Bob Yandian - Romans: A New Testament Commentary

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ROMANS

A New Testament Commentary

Bob Yandian

My heart echoes a statement Peter made in His last epistle:

For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.

2 Peter 1:12

The for this reason was to build on his previous statement Peters desire for all believers not just to get to heaven, but to have an abundant entrance into heaven. A working knowledge and practice of the word of God is necessary for an abundant entrance, which is marked by rewards and rulership.

In order to establish that abundant entrance, Peter taught believers what they should know again and again, repeatedly, though you know them. What was taught them was the present truth. The present truth is what was being written in the day of the apostles Peter, Paul, John, and James.

This present truth is what believers still need to be gloriously saved. The Old Testament is to be studied in the light of the New Testament epistles. The four gospels are to be studied in the light of the New Testament epistles. Not only should every Christian know the epistles, they should be established in them.

This is why I have written this series of books, verse-by-verse teachings on the epistles of Paul, Peter, John and James. This is truly meat for our time period, our dispensation: the Church Age.

Bob Yandian
Author

All Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ROMANS: A New Testament Commentary

ISBN: 978-168031-191-4
2015 by Bob Yandian
Bob Yandian Ministries
PO Box 55236
Tulsa, OK 74155
www.bobyandian.com

Published by Harrison House Publishers
Tulsa, OK 74155
www.harrisonhouse.com

All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. Contents and/or cover may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the express written consent of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America.

Writer: Paul the apostle, through the scribe Tertius (Romans 16:22).

Time: 58 AD, Romans 15:25, 26, (Compare to 1 Corinthians 16:1-3, 2 Corinthians 8:9).

Place of Writing: Corinth, from the house of Gaius (Romans 16:23).

Occasion: Phoebe is a businesswoman who has traveled from Corinth to Rome and delivers this letter.

Purpose

1. To clarify the principle of justification whether it is by deeds of the law or the work of God.

2. To explain the unbelief of Israel in the past, their failure in the previous dispensation, and how this can be remedied. This epistle expresses Pauls great concern for the Jewish people even though he is an apostle to the Gentiles.

3. To commend Phoebe to the Church at Rome (Romans 16:1).

4. To clarify the issue: What constitutes the Christian way of Life, Mosaic Law or New Law?

5. To help Roman believers understand how to have victory over the flesh.

Extremes of belief in Rome:

a) No nature of the flesh after salvation

b) Never any victory over the flesh so just sin until you die.

6. Protect Roman believers from the infiltration of legalism which had already made great inroads into Rome (Romans 13,14).

1:1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God

Paul (means little in Greek), a servant ( doulos : bondservant). A bondservant means someone else must do the providing. This is the importance of humility and also shows Paul has been purchased (1 Peter 1:18,19, Ephesians 1:7) of Jesus Christ, called to be (verb: Ephesians 1:4; past tense: Galatians 1:15) an apostle (see doctrine of apostleship, Galatians 1:1) separated (perfect tense) to the gospel of God.

1:2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,

Which (gospel of God) He promised before (aorist tense: OT scripture) through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures.

The gospel was clearly defined in the Old Testament so people were never saved by keeping the Mosaic Law or through animal sacrifices. Paul sets the record straight for the Roman believers in the opening of this epistle.

1:3-4 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

The theme of Romans is the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:3 teaches about His humanity. Verse 4 teaches of His Deity.

Concerning His Son, Jesus Christ ( emphasizing humanity ) our Lord who was born ( came into being, John 1:14 ) of the seed of David ( through Mary from Nathan Luke 3:23-31 ) according to ( kata ) the flesh.

And declared (aorist tense: mark out, define) to be the Son of God (deity ) with power (omnipotence; this shows He could be man without losing any of His deity. Man and God can be united without sacrifice) according to ( kata ) the spirit of holiness (separation) (The Holy Spirit caused Jesus to become humanitysee Matthew 1:18-20.) by (from the source of) the resurrection from the dead.

1:5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,

Through Christ, we have all received (aorist tense) grace and apostleship. Grace is received (Titus 2:11).

1:6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

Among whom you also are called (I was calledv. 1, and so are youv. 6. This shows no favoritism in Gods plan for each one of us) of Jesus Christ.

1:7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

To all who are in Rome (believers) beloved (accepted: Ephesians 1:6, John 3:1, 2) of God, called to be saints (set apart ones).

Each spiritual gifts is a calling (v. 1, v. 6) and the fact that we are saints is a calling (v. 7). This all goes back to foreknowledge, the basis for predestination (Romans 8:29).

...grace to you and peace.

Grace always precedes peace. Grace is the foundation for peace. Without a knowledge of grace, there can be no foundation for peace.

...from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Both grace and peace are gifts from our Father to us through the mediator Jesus Christ.

1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.