Paul and his Letters: Romans 1-8, 1 Corinthians 1-2, Philippians

The Book of Romans is the letter of Paul to the church in Rome. In order to understand and break down the book of Romans, I think that it is important to first focus on Paul and what he was about and stood for. Paul is notably one of the most well known apostles and figures in history. Throughout his bible, he portrays the basic message that the end of the age had arrived in the Jewish Messiah who was Jesus. Paul also has another name and is referred to as Saul, especially in the book of Acts.

Romans Chapter 4 begins with an introduction to who Abraham is. He mentioned how Abraham is the ancestor from whom we are descended physically. This is a direct relation to the covenant that Abraham had with God. Abraham obeyed a command by God to leave his relatives and to take his wife and his household westwards to the land God wanted him to have. Because Abraham listened to God and didn’t question him, God promised Abraham that his defendants would be numerous like the stars in the sky.

Abraham is the perfect example to use in Romans, thats why Paul turns to him. The moral of the chapter is to show how Abraham was considered to be righteous in the eyes of God even before he was circumcised. The circumcision is a physical sign of this righteousness, but Abraham was the example. Our bible mentions how “Not when he had been circumcised, but while he was still uncircumcised, and circumcision was given to him later, as a sign and a guarantee that the faith which he had while still uncircumcised was reckoned to him as unrighteousness. In this way, Abraham was to be the ancestor of all believers who are uncircumcised, so that they might be reckoned as upright, as well the ancestor of those of the circumcision who not only have their circumcision but who also follow our ancestor Abraham along the path of faith that he trod before he circumcised” (pg 1872). Abraham is the father of all of those who believe. The promise depends on faith.

In closing, Pauls letter focuses on Abraham as the example. The argument is to essentially have faith. Even through sins, troubles, and tribulations. There is always room for forgiveness and new opportunity throughout our faith.