Romans: a parenthetical overview

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1. Introduction
   
   
2. Romans must be understood in the context of the 7 church epistles!
   
   
3. Understanding Romans: structure is the key
   
   
4. A parenthetical summary with an impact
   
   
5. 20 Point Summary
   
   

INTRODUCTION:

Here is some information on the structure of the 7 church epistles [Romans - Thessalonians, written directly to the body of Christ] as a whole so that we understand the book of Romans in the context of the 7 church epistles. Then we will focus on the structure of the book of Romans itself, and then we will focus in on Romans 5 and how it interprets itself. One of the critical keys is understanding the vast and varied area of figures of speech in the bible.

The images in this teaching are from 2 books by E.W. Bullinger: the Companion Bible & Figures of Speech used in the bible.

Who is the book of Romans written directly to?

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

The book of Romans was written directly to the body of Christ, which is from the day of Pentecost in 28AD until the return of Christ for his saints as documented in I Thessalonians 4.

However, we must understand any one book in the 7 church epistles in their proper context of the all truth that Jesus talked about in the gospel of John. Notice the bolding of the 3 doctrinal epistles - Romans, Ephesians, & Thessalonians.

Corinthians to Thessalonians are all based on the foundation of Romans. Ephesians starts where the eighth chapter of the book of Romans ends. If we don't have a correct and complete understanding of Romans, we will never understand the true depth of not only Corinthians to Thessalonians, but the rest of the new testament as well.

ROMANS MUST BE UNDERSTOOD IN THE CONTEXT OF THE 7 CHURCH EPISTLES

The pattern of doctrine, reproof, and correction is set in the book of Timothy.

II Timothy 3
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished [perfected] unto all good works.

So we see that Romans is the foundational doctrine of all 7 church epistles. Doctrine is instruction on how and what to believe. I & II Corinthians are reproof epistles which address the practical error that had crept into the Corinthian church for not adhering to the doctrine of Romans.

Galatians is a correctional epistle that corrects the doctrinal error that had crept into the church for not adhering to the sound doctrine of Romans. Once christians are in the habit of practicing error for a while, then wrong doctrines become established.

This same pattern of doctrine, reproof and correction is repeated with Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians.

Ephesians is the second doctrinal book in the church epistles, which teaches us what and how to believe God's word.

Philippians addresses the practical error that the christians were doing for not adhering to the doctrine of Ephesians.

Colossians corrects the wrong doctrine that the christians believed because they did not adhere to the right doctrine of Ephesians.

This same pattern of doctrine, reproof and correction would normally occur again, starting with Thessalonians as the third doctrinal book.

1. Doctrine: Romans, Ephesians, & Thessalonians
2. Reproof: Practical error - Corinthians & Philippians
3. Correction: Doctrinal error - Galatians & Colossians

The perfection of the bible is amazing!

The pattern of doctrine and practical application is evident in the church epistles themselves as well. For example:

1. Romans 1 - 8 is the basic doctrine to the people in the body of Christ.
2. Chapters 9 - 11 are a parenthesis, written to the Judeans and Gentiles.
3. Romans 12 - 16 are the practical application of the doctrine of Romans 1 - 8.

Ephesians has a similar pattern:

Chapters 1 - 3 are the doctrine.

Chapters 4 - 6 are the wisdom, the practical application of the knowledge in Ephesians 1 - 3.

Many times, various books of the new testament are referred to as epistles, such as the Pauline epistles, the ones written by the apostle Paul.

What is an epistle?

Definition of epistle
noun
1. a letter, especially a formal or didactic [instructive] one; written communication.
2. (usually initial capital letter) one of the apostolic letters in the New Testament.
3. (often initial capital letter) an extract, usually from one of the Epistles of the New Testament, forming part of the Eucharistic service in certain churches.

Origin
before 900; Middle English; Old English epistol - Latin epistula, epistola - Greek epistole message, letter, equivalent to epi- epi- + stol- (variant stem of stellein to send) + -e noun suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2015.

What is an epistolary?

Definition of epistolary
British Dictionary definitions for epistolary
adjective
1. relating to, denoting, conducted by, or contained in letters
2. (of a novel or other work) constructed in the form of a series of letters

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

UNDERSTANDING ROMANS: STRUCTURE IS THE KEY

We first need to know what an epistle & epistolary are before we can fully understand the figure of speech diagram below.




Another important note about Romans: from one perspective, Romans 1:16 to 5:11 basically deals with sins that a person could commit, the fruit of man's corrupt sin nature.

Romans 5:12 to 8:39 deals with the root cause, the corrupt sin nature itself. From fruit to root, Romans deals with sin and how Jesus Christ solved the problem for all of mankind.

Important things about blood we need to know

Acts 17:26
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

All nations and people on earth are descendants of Adam.

Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Our soul life, that which gives us our breath life, personality, and ability to process information, is in our blood.

Psalms 51:14
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

This is the only place in the entire bible that this word "bloodguiltiness" is ever used. The fall of man in Genesis 3 corrupted all life on earth.

That is why we need a savior with perfect innocent blood to shed it in our place so that we can once again be redeemed, justified and made righteous in God's sight.

Matthew 27
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood [Jesus Christ]. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

One of many reasons why Jesus Christ was the only person on earth to ever be qualified to be the savior of mankind is because he was the only person born of a perfect, sinless nature and bloodstream and he carried out God's will perfectly as well. No other person in the history of mankind has ever done that.

Once we know the overall structure of the chapter, and how the figures of speech work, we can at least get a general understanding of the chapter as a whole. On a higher level, the entire book of Romans is chock full of multiple parenthesis, which is another type of figure of speech.



