this sophisticated audience had to be impressive indeed.
In Romans, Paul brilliantly set down the whole scope of Christian doctrine, which, at that time, was still being passed along orally from town to town. Paul wanted to convince those demanding readers that Christ held the answers to all of life's important questions.
One-Volume Summary
Literary types are often asked questions like this: "What one book would you most want along if you were stranded on a deserted island?" (G.K. Chesterton gave a classic reply: "Thomas' Guild to Practical Shipbuilding"!) If asked the same question about a single book of the Bible, many Christians would choose Romans. Compact, yet all-encompassing. It summarizes the Christian faith.
Despite it's thoroughness, however, Romans does not read like a dry book of theology. Great revivals in church history have been spawned by a study of this book. Augustine, Martin Luther, and John Wesley all trace their spiritual renewals to a reading of Romans. It gives the apostle Paul's final answer to questions about the "meaning of life." |
