Kress Biblical Resources :: The Prologue, Prayer Report, and Primary Theme of the Epistle (Rom 1:1-17)

Detailed Outline of Romans

The Gospel of Salvation by Faith Unites All Believers—Jew and Greek

The Prologue, Prayer Report, and Primary Theme of the Epistle (Rom 1:1-17)

1. Paul’s introduction (Rom 1:1-7)
   1. The author
      1. The human author (Rom 1:1-5)
         1. The man Paul (Rom 1:1a; cf. Act 7:58; Act 8:1; Act 9:1-30; Act 11:25-30; Act 12:25-28:31; 1Co 15:30-32; 2Co 6:4-5; 2Co 11:23-30; Gal 1:13-2:16; Phl 3:4-14; 2Th 3:8)
         2. The ministry that Paul was given (Rom 1:1bcd)
            1. Christ’s slave (Rom 1:1b)
            2. Called as an Apostle (Rom 1:1c)
            3. Commissioned for the Gospel of God (Rom 1:1d)
         3. The message Paul preached (Rom 1:2-4)
            1. The promise of the Gospel in the Old Testament (Rom 1:2)
            2. The Person of the Gospel—God’s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 1:3-4)
               1. God’s Son became a man (Rom 1:3)
               2. God’s Son is the promised Messiah-King, born of the seed of David (Rom 1:3)
               3. God’s Son is identified as the powerful Savior through His resurrection from the dead (Rom 1:4a; cf. Rom 1:16)
               4. God’s Son is Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 1:4b)
         4. The mission that Paul was on (Rom 1:5)
            1. The power for his mission (Rom 1:5a)
            2. The purpose for his mission (Rom 1:5bc)
               1. For the salvation of the Gentiles through the obedience of faith (Rom 1:5b)
               2. For the sake of Christ’s name—i.e., the praise of Christ’s Person (Rom 1:5c)
      2. The divine Author (2Ti 3:16-17; 2Pe 1:12-21; 2Pe 3:15-16; cf. Col 4:16; 1Th 2:13; 1Th 5:27; 2Th 3:1-4; 1Ti 5:18 [in which Paul quotes Luke alongside Deu 25:4 and calls them “Scripture”])
   2. The audience (Rom 1:6-7a)
      1. The original recipients (Rom 1:6-7a)
         1. A largely Gentile church—commingled with a growing number of Jewish background believers (Rom 1:6a; cf. Rom 2:17ff; Rom 4:1ff; Rom 9; Rom 10; Rom 11; Rom 14; Rom 15:1-13; etc.)
         2. A living church—called of Jesus Christ (Rom 1:6b)
         3. A loved church—in Rome—called as saints (Rom 1:7a)
      2. The current recipients (2Ti 3:16; cf. 2Pe 3:15-16)
   3. The Apostolic greeting (Rom 1:7bc)
      1. The greeting/prayer of grace to you and peace (Rom 1:7b)
      2. The Giver of grace and peace (Rom 1:7c)
2. Paul’s prayer report (Rom 1:8-13)
   1. His prayers for the Roman church (Rom 1:8-10)
      1. Paul consistently rendered thanks to God for them (Rom 1:8)
         1. The priority of prayer and thanksgiving (Rom 1:8a)
         2. The Person he thanked and the people he was thankful for (Rom 1:8b)
         3. The proclamation that inspired his prayers of thanksgiving (Rom 1:8c)
      2. Paul consistently remembered them in prayer, and consistently requested success in coming to them (Rom 1:9-10)
         1. He was speaking sincerely about his prayer life on their behalf (Rom 1:9ab)
         2. He was seeking God consistently on their behalf (Rom 1:9c)
         3. He was seeking God consistently, yet submissively for success in coming to them (Rom 1:10)
   2. His passion for the Roman church (Rom 1:11-13)
      1. Edification: Paul desired that they be strengthened and encouraged (Rom 1:11-12)
         1. The ministry of an Apostle, which would strengthen the church (Rom 1:11)
         2. The mutual fellowship of believers, which would encourage both Paul and the believers in Rome (Rom 1:12)
      2. Communication: Paul desired that they be informed of his previous plans to come to them (Rom 1:13a)
      3. Sanctification and multiplication: Paul desired that they grow and be added to, through his gospel ministry in Rome (Rom 1:13b)
3. Paul’s passion and primary theme in the epistle (Rom 1:14-17)
   1. His duty in regard to the gospel and all men (Rom 1:14)
   2. His desire in regard to the gospel and those in Rome (Rom 1:15)
   3. His delight in regard to the gospel itself (Rom 1:16-17)
      1. Paul embraced the preeminence of the gospel (Rom 1:16a)
      2. Paul understood the power of the gospel (Rom 1:16b)
      3. Paul apprehended the particulars of the gospel (Rom 1:16c-17)
         1. It results in salvation for everyone who believes (Rom 1:16c)
         2. It reveals the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith (Rom 1:17)
            1. The summary statement that encapsulates justification by faith (Rom 1:17a)
            2. The Scripture that encapsulates justification by faith (Rom 1:17b)