Anders Max - Romans

In honor of all who, like the apostle Paul, have given their lives to take the gospel, the power of God unto salvation, to the ends of the earth.

William M. Kruidenier

I dedicate this book to my beloved wife Karen, our daughter Heather, and our son-in-law, Matthew.

Kenneth Boa

May 2000

Today's church hungers for Bible teaching, and Bible teachers hunger for resources to guide them in teaching God's Word. The Holman New Testament Commentary provides the church with the food to feed the spiritually hungry in an easily digestible format. The result: new spiritual vitality that the church can readily use.

Bible teaching should result in new interest in the Scriptures, expanded Bible knowledge, discovery of specific scriptural principles, relevant applications, and exciting living. The unique format of the Holman New Testament Commentary includes sections to achieve these results for every New Testament book.

Opening quotations from some of the church's best writers lead to an introductory illustration and discussion that draw individuals and study groups into the Word of God. In a Nutshell summarizes the content and teaching of the chapter. Verse-by-verse commentary answers the church's questions rather than raising issues scholars usually admit they cannot adequately solve. Bible principles and specific contemporary applications encourage students to move from Bible to contemporary times. A specific modern illustration then ties application vividly to present life. A brief prayer aids the student to commit his or her daily life to the principles and applications found in the Bible chapter being studied. For those still hungry for more, Deeper Discoveries take the student into a more personal, deeper study of the words, phrases, and themes of God's Word. Finally, a teaching outline provides transitional statements and conclusions along with an outline to assist the teacher in group Bible studies.

It is the editors' prayer that this new resource for local church Bible teaching will enrich the ministry of group, as well as individual, Bible study, and that it will lead God's people to truly be people of the Book, living out what God calls us to be.

Vol. 1, Genesis
ISBN 0-8054-9461-8
Kenneth O. Gangel and
Stephen J. Bramer

Vol. 2, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers
ISBN 0-8054-9462-6
Glen Martin

Vol. 3, Deuteronomy
ISBN 0-8054-9463-4
Doug McIntosh

Vol. 4, Joshua
ISBN 0-8054-9464-2
Kenneth O. Gangel

Vol. 5, Judges, Ruth
ISBN 0-8054-9465-0
W. Gary Phillips

Vol. 6, 1 & 2 Samuel
ISBN 0-8054-9466-9
Stephen Andrews

Vol. 7, 1 & 2 Kings
ISBN 0-8054-9467-7
Gary Inrig

Vol. 8, 1 & 2 Chronicles
ISBN 0-8054-9468-5
Winfried Corduan

Vol. 9, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
ISBN 0-8054-9469-3
Knute Larson and Kathy Dahlen

Vol. 10, Job
ISBN 0-8054-9470-7
ISBN 0-8054-9478-2
Steven J. Lawson

Vol. 11, Psalms 175
ISBN 0-8054-9471-5
Stephen J. Bramer

Vol. 12, Psalms 76150
ISBN 0-8054-9481-2
Steven J. Lawson

Vol. 13, Proverbs
ISBN 0-8054-9472-3
Max Anders

Vol. 14, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs
ISBN 0-8054-9482-0
David George Moore and Daniel L. Akin

Vol. 15, Isaiah
ISBN 0-8054-9473-1
Trent C. Butler

Vol. 16, Jeremiah, Lamentations
ISBN 0-8054-9474-X
Fred M. Wood and Ross McLaren

Vol. 17, Ezekiel
ISBN 0-8054-9475-8
Mark F. Rooker

Vol. 18, Daniel
ISBN 0-8054-9476-6
Kenneth O. Gangel

Vol. 19, Hosea, Joel, Amos,
Obadiah, Jonah, Micah
ISBN 0-8054-9477-4
Trent C. Butler

Vol. 20, Nahum, Habakkuk,
Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Stephen R. Miller

Vol. 1, Matthew
ISBN 0-8054-0201-2
Stuart K. Weber

Vol. 7, 1 & 2 Corinthians
ISBN 0-8054-0207-1
Richard L. Pratt Jr.

Vol. 2, Mark
ISBN 0-8054-0202-0
Rodney L. Cooper

Vol. 8, Galatians, Ephesians,
Philippians, Colossians
ISBN 0-8054-0208-X
Max Anders

Vol. 3, Luke
ISBN 0-8054-0203-9
Trent C. Butler

Vol. 9, 1 & 2 Thessalonians,
1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon
ISBN 0-8054-0209-8
Knute Larson

Vol. 4, John
ISBN 0-8054-0204-7
Kenneth O. Gangel

Vol. 10, Hebrews, James
ISBN 0-8054-0211-X
Thomas D. Lea

Vol. 5, Acts
ISBN 0-8054-0205-5
Kenneth O. Gangel

Vol. 11, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2, 3 John, Jude
ISBN 0-8054-0210-1
David Walls & Max Anders

Vol. 6, Romans
ISBN 0-8054-0206-3
Kenneth Boa and William Kruidenier

Vol. 12, Revelation
ISBN 0-8054-0212-8
Kendell H. Easley

Twelve volumes designed for Bible study and teaching to enrich the local church and God's people.

It could not be more appropriate for the Protestant Reformation to have been kindled by a spark from Paul's Epistle to the Romans. This letter that has brought spiritual salvation and freedom to so many, awakened faith in the heart of a Roman Catholic monk named Martin Luther. Perhaps no one before or since has agonized so deeply and despaired so thoroughly over the condition of his soul. The depth of Luther's travail could only have been relieved by the writings of one who had sounded similar depths and lived to tell about it.

Accomplice to murder, persecutor, ridiculerthe pre-apostle Saul had his own reasons for torment and agony after coming face-to-face with his Lord on the Damascus Road. How could he, the worst of sinners (1 Tim. 1:16), be saved? Paul discovered, and later wrote down in Romans, how he was saved, how Martin Luther could be saved, and how anyone who has agonized over his standing with God is saved: by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When the first rays of the gospel began to dawn in Martin Luther's heart, he knew he had the answer. To be righteous, he discovered, one must live by faithsola fideby faith alone. Luther's discovery of the gospel transformed a moribund monk into a channel of power that infused life into a near-dead church. Nearly a half-millennium later, the Epistle of Paul to the Romans continues to awaken hearts and empower hands to spread the life-giving gospel of Christ. Is it any wonder that Luther said of this letter, [Romans] is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. It can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it is dealt with the more precious it becomes, and the better it tastes.