About This Book

Romans is Paul’s clearest and most far reaching exposition of the gospel. It was written to a church he had not yet visited, in order to establish common ground in the truth, strengthen unity between Jew and Gentile believers, and prepare the way for further mission.

The letter begins with the righteousness of God revealed in the gospel and then presses that truth into every corner of Christian reality. Romans exposes the universal guilt of sinners, announces God’s justifying grace through the redemption that is in Christ, and traces the new life that flows from union with Him. It is both deeply doctrinal and intensely practical, because for Paul theology is never a cold system, it is the fuel of worship and obedience.

Romans teaches the church to say, God is righteous, Christ is sufficient, the Spirit is powerful, and mercy must shape the whole of life.

If you are planning to preach Romans, read it through repeatedly first. Let the argument settle in your mind, then consult resources to sharpen and steady your work.

Structure of the Book

This outline is intentionally high level. It is designed to keep sermon planning tethered to the flow of Paul’s argument.

1. The Gospel Revealed
   Paul’s calling and the righteousness of God in the gospel, vv.1 to 17
2. The World in Need
   Universal sin and God’s righteous judgment, vv.18 to 3:20
3. Justification by Faith
   Grace in Christ, faith, and the believer’s new standing, vv.3:21 to 5:21
4. New Life in Christ
   Union with Christ, sanctification, assurance, and life in the Spirit, chs.6 to 8
5. God’s Saving Purposes
   Election, mercy, and the faithfulness of God in history, chs.9 to 11
6. The Obedience of Faith
   Worshipful living in church and world, chs.12 to 16

Key Themes

• The righteousness of God, revealed in the gospel and vindicated in His saving acts.
• Universal sin and guilt, leaving all humanity accountable before God.
• Justification by faith alone, grounded in Christ’s obedience and blood.
• Union with Christ, the source of sanctification, perseverance, and hope.
• Life in the Spirit, power for holiness, assurance, and perseverance.
• God’s faithfulness to His promises, displayed in salvation history and the gathering of His people.
• Worshipful obedience, the mercies of God producing renewed minds and lived righteousness.
• Unity in the church, Jew and Gentile made one in Christ and called to mutual welcome.

Recommended Commentaries

Recommendations are grouped to help you build a working shelf. A top choice aims to serve as your primary companion for preaching and teaching. A strong recommendation provides a second trusted voice that complements your main volume. A useful supplement helps with structure, background, or a particular angle, without demanding more time than it is worth.

• Romansby R.C. Sproul, Score: 9.4

  A warm, gospel-rich, pastorally powerful exposition of Romans that equips and encourages believers with clarity and depth.

• The Epistle To The Romans (2nd Edition)by Douglas Moo, Score: 9.3

  A first-rate evangelical commentary on Romans, ideal for teaching and preaching with theological clarity and depth

• The Epistle to the Romansby John Murray, Score: 9.2

  A monumental Reformed commentary on Romans that remains unsurpassed in theological depth.

Browse all Romans reviews

Romans often repays an additional voice in Romans 3 to 5, Romans 6 to 8, and Romans 9 to 11, where Paul’s argument is both dense and pastorally weighty.

Preaching and Teaching Helps

Romans is richly rewarding, but it can feel daunting. The key is to keep the big argument visible and to preach in coherent units that preserve Paul’s movement.

• Series planning support, passage grouping and pacing, especially through longer arguments.
• Guidance for doctrinal peaks, justification, union with Christ, assurance, and life in the Spirit.
• Help for difficult sections, particularly Romans 9 to 11 and the unity issues of Romans 14 to 15.
• Support for application, so doctrine lands with pastoral force and leads to worshipful obedience.

This Book in the Story of Scripture

Romans sets the gospel in full light. It shows how God remains just while justifying the ungodly through the obedience and sacrifice of His Son. It explains how the promise to Abraham blossoms into a multi nation people united in Christ, and how the Spirit applies redemption to produce holiness, perseverance, and hope.

In the wider canon, Romans steadies assurance by anchoring salvation in God’s initiative and faithfulness, and it steadies obedience by grounding the Christian life in mercy. The letter ends where true doctrine always ends, with worship and love in the life of the church.

The gospel that saves also shapes, and the mercy that justifies also instructs the people of God how to live.