Epistle to the Romans

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"Romans" redirects here. You may be looking for Roman Empire

The Epistle to the Romans is one of St Paul's most significant works, delving more directly into orthodoxy of both theology and church practice. It is one of the seven undisputed letters by Paul of Tarsus in the New Testament (the other six being First and Second Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Philemon, and First Thessalonians).

## Contents

* 1 Theology/message
* 2 Use by conservative Christians
* 3 Quotes
* 4 See also
* 5 Notes
* 6 References

## Theology/message[edit]

Romans spends a considerable time talking of the nature of sin and redemption, asking the people in the church of Rome (not to be confused with the Church of Rome) consider their wicked ways and take the moment given by Christ to change and become worthy of redemption. "One man, Adam, as brought sin into the world, the Christ will take the sin away from the world". The letter is inclusive of anyone seeking God's salvation through Christ, but it was written primarily for a Jewish audience. Though the Epistle of Romans condemns many sins, including lust and homosexuality, Paul makes the claim that no one sin is worse than the other, and all men sin and all men do all sins at least in the heart — therefore making judgement by man unacceptable. Smart man, that Paul. Paul calls himself the "Chief of sinners" and some people who take pride in their sinless perfection, truthful or not tend to feel bruised when this is pointed out.[note 1]

Historically, Romans was written during a time when so-called "Christianity" was a sect of post-Temple Judaism, and not yet a distinct religion, and the Christ figure was not well fleshed out mythologically. There still exists serious questions about new religion with a founder that was an executed criminal and possibly even illegitimate.

## Use by conservative Christians[edit]

Because of the particular theme of sin and redemption taken by Paul in this letter to his church, Romans is filled with juicy insights used by both contemporary and historical Christians to put minorities, heretics, and generic miscreants in their place.[note 2]

* Lusters are chastised including anyone who enjoys a good romp in the hay, married or otherwise.
* Homosexuals, male or female are chastised. This is the only place in the Bible lesbians are denounced, or indeed, suggested to exist, unless you read too far into the Book of Ruth.
* Gossips, liars, slanderers, the arrogant, the boastful are, too, denounced. (Are you listening, Conservatives?)
* All the evil ones (even the liars and gossips) should be put to death.
* Romans 2 then jumps right into condemning those who Judge others (similar of course to Jesus' statements regarding those who judge), for only God may rightly judge.
* Practicing Jews feel his wrath, for they follow Law.
* Uncircumcised men are OK. They are one of the few sets of humans to escape his wrath.[1]
* There's no such thing as an atheist. Everyone knows God exists, but a few people deny it to feel important.[2]

## Quotes[edit]

The weighty letter has no lack of chastisements, challenges, and praise in it, and quotes for just about anything can be found in Romans. Judgement of others:

“”Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

—Romans 14:13

“”So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

—Romans 2:3

Women in the Church (evidence Paul accepted women teachers and leaders):

“”I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant[a] of the church in Cenchrea. 2I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me. 3Greet Priscilla[b] and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.

—Romans 16:1

Fast-talking fools:

“”I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

—Romans 16:17

The oft-cited "homosexual" quote:

“”Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

—Romans 26:27

Divine right of kings:

“”Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

—Romans 13:1-4

## See also[edit]

* RationalWiki:Annotated Bible/Romans

## Notes[edit]

1. ↑ Whether or not this is actually possible to do in this life is an age-long theological argument.
2. ↑ A thorough reading of Romans would suggest that Romans is not specifically condemning any particular behavior but merely listing those on the "tip of his tongue". All humans live in sin, according to Paul.

## References[edit]

1. ↑ Romans 2:25.
2. ↑ Romans 1:20.

