Romans – Introduction and Salutation

May 3, 2010

Paul’s epistle to the Romans was written in 35AD from Corinth to the Church in Rome, a group that Paul had not visited at the time he wrote the letter. Paul was returning to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey and viewed Rome as a necessary base through which he could extend his ministry further to the west. Rome was a well-established church at the time, and may have been the cause of agitation over “Chrestus” that Suetonius mentions. Paul was not going to build a church on top of the existing Church there.

Paul intended to send the letter as a contribution to the Romans before going up to Rome himself. To this end, he talks about his mission to the Gentiles and the pitfalls of antinomianism, which is opposed to Paul’s explanation of the obedience of faith, and legalism. Romans also was an important text the interpretation of which led the Protestant faiths to break away.

Paul begins by calling himself a slave of Christ, and this implies a certain authority for Paul. Paul also calls himself an apostle, a word used to signify the twelve and also anyone sent on a missionary journey. Paul can claim to have an authority similar to that of Peter, though his mission was to the Gentiles while Peter’s was to the Jews, so both would apply to him.

The closing theme is Gerard Satamian’s Chansons Sans Paroles Op. 2 Pastorale, from the album Dry Fig Trees. www.magnatune.com

  • /
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.

Download MP3 (45:10; 25 MB)

Matthew Lecture 3 – The Most Important Gospel, Part III

February 28, 2023

Matthew Lecture 2 – The Most Important Gospel, Part II

February 21, 2023

Matthew Lecture 1 – The Most Important Gospel, Part I

February 14, 2023

David Lecture 24 – The Accession of Solomon

January 17, 2023

David Lecture 23 – The Last Acts of David

January 3, 2023

David Lecture 22 – The Imprecatory Psalms

December 27, 2022

David Lecture 21 – Sins of the Father

December 20, 2022

David Lecture 20 – Absalom, Part II

December 13, 2022

David Lecture 19 – Absalom, Part I

December 6, 2022

David Lecture 18 – David and Bathsheba, Part II

November 15, 2022

David Lecture 17 – David and Bathsheba, Part I

November 8, 2022

David Lecture 16 – David Victorious

November 1, 2022

David Lecture 15 – The Ark Retrieved

October 25, 2022

David Lecture 14 – David Becomes King, Part II

October 18, 2022

David Lecture 13 – David Becomes King, Part I

October 11, 2022

David Lecture 12 – The Death of Saul

September 27, 2022

David Lecture 11 – David in Exile, Part II

September 20, 2022

David Lecture 10 – David in Exile, Part I

September 13, 2022

David Lecture 9 – David at Court

September 6, 2022

David Lecture 8 – David and Goliath

August 30, 2022

David Lecture 7 – The Anointing of David

August 16, 2022

David Lecture 6 – King Saul

August 9, 2022

David Lecture 5 – When Samuel Became Old

August 2, 2022

David Lecture 4 – The Death of Eli

July 26, 2022

David Lecture 3 – The Birth of Samuel

July 19, 2022

David Lecture 2 – Order out of Chaos, Part II

July 12, 2022

David Lecture 1 – Order out of Chaos, Part I

July 5, 2022

Acts Lecture 54 – The Martyrdom of Paul

May 10, 2022