INSOLENT, ARROGANT, BOASTFUL,
DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, SENSELESS, FAITHLESS, HEARTLESS, RUTHLESS
B)
GOD IS CONCERNED FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS. HE RESTRAINS SINFUL BEHAVIOR IN
THEM FOR THEIR BENEFIT; FOR SIN IS ALWAYS HARMFUL. HE DOES THIS UNTIL
THEY REJECT HIS EFFORTS BY THEIR GODLESSNESS AND WICKEDNESS, (UNBELIEF
AND IMMORALITY)
XXIV)
[Ro 1:32]:
A)
GOD'S ETERNAL POWER AND DIVINE NATURE HAVE BEEN CLEARLY SEEN AND
UNDERSTOOD AND THEREBY MEN KNOW GOD'S RIGHTEOUS DECREE. SO MEN ARE
WITHOUT EXCUSE. YET ALL MEN SIN AND DESERVE PREMATURE PHYSICAL AND
ETERNAL DEATH
B)
NOT ONLY DO MEN DO SUCH THINGS AS IN VV. 30-31 WHICH DESERVES PHYSICAL
DEATH AS A RESULT OF UNRESTRAINED EVIL, BUT THEY APPROVE OF THOSE WHO
PRACTICE SUCH EVIL THINGS, JUSTIFYING THEIR CONDEMNATION ALL THE MORE
CORROBORATION
STAGE
ROMANS
CHAPTER TWO
