Jewish Context Before You Read Romans

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The book of Romans is many people’s favorite book in the entire Bible, but like nearly every book of the Bible, when left void of context, it can be misunderstood, mistranslated, or read in a different light than the author originally intended. So today, let’s take a look at the Jewish context that we need. Before you read the book of Romans, when I was getting my bachelor’s degree in biblical studies, I was told by my professor in the book of Romans class that the book of Romans was Paul’s magnum opus. It was his greatest work. It was a summary of all of his theologies put on paper, but we never talked about why the apostle Paul actually wrote this book to the Roman church. Many have proposed that Paul wrote it because he was establishing a financial and spiritual base in Rome, and he was wanting their support as he went to Spain.

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And although Paul mentioned Spain, this isn’t a very strong argument for why he wrote this letter to a church that he never visited. Yet biblical and historical context can paint a very clear picture for the purpose. Behind Paul’s letter to the Les, the gathering in the city of Rome, Paul wrote the book of Romans as a pastoral letter addressing the issues that the Roman church or the Ecclesia was facing regarding the Jew and Gentile distinction and how they could live together in unity. Where am I getting this from? Well, originally the Roman church was predominantly Jewish. We know because in Acts two verse 10, we read that many Roman Jews were present at Pentecost. It’s obvious that they gave their life to Yeshua at Pentecost. They were part of the 3000 that had deliverance through the name of Yeshua and then went back to start this gathering in Rome.

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What we know from history is that in 49 AD the emperor whose name was Claudius, expelled all the Jews from Rome because of riots and quarreling. And Claudia seemed to think that this tension was growing so intense he needed to get the Jewish people out of the capitol of the Roman Empire. This is confirmed in scripture. Acts 18 verse 1. It says, and he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. So now this gathering in Rome, which was once predominantly Jewish, and then we could assume throughout the years more Gentiles that put their faith in Yeshua, Jesus joined this gathering. But when Claudius dispels all of the Jewish people from Rome, this once predominantly Jewish congregation becomes 100% Gentile. What we know in history is in 54 AD, six years later, a new emperor sits on the throne and his name is Niro.

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And Niro invited the Jewish outcast to return to Rome. So after six years of this congregation, this Ecclesia being completely gentile, the Jewish people come back to the gathering. It’s not hard to imagine the quarrels that may have happened between the Jews and the Gentiles who were now one. Again, this completely gentile church has now brought back all of its Jewish brothers and sisters. There may have been quarreling about Gentile relationship and distinction, food laws Sabbath, which days are holy and which days aren’t all things that Paul addresses. In this letter, he’s writing the letter to Jews and Gentiles in Rome, in teaching them how to be unified. Why would Paul be the one to write this letter? Because he is the Jewish apostle to the Gentiles. It makes perfect sense why Paul would be speaking into this congregation. He’s never visited because this quarrel was growing and Paul is the most qualified person to speak into this congregation.

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He says of himself, I’m a Hebrew of Hebrews of the tribe of Benjamin as to the law of Pharisee. He’s saying, circumcised on the eighth day, I am Jewish. I know the law, but yet I’m called to the Gentiles. So now let’s take a brief flyover of the book of Romans, given this context that Paul is pastorally speaking into this church of Jews and Gentiles. We start in Romans one where he addresses the entire Ecclesia of Rome, the entire church. He says to all who are beloved of God in Rome. And then very quickly in verse 16, we hear him say, for I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is power to salvation, to everyone who believes first to the Jew and then to the Gentile, the people he’s speaking to. And then Paul addresses the problem of sin. Romans two, verse 9 through 11, there will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

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But glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good first for the Jew, then for the Gentile, for God does not show favoritism. He’s starting his letter saying, I know there’s some curling going on. I know it’s easy to think that the chosen people are greater, they’re more favored than the Gentiles who are the second class citizen. And he’s saying, no, the gospel is for the Jew first, and that word can be translated, especially because they’re the covenant holders, but also for the Gentile. And then he says, but sin reigns to the Jew first and to the gentile, but glory and honor will come to the Jew first and then to the Gentile. There’s no partiality. There’s no favoritism. Then he makes it clear that he’s addressing his Jewish brothers and sisters, and you’ll see this throughout the book of Romans where he will talk specifically to the Jewish community at Rome and then later he’ll talk to the Gentile community specifically at Rome, which is so important because so many times we just take a verse out of context, and it’s helpful to know when you’re reading the book of job, are you reading job’s, words, God’s words or his friend’s words?

