An Overview of Dale Bruner's New Book on Romans

THE FIFTH GOSPEL PAUL'S LETTER TO THE ROMANS [Written from Corinth, between AD. 54-59<Tarsus/Pharisee/Conversion: Acts chapters 9, 22, 26]

Paul divided his letter-between his brief but important introductory remarks (1 :1-17) and his several concluding remarks ( chapters 15B-16)-into five maior themes, each of them of fairly equal length-about three to five pages long or, by the Church's latest numbering, each theme has about three chapters.

I will number and underline Paul's five themes below. The later historical Church, as we know, subsequently supplied Paul's whole letter (and the entire Bible) with chapter and verse numbers so that readers could locate specific passages. Here, then, is an outline of Paul's letter:

Introduction, chapter 1:1-17

(1) Human Sin, chapters 1:18through 3:20
(2) Divine Grace, chapters 3:21 through 5:21
(3) Christian Life, chapters 6:1 through 8:39
(4) Divine Election, chapters 9:1 through 11:36
(5) Practical Christian Ethics, chapters 12:1 through 15:13

Concluding remarks and personal greetings: chapters 15:14 through 16:27

PAUL'S INTRODUCTION TO HIS LETTER AND TO OUR DEEP NEED FOR THE GOSPEL GOOD NEWS -ROMANS, CHAPTER 1

1, Paul Introduces Himself and "The Good News" to the Roman Christians, Romans 1 :1-7

1. Paul, a bondservant of the Messiah-Christ-Jesus; Calling: apostle-ambassador, set apart for the Good News-of and from the very God.
2. The Good News: Promised beforehand by God's prophets in the Holy Scriptures;
3. The Promise concerning God's very Son, descended from David, humanly speaking.
4. Divinely Confirmed: as God's very Son, powerfully, by the work of the spirit of Holiness Namely: By a resurrection from the world of the dead, no less-Jesus Christ our Lord;
5. My Service Source: Through Jesus Himself we received both grace and apostleship; My Service Goal: To evoke a singular obedience-believing Jesus; My Service Range: All the nations of the world; My Service End: The honor of His Name;
6. My special Addressees: You in Rome-"the called ones" -of and by Jesus Christ Himself;
7. Personally: To all God's dearly-loved people in Rome, in your calling-as saints, no less; My Special Blessing: May Grace be yours, with its unique Peace, throughout this reading; Our Divine Benefactors as we now proceed: God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

-Dale Bruner.