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Articles about the Bible

Old Testament: |  Goliath • Tamar • Tower of Babel • Abel • Joseph (Old Testament) • Firmament • Baal • Noah • Isaac • Ishmael • Amalekites • Curse of Ham • Jacob • Sodom and Gomorrah • Ezekiel's wheel • Lot • Nephilim • G'Tach • Joseph was Imhotep • Moses • Global flood • Cain • Gibeah • Abraham • Old Testament • Incubus and succubus myths • King David • List of actions prohibited by the Bible • Serpent seed doctrine • Leviathan • Messiah • Mark of Cain • Asherah • Nimrod • Sirach • Jezebel • Adam and Eve • Moloch • Book of Joel • Garden of Eden • Satan •
| Torah: |  Torah • Book of Exodus • Book of Genesis • Book of Leviticus • Book of Numbers • Book of Zechariah • Book of Deuteronomy •
| Old Testament History: |  Book of Esther • Book of Ezra • Book of Judges • Book of Ruth • Books of Chronicles • Books of Kings • Books of Samuel • Book of Joshua •
| Old Testament Wisdom: |  Ecclesiastes • Song of Solomon • Book of Job • Book of Proverbs • Book of Psalms •
| Major and Minor Prophets: |  Book of Daniel • Book of Ezekiel • Book of Isaiah • Book of Lamentations • Books of the Minor Prophets • Book of Jeremiah •
New Testament: |  Mary Magdalene • New Testament • Mary (mother of Jesus) • Joseph of Arimathea • Paul of Tarsus • Good Samaritan • Authorship of the New Testament • Magi • John the Baptist • Principalities and powers • Joseph (husband of Mary) • Nag Hammadi library • Messiah • Jesus • Gospel of Barnabas • Peter the Apostle • Pontius Pilate • Judas Iscariot • Book of Revelation •
| Gospels and Acts: |  Acts of the Apostles • Gospels • Q gospel • Gospel of John • Gospel of Mark • Gospel of Luke • Gospel of Matthew •
| Pauline Epistles: |  Corinthians • Galatians • Ephesians • Colossians • Epistle to the Philippians • Epistle to Philemon • Epistle to Titus • First Epistle to the Thessalonians • Second Epistle to the Thessalonians • Second Epistle to Timothy • First Epistle to Timothy •
| General Epistles: |  Epistle of Jude • Epistle of James • Epistle to the Hebrews • First Epistle of John • First Epistle of Peter • Second Epistle of John • Second Epistle of Peter • Third Epistle of John •
Bible analysis: |  Apocalyptic literature • Authorship of the New Testament • Bible interpolation • Biblical sexism • Bibliolatry • Documentary hypothesis • Evidence for the Exodus • Gospels • Horizontal reading • King James Only • List of actions prohibited by the Bible • Pesher • Q gospel • Septuagint • Skeptic's Annotated Bible • Ten Commandments • Torah • Bible translation • Word of God • Biblical literalism • Biblical contradictions • List of mistakes made by God • Abomination • Firmament • G'Tach • Arsenokoites • Genealogy of Jesus • Nag Hammadi library • Noah's Ark • Annotated Bible • Slavery in the Bible • Examples of God personally killing people • Herod • The Brick Testament • Evidence against a recent creation • Biblical scientific errors • EvilBible.com •
| Bible translations: |  Cockney Bible • Douay-Rheims • Jefferson Bible • King James Only • Septuagint • Vetus Latina • Bible translation • Annotated Bible •
| Apocrypha: |  Didache • Apocrypha • Nag Hammadi library • Book of Judith • 2 Maccabees • 3 Maccabees • 4 Maccabees • Books of Enoch • Books of the Maccabees • Gospel of Judas • Gospel of Mary • Gospel of Philip • Gospel of Thomas • Infancy Gospel of James • Infancy Gospel of Thomas • 1 Maccabees •
Biblical figures: |  Abel • Cain • Ishmael • Jacob • Joseph of Arimathea • Joseph (Old Testament) • Mary (mother of Jesus) • Noah • Paul of Tarsus • Mary Magdalene • Lot • Goliath • Nephilim • Moses • YHWH • Amalekites • Baal • King David • Joseph (husband of Mary) • God • Jesus • Asherah • Nimrod • Habakkuk • Adam and Eve • Herod • Pontius Pilate • Jezebel • Tamar • Judas Iscariot • Satan •
Bible woo: |  Jesus diet • Name it and claim it • Snake handling • Speaking in tongues • Spiritual warfare • The Bible Code • Gematria • Stigmata • Biblical longevity • Hanzi of Genesis • Dr. Bronner's Soap • Presidential Prayer Team • British Israelism • Trinity Broadcasting Network • Zecharia Sitchin • James Ussher • Creation Week • Zion Oil and Gas • The Drama of the Lost Disciples • Roman Piso • Jose Luis de Jesús • Prayer • Biblical scientific foreknowledge • Black Hebrew Israelites • Jonathan Otto • Benny Hinn • Presents Of God Ministry • Solfeggio frequencies • Ken Ham • Harold Camping • Institute for Creation Research • Steve Quayle • Kabbalah Center • Acharya S • Christian Identity • Peter J. Peters • Ezekiel's wheel • Creation Research •
| Scientific foreknowledge: |  Gaps between Science and the Bible • Biblical scientific foreknowledge • Scientific Facts in the Bible: 100 Reasons to Believe the Bible is Supernatural in Origin • Science Confirms the Bible • Eternal Productions: 101 Scientific Facts and Foreknowledge • Modern Science in the Bible •