The book of Romans is in many ways the magnum opus of the Apostle Paul. In its 16 chapters so many vital Christian truths and teachings are to be found. And its impact throughout Christian history has been immense. At the beginning of his 14-volume set of expository sermons on Romans Martyn Lloyd-Jones said this:
It has been the universal opinion in the Christian church throughout the centuries that Romans is the Epistle above all which deals with fundamentals, and if you look at the history of the church I think you will see that has been borne out time and time again. There is a sense in which we can say quite truthfully that the epistle to the Romans has, possibly, played a more important and a more crucial part in the history of the church than any other single book in the whole of the Bible.
Augustine came to saving faith in Jesus Christ by reading Romans. The book of course had a profound effect on Luther as he struggled to find peace with God. John Wesley’s heart was “strangely warmed” while reading Luther’s commentary on Romans. Karl Barth shook off the theological liberalism of his day as he studied Romans.
The role that Romans has played in the history of Christianity manifests that it is the most important of the Pauline writings, if not of the entire NT. The impact that this letter has had on the history of the Christian church is incalculable. Generation after generation of commentators over the ages have sought to interpret it and make it intelligible for people of their age. The commentaries on it in books and articles over the centuries make clear the contribution that the study of this letter has made to the history of Christianity. In fact, one can almost write the history of Christian theology by surveying the ways in which Romans has been interpreted.
Or as R. C. Sproul put it, “Paul’s epistle to the Romans was his magnum opus. In it we have the most extensive exposition of the New Testament gospel anywhere in the Bible.” One last quote: in his 1200-page commentary on Romans (to which he also wrote a separate 500-page introductory volume), Richard Longenecker says this in his opening paragraph:
Paul’s letter to believers in Jesus in Rome has always been highly regarded within the Christian church. It has been, in fact, the most highly acclaimed writing of the NT throughout the entire course of Christian history. It is so because it has been, in very large measure, the heartland of Christian thought, life, and proclamation.
Let me here say a few brief words about the book and then offer some recommended reading. Usually Paul sends letters to those who he had first preached the gospel to. This is not true of Romans. We do not know who helped found the church there, but Paul was eager to get there.
The book was most likely written by Paul while he was in Corinth, probably during the winter of 57-58 AD. A broad-brush outline of Romans as found in the ESV Study Bible is helpful, and it runs as follows:
The Gospel as the Revelation of God’s Righteousness (1:1–17)
God’s Righteousness in His Wrath against Sinners (1:18–3:20)
The Saving Righteousness of God (3:21–4:25)
Hope as a Result of Righteousness by Faith (5:1–8:39)
God’s Righteousness to Israel and to the Gentiles (9:1–11:36)
God’s Righteousness in Everyday Life (12:1–15:13)
The Extension of God’s Righteousness through Paul’s Mission (15:14–16:23)
Final Summary of the Gospel of God’s Righteousness (16:25–27)
Or if you prefer a much simpler outline featuring alliteration, J. Vernon McGee put it this way:
1. Salutation 1:1-17
2. Sin 1:1-3:20
3. Salvation 3:21-5:11
4. Sanctification 5:1-6:23
5. Struggle 7
6. Spirit-filled living 8:1-27
7. Security 8:28-39
8. Segregation 9-11
9. Sacrifice & service 12, 13
10. Separation 14, 15
11. Salutation 16
Romans commentaries – expository, devotional
Boice, James Montgomery, Romans, 4 vols. (1992-1995)
Hughes, R. Kent, Romans (PTW, 1991)
Lloyd-Jones, Martyn, Romans, 14 vols. (Banner of Truth, 1970-2003)
Sproul, R. C., Romans (Crossway, 2009)
Romans commentaries – academic, scholarly
Barrett, C. K., The Epistle to the Romans (BNTC, 1957)
Bird, Michael, Romans (SGBC, 2016)
Bruce, F. F., The Epistle to the Romans (TNTC, 1963)
Dunn, James, Romans, 2 vols. (WBC, 1988)
Edwards, James, Romans (NIBC, 1992)
Fitzmyer, Joseph, Romans (AB, 1993)
Harrison, Everett, Romans (EBC)
Kruse, Colin, Paul’s Letter to the Romans (PNTC, 2012)
Longenecker, Richard, The Epistle to the Romans (NIGTC, 2016)
Matera, Frank, Romans (Paideia, 2010)
Moo, Douglas, The Epistle to the Romans (NICNT, 1996)
Moo, Douglas, The Letter to the Romans, 2nd ed. (NICNT, 1996, 2018)
Moo, Douglas, Romans (NIVAC, 2000)
Morris, Leon, The Epistle to the Romans (PNTC, 1988)
Murray, John, Epistle to the Romans (NICNT, 1959, 1965)
Nygren, Anders, Commentary on Romans (Fortress, 1952)
Osborne, Grant, Romans (IVPNTC, 2004)
Schreiner, Thomas, Romans (BECNT, 1998)
Stott, John, The Message of Romans (BST, 1994)
Thielman, Frank, Romans (ZECNT, 2018)
Witherington, Ben, Paul’s Letter to the Romans (Eerdmans, 2004)
Wright, N. T., The Letter to the Romans (NIB, 2002)
Wright, N. T., Paul for Everyone: Romans (2004)
Studies on Romans
Kirk, J. R. Daniel, Unlocking Romans: Resurrection and the Justification of God (Eerdmans, 2008)
Longenecker, Richard, Introducing Romans (Eerdmans, 2011)
Soderlund, Sven and N. T. Wright, eds., Romans and the People of God (Eerdmans, 1999)
Thiselton, Anthony, Discovering Romans: Content, Interpretation, Reception (Eerdmans, 2016)
I suppose I owe it to my readers to highlight a few of the above volumes that I think are superlative and essential additions to your library. As to academic commentaries, they would have to include Kruse, Longenecker, Moo, Schreiner, and Thielman. For something a bit less lengthy and demanding, but still top-notch, Stott never disappoints.
As for the expository studies, no one can go beyond Lloyd-Jones and his 14 volumes. See more on that here: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2013/02/27/5000-pages-on-romans-by-the-doctor/
And a word about the two Moo NICNT volumes. He first wrote it in 1996, and a brand-new second edition has just appeared. The first edition is just over 1000 pages, while the revised version is around 1200 pages. But it is not cheap. Often revisions are not worth buying as there is not much difference. Here we seem to have a fair amount of actual revision. If you have the first volume, and are considering dishing out some hard-earned money for the second, well, all I can say is, pray about it!
Happy reading and studying.
(Australians can find most of these volumes at Koorong: https://www.koorong.com/ )
[1091 words]