Romans 1:17-32
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith [believing] to faith [the faith of Jesus Christ - see Galatians : as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Romans 2:1-29
1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Romans 3:1-21
1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;



Romans 1:17
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

[Romans 1:18 to Romans 3:20]

Romans 3:21
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;



Romans 3
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

So now, for the continuity of thought, read directly from Romans 3:26 to 4:1.

Romans 3:26
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

[Romans 3:27 - Romans 3:31]

Romans 4
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.



Romans 5:21 [the last verse in chapter 5]
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:1-23
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:12
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

[Romans 6:13 - 17]

Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Romans 7:1-25
1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.



Romans 5:21 [the last verse in chapter 5]
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

[Romans 5:22 to Romans 7:25]

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.



Romans 8:18
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature [creation] was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature [creation] itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Thus we can read Romans 8:18 back to back against Romans 8:22 to see the thought content continue.

Romans 8:18
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

[Romans 8:19 - 21]

Romans 8
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.



So again, for thought content and continuity, you can read Romans 8:39 and jump directly to Romans 12:1 and it again makes perfect sense because Romans chapters 8 & 12 are written directly to the body of Christ and were designed by God himself to fit together perfectly. Remember, Romans 1 - 8 is the christian doctrine & Romans 12 - 16 is the wisdom, the practical application of the doctrine.

Romans 8
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[Romans 9:1 to Romans 11:36]

Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Now we can focus in on some of the highlights of Romans 5, a critical chapter to our understanding of what Jesus Christ accomplished. This image below of the figure of speech anacoluthon applies to Romans 5:12-21.



Here is the last image below: Romans 5 that is the companion image to the one above about the figure of speech Anacoluthon.



The structural correspondence and meaning of the corresponding verses in this image above can be more clearly seen by a simpler arrangement of 5 pairs of verses below.

Romans 5:12_____ by one man's sin - death [Adam]
Romans 5:18 & 19 By one man's righteous act [Jesus Christ], many be made righteous

Romans 5:13 Sin not imputed where no law
Romans 5:20 Sin imputed when law came

Romans 5:14 The reign of death
Romans 5:21 The reign of sin and death

Romans 5:14 The type, Adam
Romans 5:21 The anti-type, Jesus Christ our Lord

Romans 5:15_____ Not as by one sin, so the gracious gift
Romans 5:16 & 17 Not as by one man, so the gracious gift

This makes a much greater impact on us once we see the correct correspondence of the right verse pairs.

A PARENTHETICAL SUMMARY YOU'LL NEVER FORGET

It will take some time for all of this to sink in and to really get a solid grip on the book of Romans. We just need to read it through once with this new perspective and then we will be able to really appreciate at least some of the depth, beauty and symmetry of one of the most important books of the bible ever written.



Romans 1
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:17
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

[Romans 1:18 to Romans 3:20]

Romans 3:21
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Romans 3:26
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

[Romans 3:27 - Romans 3:31 (end of chapter)]

Romans 4
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Romans 5:21 [the last verse in chapter 5]
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

[Romans 5:22 to Romans 7:25]



Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.



Romans 8
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (end of chapter).

[Romans 9:1 to Romans 11:36]

Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 16
24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen (last verse in Romans).

SUMMARY

1. The book of Romans is written directly to all the Christians from the day of Pentecost in 28AD until the return of Christ for his saints
   
   
2. Romans must be understood in the context of the 7 church epistles, [the all truth that Jesus talked about in John 16] and is the foundation of all the 7 church epistles.
   
   
3. The old testament is the new testament concealed. The new testament is the old testament revealed.
   
   
4. Doctrine & instruction: Romans, Ephesians, & Thessalonians
   
   
5. Reproof: Practical error - Corinthians & Philippians
   
   
6. Correction: Doctrinal error - Galatians & Colossians
   
   
7. This pattern of doctrine, reproof and correction is set in II Timothy 3:16
   
   
8. Romans chapters 1-8 is the doctrinal side and 12-16 is the wisdom, the practical application of the knowledge in chapters 1-8
   
   
9. A parenthesis is a figure of speech used to emphasize more details of the previous verse. There are many parenthetical sections in Romans that are absolutely critical in order to have an accurate understanding of the book of Romans
   
   
10. An epistle is a letter, especially a formal or didactic [instructive] one
    
    
11. An epistolary is words relating to, denoting, conducted by, or contained in letters [not of the alphabet, but letters written to people]
    
    
12. The overall structure of the book of Romans is a figure of speech, revealing many corresponding verses and concepts that impart greater impact and meaning to them
    
    
13. All people are born with a corrupt soul, which is in their bloodstream, as a consequence of Adam's sin [which was treason - he gave all the power that God had given him to God's arch enemy, the devil]
    
    
14. Jesus Christ was the only person in the history of mankind to be born with a perfect bloodstream and to perfectly carry out God's plan of redemption. Therefore, he is the only man in the history of mankind qualified to be our Lord and saviour.
    
    
15. Romans 1:18 to 3:20 is a parenthesis [a figure of speech] explaining the details of Romans 1:17
    
    
16. Romans 3:27 to 3:31 [the end of the chapter], is another parenthesis explaining the details of Romans 3:26
    
    
17. All of Romans chapter 6 & chapter 7 is one large parenthesis explaining all the glorious details of Romans 5:21
    
    
18. There is another parenthesis from Romans 8:19 to 8:21, explaining Romans 8:18
    
    
19. Romans chapters 9 - 11 is another large parenthesis, written to the Judeans and gentiles instead of the body of Christ. That is why the instructions on how to get born again are in Romans 10:9-10 because they are basically written to unbelievers - Judeans & gentiles
    
    
20. Romans 5 contains the figure of speech anacoluthon [it means non sequence, a breaking off of a train of thought], which applies to Romans 5:12-21 and has a structure with corresponding verses providing more indepth insight into God's word