Equip: Resources on the Book of Romans

Be careful with Romans. You might set out to study the text and master the finer workings of the gospel, only to find yourself on a direct collision course with the Lord of the gospel.

Paul offers the same warning: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God” (Romans 1:16, emphasis added).

The message of the gospel as presented in Romans is not simply a system to study—though we should—but the power of Christ that addresses us.

Christian history offers a corroborating witness. World-shaking gospel movements led by keystone names like Augustine, Calvin, Luther, Wesley—via the Moravians and Luther himself—and Karl Barth all were launched by a fresh hearing of Romans.

Perhaps this is not surprising, given the letter was written by Paul—formerly Saul, a zealous persecutor of the church turned zealous promoter of the church’s gospel after a blinding encounter with Jesus led him down a long path of rethinking everything in the cruciform way of Christ. That gospel turns everything upside down, even today.

The challenge of Romans

Studying Romans is not easy. It is widely regarded to be Paul’s most complex letter, picking up themes as broad as creation, Israel and new creation. At the same time, the letter is intimate and pastoral, addressed to specific people and dealing with the inner workings of the human heart.

Added to the complexity is the existence of several competing schools for interpreting Paul, which can be confusing for a newcomer.

My best advice is to explore critically a broad swath of these schools. While you likely will live or dwell in one approach, studying a variety of angles will open new vistas of insight and illuminate outlier texts, preventing blind spots. A book as vast as Romans deserves better than that.

To that end, an alternative starting point might be Preaching Romans: Four Perspectives, edited by Scot McKnight and Joseph Modica. This is a generative conversation between voices like Tom Schriener, Michael Bird and James Dunn.

So, where to begin?

Not Ashamed of the Gospel: Sermons from Paul’s Letter to the Romans by Fleming Rutledge

It might seem odd to begin by recommending a collection of sermons, but I contend this is a natural place to begin.

Paul’s exposition of the gospel demands to be encountered as an address to the church, and these sermons do just that—through the lens of deep scholarship.

Romans was stamped and sent to the churches of Rome, connecting the living message of Christ, salvation and new creation to actual people and the lives they lived through its proclamation.

Rutledge’s sermons are a masterclass in hearing the word of God for the people of God, and she does not shy away from the confounding truth at the heart of Christian faith: “Christ crucified.”

If you are curious as to how Romans might continue to invigorate the church today, start here.

Romans: An Introduction and Commentary by David E. Garland

Now, it’s time to study. I’ll confess I have a certain allergy to biblical commentaries. They are necessary, and I make a habit of reading them, but I often struggle to keep my focus. This commentary is a rare exception and a delight to read.

Although deeply insightful and built on a lifetime of research and familiarity, this commentary is written in a gripping and intuitive style that renders the more obscure turns in Paul’s thought into clear insights.

I have encountered many “Aha” moments walking through these pages, and I am appreciative of any work this deeply studied and yet this readable.

As an added bonus, Garland is a fair and balanced interpreter of Paul. He is not hesitant to make strong claims and refute what he sees as dead ends. Yet, his work is open and receptive to insights generated by a wide variety of angles and schools of thought. This book is a treasure trove.

Reading Romans Backwards by Scot McKnight

I have chosen this book out of an abundance of possibilities, simply because it will provide an additional lens by which to view the shape of Romans—the church.

If the message of Romans is vast and expansive, it also is personal, intimate and written to actual people trying to live the Christian life together.

Rather than regarding Romans as an abstract theological treatise meant for the academy, McKnight challenges us to see Paul as a pastor interested in forming a “Christoformic” culture in the Roman house churches.

Paul is leading people who have been formed by the Roman cursus honorum—pursuit of honor—and Jews formed by restrictive Torah observance into a unified people whose minds and lives have been renewed in the humble way of Christ. His theology has its telos in shaping the church for faithfulness.

Whatever you make of McKnight’s portrayal as a whole—it is controversial—this approach should help you keep your eyes on the more pastoral purpose of seeing the gospel not just understood, but lived, and lived in a Jesus-shaped community of disciples.

Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Romans edited by Gerald Bray

Now, let’s step way back. By this point, we have been bogged down with contemporary perspectives, but what did the ancient Christians think? We would be wise to ask that question.

What gems might be waiting to be handed down to us from the first centuries of those who interpreted and encountered Paul’s gospel? To expand your horizons, and to step out of the blinding urgency of the present, give this volume a try.

The Bible Speaks Today Series: The Message of Romans by John Stott

Finally, I conclude with a classic. Sometimes it is wise to learn from one of those stalwarts who, like Paul, has advanced the global cause of the gospel, but in a generation immediately before us.

Stott’s writings and teachings have influenced the shape of Christianity worldwide. It can’t hurt to be tutored by his accumulated insight as we preach and teach today.

Where to go from here?

Beyond these five offerings, there are endless possibilities for further study. The essay “A Tale of Two Gardens: Augustine’s Narrative Interpretation of Romans 5” by Ben Myers in Apocalyptic Paul: Cosmos and Anthropos in Romans 5-8, edited by Beverly Roberts Gaventa, was one of the first theological writings to grab my imagination with all the depths of Paul.

When preparing a sermon, I nearly always look into The Story of God Bible Commentary Series by Zondervan Academic for its clarity at connecting each book to the larger story of Scripture.

I also have benefited from The Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible for its unique voice in employing theologians to bring the broader field of theology to bear on Scripture.

I conclude with Paul’s own benediction and blessing:

“Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith—to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen” (Romans 16:25-27).

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Tyler Phillips is the pastor of Berryville Baptist Church in Berryville, Va. He is a graduate of Georgetown College and Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary. The views expressed in this resource article are those of the author.