The National tribune., 1893-09-21
Notice Epistles as to number of chapters:
Total, 100 chapters

The Epistte TO the Romans.
DIR. Whedon says: 1.-The Book Of Romans Is
| a summary of the hand to-hand synagog de-
bates of Paul with the Jews of his day" He
also says: The outlines of the evangelic Christ
history are affirmed or assumed in this epistle."
1t was written to the Christians then residing
at Rome. There must have been quite num-
Der there. Before st. Paul reached the city
the faith of the Christians there had been
noised abroad. is. How came Christians
there? In Acts, 2: 10, We find there were
persons present at Jerusalem from Rome. They
returned and teld the story. There was much
Interchange between the two great cities of
Rome and Jerusalem. Some early converts
doubtless found way to the Roman Capital.
We remember ST. Paul wrote his Epistle to
Rome before going there in person. and even
then Christianity was a recognized power
there. Compare Romans ~ 8. with 16: ZIG.
DIR. Joseph ARGUS says: Nearly every word,
sentence, and verse is suggestive either in
itself, or when compared with other parts of
the Bible" The Christians Of the Church at
Rome consisted of both Jews and Gentiles.
Juvenal held his countrymen (Romans) up to
ridicule for becoming Jews. Ovid speaks of
the synagogs of Rome, showing there were
many. Hence both Jews and Gentles were
in Rome. and the epistle shows both classes
were in the Church. We find Jews, @. g.. in
9: II, and Gentles in II 49, 1t is true Claudius
1922, but under Nero they returned, Acts,
%: 49, ~ Then Priscilla and Aquila, who
had been expelled (1S:2), we find returned.
(Ro, 16: 81 Tacitus, lin his account of the
burning Of Rome by Nero "a. d. ca says the
Christians there were az vast multitude"
Prof. Henry NJ. Hartman says of the Epistle to
the Romans: The grandest of all the writings
of st. Paul. 1t is the great treasury of the
sublime doctrines, duties. and privileges of
Christianity" There is general admission Of
the genuineness of this epistle.
Analysis.
]. Data. Ro., I sly.
2. Time. A. ID. SO.
3. Place. COripth.
d. Writer. St. Paul. IL.
D. Amanuensis. Tertius. 16: %.
6. To whom written Roman Christians.
1:7
z. Subject st. Paups proposed visit to
Rome. 1921.
a. His DESIRE
/. He longed to go. II.
2. Often purposed it. IL.
3. Delayed because hindered. IL.
a. In absence prayed for them. TO-
b. Condition OF Roman Christians.
1. Great faith 8.
9. Due to God. 8.
3. Subject to gratitude. 8.
f. Attracted attention. 8.
C. Why go?
l. To impart sterling gift. IL.
9 10 establish them. IL.
g. To share their comfort. H.
A. TO share their faith. IL.
5. To secure fruit. IL.
6. To preach. Is. Ready.
z. To pay debt. IA.
s. Lessons
1. First. 8. This refers to the general out
line of the book Before entering on the course
of direct argument, the Apostle wished to say a
few personal words to the Romans in friendly,
conversational way.
2. My God. 8. CT. Cor, IA; PHIL
Il 8. We have each kind of individual pos
session of God. The expression sour God =" is
very general and impersonal. There are times
when one loves to say My God"
8. All the world. 8. The Roman world
We see there were means of general intercom-
munication at that time. Any news peculiar,
out of ordinary run, quickly spread. The Ian
guage implies favorable report
A. Faith. 8. Christianity in general may be
understood. The fidelity of the Roman Chris
tians, their sacrifices for their faith, their
earnest work, called for attention.
5. With my spirit 8. Mere manual service
will not suffice. Our hearts should be In our
service. Our work must rise into a higher
sphere than the merely material or physical.
6. without ceasng. 8. Regularly. And fire.
Quency Is implied. 30 OF always"
z. Making request. 10. By prayer The
sense is similar TO prayers" in V. g.
8. Prosperous. 10. Compare Acts %: lilo.
8. Spiritual gift. II. The nature of the gift
is not mentioned. 1t seemed to require the
presence of st. Paul for importation and tended
to make Christians more firm such" estab-
lished." Tholuck did not believe any SUPER
natural gift intended, but Whedon thought it
charasmatic. some spiritual endowment, some
supernatural gift through the agency of apos-
tolic authority.
10 Fruit. 10. Converts.
H. Let. Ii. Hindered
H. Debtor. IA. No one has talents for only
self. We are Christ's servants and owe him all
blessings. Out of gratitude we should aid in
Christs work. We owe instruction to the
ignorant, help to the needy, etc.
b. Greeks, Barbarians "a and Jews (16)
are all the world.
Kingdom of Judah prevailed and maintained
existence giving name to all Hebrews.
Is. Written. II. Hab, PA.
16. AS much as III me is. Is. This is q fair
rule. Ability is measure of responsibility.
f" She hath done what she could"
II. Gospel. Is, l6. A general term for all
that is meant by salvation through Christ. 1t
involves the magnifying of Christ. 1t is good
news TO sinners.
Is. Righteousness. II. Righteousness is the
state of being righteous and may apply to all
moral beings. God is righteous. We are not
only saved by Christ's work of redemption but
our characters are affected, our lives are based
on holy principles and we are required to live
as becomes men aud women saved from sin. |
We must stop SHINING and cultivate the prin-
ciples of RICH teousness
10. just live by faith. II. This is the thesis |
of st. Paul, and is discussed till the close of
Chapter IL.