BY A. E. BOOTH
The Salutation (chap, i:1-7).
In Eastern lands people are noted for the order and manner of their salutations – both oral and written. " Peace unto you," was the usual salutation extended. The apostle salutes them here with " Grace and peace unto you."
The Introduction (chap, i:8-17).
A word of introduction always followed this salutation, especially if they were strangers to each other. This would set the mind of both parties at rest, and the message would then follow.
The epistle to the Romans has five main divisions, which in their spiritual lessons correspond to the Pentateuch of Moses. Each of these main divisions has its sections or subdivisions.
First Division (the Genesis), Man's Ruin (chaps, i:18-3:20).
In Genesis we have the fall of man-the entrance of sin in the human race and the story of guilt which followed. In the first three chapters of Romans the guilt of the whole human race is summed up; all are declared guilty, and under judgment before God.
Three Sections in the First Division
(1) The guilt of the Barbarian-the uncivilized part of the Gentile world (chap, i:18-32).
Note a better punctuation of verse 18-"all impiety, and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness" (J. N. D.'s Trans.)
(2) The guilt of the Greek-the civilized part of the Gentile world (chap. 2:1-16).
Note here the margin of chap. 2 :9, 10 where the word is Greek, not Gentile.
(3) The guilt of the Jew (chaps. 2:17-3:20).
Instead of "Behold," in chap. 2 :17, read "But if thou art called a Jew."
The first two sections include all Gentiles, Greek and Barbarian, civilized and uncivilized ; the last section, the Jews, who had in their possession the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament).
Second Division (the Exodus), God's Salvation (chaps. 3:21-8:39).
This division presents to us the gospel of God, His salvation and His righteousness; but God's salvation in the epistle to the Romans includes more than justification. First, the salvation of the soul:then successive deliverances, including the salvation of the body, are the theme of this second division, which corresponds to Exodus, where we get the salvation of Israel out of Egypt. Theirs was a national and temporal deliverance; ours is individual and eternal.
Five Sections in this Second Division, and Seven distinct Deliverances.
justification
(1) Deliverance from our sins (chap. 3:23-26).
(2) Deliverance from the judgment of God (chap. 3:21-5:11).
A better reading of chap. 3:19 is, "And all the world be under judgment of God" (J. N. D.'s Trans.).
(3) Deliverance from judgment on the Adamic creation (chap. 5:12-21).
(4) Deliverance from the rule and power of indwelling sin (chap. 6:1-23).
Note :Sin (not sins) is the subject of this chapter. "Sin," the evil propensity or principle, which is in all of Adam's race, abides in us unto the end ; it is compared to a master which we formerly served as slaves, but from which we have been freed or discharged by the death of Christ. This is as God views us. Hence, we are now to "reckon ourselves" as having died to sin, and alive unto God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. This is a practical and present deliverance.
(5) Deliverance from the law as a rule of life (chap. 7).
Note:This implies that by the death .of Christ we have also been discharged from the law. We are not under sin as a master (chap. 6). We are not under law as a rule (chap. 7). A discharge has been secured for us from both by Christ's death ; and Christian service, under grace, is to Him who has delivered us.
(6) Deliverance from the presence of sin.
(7) Deliverance from the groans of a weak and infirm body (chap. 8:22, 23). Note:These last two (6 and 7) are at the coming of the Lord.
Third Division (the Leviticus), Nearness to God (chaps. 9-11).
The second division brought us to the Second Coming of Christ, and the final deliverance of the body. Now, in the third, we are brought nigh to God, there to learn the truths concerning the Second Coming of the Lord more fully, and also the ways of the Lord-past, present, and future- in regard to both Israel and the Nations. This part of the epistle is distinctly dispensational, as the first two divisions were doctrinal.
Enoch walked with God, and the future was opened up to him (Jude 14).
Abram was the friend of God; therefore the destruction of the doomed cities was not withheld from him (Gen. 18:16-33).
Moses, the servant of Jehovah, was in the secret of God's thoughts, and had the ways of God made known to him (Ps. 103:7).
