Bookends of Romans: Defining “Faith” Biblically

Paul’s letter to the Romans has much to say about faith. The underlying Greek noun pístis and verbal pisteúō are found throughout the book for a combined total of sixty-one times.¹ Comprising nearly two thirds of these occurrences, the noun-form first emerges in 1:5 and its final usage is in 16:26, serving as bookends of the document. The bracketing texts read, in view of the apostolic mission: “through whom we received grace and apostleship unto obedience of faith [hupakoēn písteōs] among all the nations for his name” (1:5); “but now having been made manifest through the prophetic scriptures and according to the commandment of the eternal God unto obedience of faith [hupakoēn písteōs] made known unto all the nations” (16:26).² 

In the letter’s opening-thanksgiving, Paul writes, “First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all because your faith [pístis] is being proclaimed in all the world” (1:8). Near the close of the letter the observation is made, “For your obedience [hupakoē] has reached (the attention) of all, therefore I rejoice over you” (16:19a).³ From beginning to end, faith clearly does not stand alone apart from obedience. Whenever Paul speaks of faith (e.g., 1:16-17; 3:22), it is not void of obedience. Whenever he speaks of obedience (e.g., 2:6; 6:17), it is not void of faith. The faith that appropriates justification, as explained in Romans, is always an obedient faith. 

Additional Bookends

Romans is further bracketed between other parallel concepts that help to enhance the letter’s thrust. Paul is a self-described “slave” [doûlos] of Christ (1:1a), later warning about troublemakers who “do not serve (as slaves)” [douleúō] our Lord Christ (16:18). “Paul … a called apostle, having been set apart for the gospel [euaggélion] of God” (1:1); “to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel [euaggélion] and the preaching of Jesus Christ” (16:25a). The gospel message was “promised beforehand through his prophets [prophētai] in the holy scriptures [graphaí], concerning his Son” (1:1b-3a); “according to the revelation of the mystery having been kept secret for times of the ages but now having been made manifest through the prophetic [prophētikōn] scriptures [graphaí]” (16:25b-26a). Among the nations “you also are called [klētoí] of Jesus Christ” (1:6); “all the called-out-ones [ekklēsíai] of Christ greet you” (16:16b). “Grace [cháris] to you and peace [eirēnē] from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ” (1:7b); “the God of peace [eirēnē] …. the grace [cháris] of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” (16:20).

Conclusion

If we begin our examination of Romans in chapter 3 or 4 or 10, we miss what has been established from the letter’s beginning and are therefore subject to misunderstanding and perhaps misconstruing what the inspired message conveys. Genuine faith is not merely an internal conviction without any observable action. Faith without obedience is disingenuous and lifeless. Obedience without faith is empty ritualism. The faith that saves is the faith that obeys. 

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ The noun pístis occurs at 1:5, 8, 12, 17; 3:3, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31; 4:5, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20; 5:1, 2; 9:30, 32; 10:6, 8, 17; 11:20; 12:3, 6; 14:1, 22, 23; 16:26. A form of the verb pisteúō is used in 1:16; 3:2, 22; 4:3, 5, 11, 17, 18, 24; 6:8; 9:33; 10:4, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16; 13:11; 14:2; 15:13.

     ² Unless noted otherwise, scripture quotations are the author’s own translation.

     ³ Half of Paul’s uses of the noun hupakoē (“obedience”) and verbal hupakoúō (“obey”) are found in Romans. The gospel preached on the Day of Pentecost and heard by “visitors from Rome” prompted a faith-response that included belief, repentance, baptism, and ongoing faithfulness (Acts 2:10-42), the same message Paul preached (1 Cor. 15:11; Gal. 1:7-9; 3:26-27).

Related Posts: Romans: Faith and Works, Abbreviated Gospel, Baptism (Rom 6:1-4) 

Related articles: Paul Merideth, It's Tough to Obey

 

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Synopsis and Summary of Romans

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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Outline of Romans

 I. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH (chaps. 1-4)

    A. Mankind in Sin and Under God’s Wrath (chap. 1).

        1. Introduction (1:1-17).

        2. The Human Plight in a Pagan World (1:18-32).

    B. Gentiles and Jews in Sin Under God’s Wrath (chap. 2).

        1. Consistency of Judgment (2:1-16).

        2. Guilt of the Jew (2:17-29).

    C. How God Makes People Righteous (chap. 3).

        1. God’s Judgment Defended (3:1-8).

        2. Summary: All Have Sinned (3:9-31).

    D. The Example of Abraham: One Made Righteous by Faith (chap. 4).

        1. The Case of Abraham (4:1-5).

        2. The Case of David (4:6-8).

        3. The Promise to Abraham (4:9-17).

        4. The Faith of Abraham (4:18-25).

II. CHRISTIAN LIVING (chaps. 5–8).

    A. Free from Wrath (chap. 5).

        1. The Benefits of Justification (5:1-11).

        2. The Broad Reach of Justification (5:12-21).

    B. Free from Sin (chap. 6).

        1. Baptism in the Likeness of Christ’s Death, Burial and Resurrection (6:1-14).

        2. Enslaved to Righteousness (6:15-23).

    C. Free from the Law (chap. 7).

        1. Deliverance from the Law (7:1-6).

        2. The Relationship Between Law and Sin (7:7-25).

    D. Free from Death (chap. 8).

        1. Deliverance from the Law of Sin and Death (8:1-11).

        2. Ministries of the Spirit (8:12-27).

        3. The Secure Life of the Redeemed (8:28-39).

III. PLACE OF ISRAEL IN SALVATION HISTORY (chaps. 9–11).

    A. God Chooses to Save Believers (chap. 9).

        1. Israel’s Rejection of Christ (9:1-5).

        2. Israel’s Rejection and God’s Purpose (9:6-12).

        3. Israel’s Rejection and God’s Justice (9:13-29).

        4. Israel’s Present Condition (9:30-33).

    B. Israel’s Condemnation is Her Own Fault (chap. 10).

        1. Israel Needs the Gospel (10:1-13).

        2. Israel Rejects the Gospel (10:14-21).

    C. Israel’s Rejection Does Not Have to be Final (chap. 11).

        1. Israel’s Rejection Not Total (11:1-10).

        2. Israel’s Rejection Doesn't Have to Be Final (11:11-36).

IV. CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPS (chaps. 12–16).

    A. Christian Duties in General (chap. 12).

        1. Living Sacrifices (12:1-2).

        2. Spiritual Service in the Body (12:3-8).

        3. Christian Conduct (12:9-21).

    B. Duty to Government (chap. 13).

        1. Submission to Civil Authorities (13:1-7).

        2. The Obligation of Love (13:8-10).

        3. The Power of Hope (13:11-14).

    C. The Strong and the Weak (chaps. 14–15).

        1. Refrain from Unrighteous Judging (14:1-13a).

        2. Refrain from Offending (14:13b-23).

        3. Unity of the Strong and Weak (15:1-13).

        4. Paul’s Work: Past, Present, Future (15:14-33).

    D. Closing (chap. 16).

        1. Phoebe Commended (16:1-2).

        2. Greetings to the Roman Saints (16:3-16).

        3. Avoid Those Causing Division (16:17-20).

        4. Greetings from Christian Friends (16:21-23).

        5. Benediction (16:24-27).

--Kevin L. Moore

Related Posts: Synopsis and Summary of Romans