Date.  Probably from Corinth, about A. D. 58.

Theme.  The gift of the righteousness of God as our justification which is received through faith in Christ, or justification by faith.

Analysis.

   Introduction, 1:1-17.

  I. All Men Need of Righteousness, 1:18-3:20.

II.  All Men May Have Righteousness by Faith in Christ (justification) 3:21-4 end.

III.  All Who Are Thus Justified Will Be Finally Sanctified, Chs. 5-8.  The believer’s final redemption is thus guaranteed.

1.  By the new relation to God which this righteousness gives.  Ch. 5.

2.  By the new realms of grace into which it brings him, Ch. 6 (no death in this realm).

3.  By the nature given him, Ch. 7.  This wars against the old nature and will win.

4.  By the new possession (the Holy Spirit) which it gives, Ch. 8:1- 27.

   5.  By the foreordained purpose of God for them, 8:28-39.

 IV.  This Doctrine as Related to the Rejection of the Jews, chs. 9-11.

   1.  The justice of their rejection, 9:1-29.

   2.  The cause of their rejection, 9:30-10 end.

   3.  The limitations of their rejection, ch. 11.

  V. The Application of This Doctrine to Christian Life, 12:1-15:13.

   1.  Duty to God-consecration, 12-12.

   2.  Duty to self-a holy life, 12:3 end.

   3.  Duty to state authorities-honor, 13:1-7.

   4.  Duty to society-love all, 13:8-10.

   5.  Duty as to the Lord’s return-watchfulness, 13:11-14.

   6.  Duty to the weak -helpfulness and forbearance, 14:1-15:13.

Conclusion. 15:14-16 end. (1) Personal matters, 14:14 end. (2) Farewell greetings and warnings, ch. 16.

For Study and Discussion. (1) The greeting (1:1-7).  What does it reveal about, (a) The call, duty and standing of an apostle or preacher? (b) The standing, privileges and duties of a church, or individual Christian? (c) The relation of the old dispensation to the new? (d) Christ’s diety or his Messiahship in fulfillment of prophecy? (e) The different persons of the Trinity? (2) Study sin as described in 3:10-18, and what can be learned concerning:  (a) The state of sin, (b) The practice of sin, (c) The reason for sin. (3) Abraham as an example of justification by faith, ch. 4. (4) The plan and method by which God rescues men from sin, 5:6-11. (5) The contrast between Adam and Christ. 5:12-31.  Do we get more in Christ than we lost in Adam? (6) Why a matter under grace should not continue in sin, 6:1-14. (7) A converted man’s relation to the law. 7:1-6. (8) The different things done for us by the Holy Spirit, 8:1-27. (9) The practical duties of a Christian, ch. 12. (10) Make a list of the following “key-words,” showing how many times and were each occurs, and outline form the scripture references the teachings about each.  Power, sin and unrighteousness, righteousness, justification, faith and belief, atonement, redemption, adoption, propitiation, election, predestination.