Introduction

Background and Focus

Every written document has context. The further we are removed from the time and place of its writing, the more important it is that we stop and familiarize ourselves with the context before we begin to interpret the written material. Is this poetry or prose? Did this happen in recent times or long ago? Did this take place in American culture or another culture? Is this the original written document or a translation of a document written in another language? Why was this document written? Who was it written to or about? The answers to all those questions are important for accurately interpreting what is being read.

In this case, the book of Romans is a letter. Paul wrote it from Corinth (16:1; Acts 20:2-3) as he was collecting funds for the Judean Christians who were facing a sever food shortage. It was addressed to the Christian churches in Rome.

Partly because Rome was the capital of the Roman empire, the Roman churches had a unique history. The gospel message was likely initially carried to Rome by the Roman Jews who were present at Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:10). However, ancient sources tells us that in A.D. 49 all Jews were expelled from Rome because of constant rioting over the Christ (Acts 18:2). This left a unique Christian church composed only of Gentiles. After the death of Claudius, five years later, in A.D. 54, the Jews were allowed to return. But this created a conflict in the Roman church between the Jewish and Gentile Christians. Paul’s Letter to the Romans is written roughly three years after the Jewish Christians return to Rome.

There are three primary reasons that Paul wrote this letter to the Roman churches.

1. He has established churches all over the eastern Mediterranean and his increasing notoriety is forcing him to move on and spread the gospel in new areas. He particularly has in mind preaching the gospel in Rome and Spain (15:23-24).
2. He has been struggling for years with the divide in the church between the observant Jews and the converted Gentiles. He is hoping that the generous collection he has raised from the largely Gentile churches in Asia Minor can serve as a big step toward bringing reconciliation between the Jewish Christians in Judea and the Gentile Christians in Asia Minor (15:25-27,31).
3. He has heard troubling news about the conflict in the churches in Rome and feels the need to write an explanation of the place Jews and Gentiles fill in Christianity (16:3-5; Acts 18:2).

Let’s dive deeper into this ancient letter, written in a completely different place, culture, and time; and see what we can learn about Paul’s burden, the nature of God, and the essence of Christianity. After all, if it has been preserved for thousands of years, it must hold some important truths!

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Sprache

English

Anzahl der Seiten

61

Autor

Joshua Porter

Herausgeber

Pilgrim Mennonite Conference