Commentary on "Paul and Rome"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 2: Sunday, June 27, 2010 - Date and Place

 

Overview

Quoted from the lesson:

Romans 16:1, 2 indicates that Paul probably wrote Romans in the city of Cenchreae, which was near the eastern port of Corinth, in Greece. Paul’s mention of Phoebe, a resident of greater Corinth, establishes that place as the likely background for the letter to the Romans.

One of the purposes of establishing the city of origin of the New Testament epistles is to ascertain the date of writing. Because Paul traveled much, knowing where he was at a particular time gives us a clue to the date.

 

Observations

There is no problem with concluding that the time and place of the writing of Romans was in Corinth during his third missionary trip. However, the lesson authors failed to establish the importance of knowing this before we begin our study. After all, Paul doesn’t provide this supporting information until towards the end of the epistle.

We have already established that Paul was addressing the “called saints”, the church in Rome. Those who are of the Body of Christ have Christ’s gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will guide God’s people into an understanding of all his truth.

Paul, who is recording the very thoughts of God, develops the overall theme of Romans in a very logical order which we should follow. Right after stating that the righteous shall live by faith, he turns our attention to the wrath of God in verse 18. Note well that God’s wrath is directed “against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” who suppress his truth. Those who point to a source of ‘truth’ other than understanding Scripture through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit should tremble in fear.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (John 16:7-15 ESV)

Each of us should ask the same question the Philippian jailer asked Paul:

Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. (Acts 16:30-33 ESV)

 

Summary

1. How are we to know what God’s truth is?
2. Jesus declares that understanding God’s truth is the responsibility of the indwelling Holy Spirit who is the Seal of our salvation, Eph. 1:13-14.
3. Note well that God’s wrath is directed against all those who suppress his truth. Any doctrine that does not focus primarily on the role of the Holy Spirit for knowing God’s truth is exchanging the false wisdom of the world for real truth.

 

GO TO DAY 3

 

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