Writer: The apostle Paul
Date: c AD57 or 58 towards the end of his Third Missionary Journey
Where written: Corinth, during his 3 months stay in Greece
Readers: The Christian church already established in Rome. Paul hoped to visit them for the first time
Why: Probably the most important work ever written on the theory and practise of Christianity. It has had a profound impact on Christians throughout history. It describes our ever-present sinful condition, God's plan to save all mankind through "justification by faith" in his crucified and risen son, Jesus Christ, and our resulting "sanctification" through God's Holy Spirit. There is also a major section on Christian duties and relations with the world.
The Letter to the Romans says more about the reason God chose to send his Son to live and die in this world and to reveal his Gospel, than any other Letter.
To gain the most from these few chapters of unsurpassable spiritual and intellectual depth makes it difficult to avoid using words and phrases normally those of theologists studying the Bible, rather than men, women and children attempting to live by it. Some of the most significant words in general terms are:
JUSTIFICATION - The doctrine that men are made just, proved or shown to be just and right, vindicated, absolved, by faith in Jesus Christ, not by what they do;
FAITH - Trust or confidence, especially in God; belief in the truth of revealed religion
SALVATION - Preserved from evil; the saving of man from the power and penalty of sin; the granting of eternal happiness
SANCTIFICATION - Made, declared, regarded as, shown to be sacred or holy; free from sin or evil; set apart to sacred use
HOLY - Perfect in a moral sense; pure in heart
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