Author: The apostle Paul (1:1), with the secretarial assistance of Tertius (16:22).
Date: Approximately AD 57, near the conclusion of Paul’s third missionary journey.
In Ten Words or Less: Sinners are saved only by faith in Jesus Christ.
Details: Some call Romans a “theology textbook” for its thorough explanation of the Christian life. Paul begins by describing God’s righteous anger against human sin (Chapters 1–2), noting that everyone falls short of God’s standard (3:23). But God Himself provides the only way to overcome that sin, “the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe” (3:22). Being justified (made right) through faith in Jesus, we can consider ourselves “to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (6:11). God’s Spirit will “quicken” (give life to, 8:11) all who believe in Jesus, allowing us to “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” (12:1). It is possible, with God’s help, to “be not overcome of evil, but [to] overcome evil with good” (12:21).
From Know Your Bible, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.
