An Introduction to the Book of Romans

Romans 1:1-7 in its short seven verses is a succinct Soteriology (doctrine of salvation) reminding the Jews and Gentiles in Rome of God’s saving plan accomplished in Jesus Christ. This saving plan of God is for Jew and Gentile followers of Christ as ‘gospel’ or good news (1:1-3). Paul grounds his narrative summary of God’s salvation in the Jewish biblical tradition connecting it with King David and the Jewish prophetic tradition (1:4-5). Salvation, Paul reminds the Christian community in Rome, is incarnated, or given human reality, in the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. For followers of Christ, the meaning and the power of what it means to be saved through Jesus Christ is shown in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth who is proclaimed by His followers as Christ (the one who saves) Lord and Son of God (1:4). Members of the Christian community in Rome (and Christians today) are to manifest the grace of the salvation they have received living as faithful followers of Christ (1:5 ‘obedience of faith’, ‘belonging’ and ‘apostleship’ - i.e. missionary outreach to others.