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In the same way when you’re reading the book of Romans, who’s he writing to? Is he writing to the Jewish community or the gentile community? Because he makes it clear. Romans two, verse 17. Now, if you call yourself a Jew, if you rely on the law and boast in God, he’s saying, I’m talking to you, my Jewish brothers and sisters, chapter three. He says, what advantage then is there being a Jew? Is there any advantage? He’s basically saying, and he says, much in every way. First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God, the covenant, the Torah. So then he says in verse 9, so what shall we conclude them? Do we have any advantage? Not at all for we’ve already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles are alike under the power of sin. Then in chapter four and five, he talks a lot about Abraham and he still addressing the Jewish community because he says, let’s talk about Abraham, our father, Abraham, our ancestor.

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And he says something very shocking to the Jewish community. He says, yeah, Abraham’s our ancestor through circumcision, because God gave circumcision to Abraham first, yet he was given righteousness. Righteousness was accounted to Abraham before he was circumcised. So he makes this point that even the Gentiles by faith are now sons of Abraham because he was justified before circumcision happened. So let’s skip to chapter seven where he’s again addressing the Jewish community in Rome. He says, do you not know brothers and sisters for I’m speaking to those who know the law? Again, that words Torah. I’m speaking to you who know the Torah, that the Torah has authority over a person only as long as that person lives. So what shall we say then? Is the law sinful? Is the Torah sinful? Maybe this was one of the disputes. Maybe the Gentiles were saying, we’re not under law anymore, we’re under grace.

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I can’t tell you how many Christians I’ve heard say that. And then Paul says, certainly not. Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was if it had not been for the law. So what shall we say about the law? It is good. The law is good. It’s from God. Now, let’s go to chapter eight where he begins talking generally about all people who have put their faith in Yeshua. Jesus. He’s talking to the entire community. He starts chapter eight verse 1. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Yeshua, Messiah. And then in verse 17, he says something very interesting. Now, if we are children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. And we’ve talked about this in many videos, but just to say it very briefly, he’s saying, we are co-heirs with Christ. Who is the we?

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Jew and Gentile? Jew and Gentile are co-heirs, joint heirs, fellow heirs. Ephesians three, verse 6, he says the same thing. This mystery is that through the gospel, the Gentiles are heirs together, co-heirs with Israel. This is the whole point of the book of Romans. He’s trying to get them to realize you’re different, but you’re called together in unity. You guys are co-heirs. Then Romans nine and 10, Paul’s addressing both Jews and Gentiles. He talks a lot about Israel and the ones who haven’t put their faith in Yeshua. And then he says, Romans 10, nine, if you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, believe in your heart, God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. And he says this in verse 12, there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. The same Lord is the Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.

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This is the point of his letter. He’s like, guys, God is the God of all. And then chapter 11, he changes his audience, just like he was saying before, I’m talking to you who know the laws. If you call yourself a Jew, I’m talking to you. Then he says in Romans 11, so did God reject his people? By no means I am an Israelite, myself, descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people whom he for knew. Again, I ask, this is verse 11, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all. Then verse 13, I am talking to you Gentiles, he makes it very clear. Now, I’m going to talk to just the Gentiles in the Ecclesia, the church in Rome, in as much that I am the apostle to the Gentiles. And then you get this picture of the olive tree where the natural branches are the Jewish people, but then the Gentiles where the wild olive shoots, and this is what he says in verse 18.

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He’s talking to the Gentiles here. Remember, I’m speaking to you Gentiles. Do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. The Jewish people. If you do consider this, you do not support the root. The root supports you. The root of this tree is Jewish, so don’t boast against the branches. Verse 20, do not be arrogant again, who’s he talking to? The gentiles but tremble for if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God. Verse 24. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree, that is wild by nature and contrary to nature, were grafted into a cultivated olive tree. How much more readily will these than natural branches be grafted into their own tree? He’s saying, if the Gentiles can come and join the faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob through Yeshua, how much easier would the Jewish people come back to that tree?

