Epistle to the Romans

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).
==Theology/message==
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.
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==
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.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.
* 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..
* There's no such thing as an atheist. Everyone knows God exists, but a few people deny it to feel important..
==Quotes==
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:
Women in the Church (evidence Paul accepted women teachers and leaders):
Fast-talking fools:
The oft-cited "homosexual" quote:
Divine right of kings:
==See also==
*RationalWiki:Annotated Bible/Romans
==Notes==
==References==
Category:New Testament
Category:Pauline Epistles