The disciples as "friends" had the Father's communications revealed to them (John 15:14, 15). In this favored dispensation, we are brought near, and the mysteries of God have been made known to us -His plans, purposes, etc., are all spread before us for our enlightenment. How diligent we ought to be in view of this-like Enoch, seek to walk with God, and like Abraham, be exercised in prayerful intercession, both as to the Church and the world.
The Fourth Division (Numbers) the Practical Life of Believers (chaps. 12:-15:33).
This division brings us now to the practical part of the epistle; as the book of Numbers, it serves to guide the walk and life of saints who are brought into relationship with God.
The various positions of a believer are presented -his life Godward, Churchward, and Worldward.
The spirit in which the life should be manifested is fully expounded, and Christ presented as the perfect example for us to follow (chap. 15:3).
Note how this division closes the epistle proper, followed by the benediction, " The God of peace be with you all, Amen." This division brings us to the end of the practical part, as Numbers brings us to the end of the wilderness journey of Israel.
The Fifth Division (the Deuteronomy) chap. 16.
This last chapter, as an appendix to the epistle, resembles the fifth and last book of Moses. The book of Deuteronomy, at the end of the wilderness life, is a review of the just completed journey. In this review they were called to "remember all the way" (Deut. 8:2). It serves as a picture of what the judgment-seat of Christ will be for each believer, of which this last chapter of our epistle is also a picture. There, Moses reviewed the past for Israel; here it is Paul who briefly reviews the service of devoted hearts in various spheres of life, and adds his commendation. Soon these pictures will give place to the final review, when Christ will manifest all for us, and each shall have praise of Him.
Three Sections in this last chapter.
I. The Review:
"I commend Phoebe" (vers. 1,2). A woman thus heads the list.
"Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers, "etc. (vers. 3,4). A wife here precedes her husband.
"Apelles approved" (ver. 10).
" Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord " (ver. 12).
" Persis, which labored much in the Lord," etc, (ver. 12).
At the judgment-seat of Christ all believers shall be manifested-the labor and service of each will be reviewed. Rewards for faithfulness will be given-not for outward success. Many quiet and unseen names will be brought to light, then. Many women as Phoebe, Priscilla, etc., will come to the front, having perhaps been little known on earth, but prayerful, devoted, and faithful. The righteous Lord "will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts, and then shall each one have praise of God." It will be known then who labored, and they who labored much.
Then, after all these personal, lovely touches are recorded, comes another benediction, corresponding to what will follow the final review by and by:"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen."
2. The joint Salutations (vers. 21-24). In this section we learn of others, in the fellowship of the apostle, to whom the saints elsewhere were dear, because dear to God, and as fellow-members of the one Body. They all unite in the salutations. After this we get a third benediction, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen" (chaps. 15:33; 16:20, 24). How these benedictions magnify God's grace, and are a further illustration of how God ever delights to give with a liberal hand. We are indeed the people of a liberal Giver.
3. The Epilogue (vers. 25-27).
We have read the apostle's salutation and introduction in chapter i, and have traced out briefly the divisions in outline. But within these outlines the whole epistle resembles a good and large land, a land flowing with milk and honey. They invite the most careful and prayerful study. This ministry from the apostle's pen-how rich, and wholesome i-is intended by the Holy Spirit to lay the foundation of the faith, to introduce us to, and establish us in, the fundamental themes of New Testament doctrine.
Then, in the closing verses, how suited to find a doxology of praise. Throughout the entire epistle the stream flows as a pure river, clear as crystal, from the throne of God and the Lamb. Believers throughout the epistle have been made recipients of these blessings. Now, in the doxology, the living water in us springs up unto everlasting life. We are become the happy givers:it is an outburst of praise to God:we enter, in anticipation, the sweet and happy spirit of eternity-of praise and worship:
" Now to Him that is of power to establish you, according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus. Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began, but is now made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets (or "prophetic scriptures," 1:e., New Testament scriptures), according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:to GOD only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever! Amen."