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Don’t boast against the Jewish people like you have something Now you’re more special. Again, this whole book is about you guys are equal. There’s no difference. There’s no partiality. Verse 28, as far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake, talking about the people in Israel that are opposing the gospel of Yeshua, the good news of Yeshua. But as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs. This is something many Christians don’t understand today, that even if a Jewish person is vehemently against the message of Yeshua or Jesus, they are still beloved by God for the sake of their ancestors, for the sake of their family, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. This is often taken out of context to talk about, man, you’re such a good speaker, and the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable.

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No, no, this is talking about Israel’s call, the call that God put on the nation of Israel. That call is irrevocable. Then Romans 12, he’s talking to everybody. He says in verse 3, I say to every one of you, now he’s bringing it together, Jews and Gentiles. He had a few chapters talking to the Jewish community in Rome, a few chapters to the gentile community in Rome. And now he says in verse 3, now I say to every one of you, do not think of yourself more highly than you ought. That’s the issue in Rome. The Jewish people thought maybe we’re more favored. We’re the ones that are actual descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And some of the Gentiles are like, well, we’re the ones that believed in Yeshua and so many people in Israel haven’t believed in him, so now we’re more favored.

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And he’s like, guys, stop. Don’t think of yourselves higher than you ought verse 4, for just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function. So in Christ, in Messiah, we though many form one body. What is he saying? We’re one verse 10. So be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves, never lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. This is the book of Romans. This is the ending of his letter saying, guys, be unified together. Love one another. Again, we use this verse out of context and just say, as Christians, we’re supposed to love people. That’s true. And the Bible says much about that. But right here in Romans, he’s talking about Jews and Gentiles in this church loving one another. Then chapters 13 and 14, he’s addressing everybody.

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He talks about food laws, he talks about personal conviction. And then Romans 15, he’s essentially ending this letter. He says in verse 7, accept one another. Then just as Christ has accepted you in order to bring praise to God, for I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed. And moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercies. God has an amazing plan for Jews and Gentiles. This whole book is talking about Jews and Gentiles, and so many people we talked to are like, there’s no longer a Jew and Gentile. Then why is Paul talking about it so much? Why is he saying, I’m talking to you Jews. Now I’m talking to you Gentiles, because there’s still a distinction just like male and female. There’s a continual distinction.

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Even after you put your faith in Yeshua, after you put your faith in Jesus, you’re still male and female. You’re still Jew and Gentile. And then in verse 14, he says, I myself am convinced brothers and sisters that you yourselves are full of goodness filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. And then he says this, yet I have written you quite boldly on some points he has. He kind of called out the Jewish people in the first couple chapters, and then he called out the Gentiles in the latter chapter saying, don’t be arrogant. Don’t think you’re better than Jewish people. So he’s really giving hard truths to both parties.

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Some theologians think that he’s only talking to the Jewish people here, something he’s talking to both. But he says, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentile. So he might be talking to his Jewish community right here saying, Hey, I know I’ve said some hard truths, but I’m called to be a minister to the Gentiles. Or maybe he’s talking to all of them right now. They both had some hard pills to swallow. Chapter 16, Paul’s basically like say hi to all my boys, say hi to all my friends over there, Priscilla, Aquila, say, what’s up to everybody? And then in verse 17, this is really the ending of this letter. He says, so I urge you brothers and sisters to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching that you have learned, meaning you’ve learned in this book, in this letter.

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Keep away from them. Obviously, people were causing divisions, maybe Jewish people causing division thinking you need to be circumcised. Like we read in the book of Galatians saying, you need to come into the fold of Israel and become Jews. Maybe the Gentiles were developing a little arrogance thinking maybe we’re the new spiritual Israel like many Christians do today. And Paul was saying, look, the gospel is for the Jew first and then to the Gentile, to the Jew especially, and then to the Gentile. And sin comes the Jew into the Gentile. And at the end of the day, we’re supposed to be a family. We’re supposed to be in covenant together like a marriage, male and female coming together as one flesh, Jew and Gentile coming together as one new man. And we’re supposed to walk in this unity honoring each other’s distinction, loving one another, but being one. This is the context of the book of Romans. This is why Paul wrote the letter to the Roman Church. And if we understand that, then this letter comes alive in a way that maybe you’ve never seen it before. Because Paul was a pastor, he was an apostle, and he wanted to bring unity when the enemy always wanted to bring division.