Deep Dive into A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Romans by John Peter Lange et al. - Romans Introduction

Paul, whose Jewish name was Saul, was born in Tarsus, the polished and venerable capital of Cilicia. He was a Roman citizen and a descendant of the tribe of Benjamin. As a young man, he was a cultivated rabbinical theologian, having studied under Gamaliel, and also practiced the trade of a tent-maker. His transformation from a fanatical persecutor into an apostle is encapsulated by the phrase "SAUL became PAUL." This change in name, symbolizing the world-conquering power of Christ, became prominent as he entered into active intercourse with the Grecian and Roman world during his ministry.

His missionary journeys and the controversies he faced inspired a vast portion of the New Testament. The two Epistles to the Thessalonians, written around 54 or 55 AD, are considered the oldest New Testament epistles. His final writing, the Second Epistle to Timothy, was composed around 67 AD during his second Roman captivity, serving as an apostolic legacy in anticipation of his martyrdom.

The Epistle to the Romans, written from Corinth around 59 AD during his third journey, is Paul’s most important work. It is fundamentally soteriological in character, presenting a comprehensive doctrinal statement of the gospel. Its central theme is the demonstration of righteousness by faith in Christ, showing that universal human depravity renders both Jews and Gentiles equally reliant on God's free grace. This theological foundation was intended to establish the Roman Christian community as a harmonious "union Church" that combined Jewish and Gentile elements. Paul dictated this Epistle to his amanuensis, Tertius, and it was delivered by the deaconess Phœbe. The Roman congregation itself, having arisen from early evangelical efforts, was not founded by Paul or Peter, but was prepared by Paul’s assistants like Aquila and Priscilla for his work extending to the farthest West.

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