Simplified Twofold Synopsis
Chaps. 1–11: Both Jews and Gentiles have sinned, stand before God on equal terms, and are justified together in the same way.
Chaps. 12–16: Practical directives for how Christians ought to live and relate to one another and to the world.
Summary
1:1-7. Opening Greeting.
1:8-15. Thanksgiving and care for the Romans.
1:16-17. Thesis statement: centrality of the gospel.
1:18-32. The need for the gospel: depravity of mankind.
2:1-16. God’s impartial judgment, superseding hypocritical human judging, for all sinners regardless of ethnicity.
2:17-29. Message to the prideful Jew who relies on the old Law and condemns those who do not.
3:1-8. Advantages and failings of unbelieving Jews, and God’s righteous judgment.
3:9-31. All are guilty of sin, whether Jews or non-Jews, and both are justified by God’s grace and righteousness through a faith-response in Christ and his atoning sacrifice.
4:1-25. The example of Abraham: all (Jews and Gentiles) are justified with the same kind of faith that does not rely on meritorious works of the Law (incl. circumcision) but on God’s righteous work in Christ, trusting him to do what he promised to do when we step out in faith and do what he says.
5:1-21. Benefits of our faith-response in Christ: grace, hope, love, justification, salvation, reconciliation, righteousness, and everlasting life.
6:1-23. A reminder that saving faith involves obedience, inclusive of repentance, baptism, and continued faithfulness, righteousness, and sanctification, not under the Law of Moses but under God’s grace.
7:1–8:39. We are no longer bound to the Law, to sin, and to death but liberated and made alive in Christ, along with the indwelling Spirit, even in this world of sufferings.
9:1-5. Paul’s deep sorrow for his Jewish kinsmen, who, despite all their advantages, have rejected Christ.
9:6-33. God is justified in saving all alike, whether Jewish or non-Jewish, and is justified in condemning all who resist his plan in favor of their own ill-conceived ways.
10:1-21. Salvation is not merited by observing the Jewish Law but is available to all (both Jew and Gentile) who submit to God’s plan through the Lord Jesus in compliance with the gospel’s directives.
11:1-36. God does not reject all Israel, only those who reject his way through Christ; believing Gentiles and believing Jews are grafted into the same “olive tree,” saved the same way as a result of their obedience.
12:1-21. Christians’ response to God: active service in the one body, with love, zeal, hope, endurance, prayer, hospitality, blessing, unity, peace, and goodness.
13:1-7. Submit to governing authorities.
13:8-10. Love.
13:11-14. Live according to the way of Christ; avoid the worldly ways of darkness.
14:1–15:13. Be considerate and accepting of one another at different stages of faith; live in harmony.
15:14-33. Paul’s apostolic ministry, plans to visit Rome on his way to Spain, upcoming journey to Jerusalem, and prayer requests.
16:1-2. Commendation of Phoebe.
16:3-16. Greetings to brothers and sisters in Rome.
16:17-20. Warning about divisive brethren.
16:21-23. Greetings from Paul’s associates in Corinth.
16:24-27. Concluding prayer.
--Kevin L. Moore
Related Posts: Outline of Romans, Defining Faith Biblically
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