
Romans Overview
Paul’s Epistle to the Romans is a valuable book of the Bible to study. It was written at a pivotal time in early church history. During that time, churches were learning how to understand the gospel and live out the Christian life. Because Paul wasn’t able to make it to Rome to instruct the believers in these things, he wrote an epistle to them instead. The instructions he gave them are still true and helpful for us as believers today.

Timeline of Paul and the Romans
Literary Genre of Romans
Epistle (a letter written to someone)
Date Romans Was Written
Romans was written around 57 AD . Paul wrote it towards the end of his third missionary journey, likely during his three-month stay in Corinth.
Author of Romans
The author of this book is Paul, the apostle. Read more about Paul’s background and life here.
Romans Audience
Rome had a population of one million people at this time. It was the biggest city on earth. They were technologically advanced, even having things like hot and cold running water. Roman culture valued entertainment (gladiators, for example). In the matter of spiritual things, their general attitude towards religions was, “That’s cool.” They were polytheistic so they didn’t mind new ideas if they didn’t go against emperor worship or paying taxes.
This letter was written specifically to the house churches in Rome. Paul didn’t plant these churches. They were likely started by hundreds of Jews who were visiting Jerusalem during Pentecost (Acts 2) then went back home to Rome. Eventually word spread, and Gentiles joined the Roman churches too.
For a period, all Jews were exiled from Rome. This was done because there had been lots of rioting. The emperor, Claudius, likely didn’t understand why. What he did know was that there was a group of Jews causing most of the problems, so he kicked them out. After 5 years the Jews were allowed to return under the new emperor, Nero. In their absence, the church had been made up of only Gentiles. This caused some conflict with the Jews coming back. Each group had their own ideas of how the church should be. Because of that, Paul addresses unity between Jew and Gentile believers in this letter. He wants them to get along since they’re now in the same family of God.
Romans Theme
The Righteousness of God
Key Verse of Romans
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’”
Romans 1:16-17
The Purpose of Romans
While some epistles have a clearly stated purpose, this one does not. It may have been written as an introduction letter since Paul hadn’t met them. He wanted them to know he planned to come see them, but he had to visit the suffering church in Jerusalem first. It could also have been written because the church in Rome had not been started by an apostle, so they needed instruction. This solid teaching would have protected them from false teaching.
Romans Outline
- The Gospel and How it Works 1-8
- Summary of God’s Dealings with Israel 9-11
- Application- What to do with the Gospel 12-16
Why You Should Study Romans
It’s important for us to study Romans because it contains one of the clearest gospel presentations. Familiarity with this letter guards us against false gospels and cult religions. When we’ve studied what is true, it makes it easier to recognize what is false. Romans also sets us free from trying to find righteousness in ourselves. It shows us that what’s important is what Christ did, not anything we could ever do.
Are you enjoying digging into God’s word?
Does understanding the context of the Bible interest you? At Ethnos360 Bible Institute, students go through the Bible chronologically. Teachers help them dig into the background and find practical applications. Discipleship is another core aspect of the school. There are many people on staff willing to walk alongside students as they grow in their love for God’s word. If this interests you, request a free info packet below!
Content reworked from Dave Field’s class on Romans at Ethnos360 Bible Institute
Edited and formatted by Eliza Noel