PAUL'S LETTERS · AT A GLANCE · ITS SHAPE · GREEK WORDS · OLD TESTAMENT

Inside Romans

Choose any of the thirteen; these four cards follow it.

EARLY LETTERS i

AD 48–53

MAJOR LETTERS i

AD 48–58

PRISON LETTERS i

AD 57–64

PASTORAL LETTERS i

AD 63–67

AT A GLANCE

Romans at a glance

Who wrote it, to whom, from where, when and why; who and where it names; its key verses and its themes.

VERSES

433

GREEK WORDS

7,179

KEY VERSES

THEMES

THE LETTER

Paul, writing as "a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle". No one shares the opening greeting, but the letter was taken down by a scribe who greets the readers in his own name, Tertius, the only scribe any of Paul's letters names. Seven companions add their greetings at the end. Romans 1:1 Romans 16:22 Romans 16:21–23

KEY VERSES

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Romans 1:16–17 · KJV

The thesis of the letter: the gospel is God's power to save, and "the just shall live by faith".

THEMES

  • God's righteousness, revealed in the gospel and received by faith. Romans 1:17 Romans 3:21–26
  • Jew and Gentile alike are under sin. Romans 3:9 Romans 3:23
  • Justification by faith apart from the works of the law, with Abraham as the pattern. Romans 3:28 Romans 4:3
  • Adam and Christ as the two heads of humanity. Romans 5:12–21
  • Union with Christ in his death and resurrection, pictured in baptism. Romans 6:3–11
  • The Holy Spirit as the power of the new life. Romans 8:1–39
  • God's faithfulness to Israel, and the Gentiles grafted in. Romans 9:1–11:36
  • Love as the fulfilling of the law, and living together when consciences differ. Romans 13:8–10 Romans 14:1–15:7

ITS SHAPE

How it is built

The letter cut into its parts, in our own words, coloured by what each part does; beneath, each part beside the Bible's section headings inside it.

Romans in 10 parts, each as long as it is, in our own words. Click a part to keep it.

  • Paul Greets the Saints in RomeRomans 1:1–7
  • Unashamed of the GospelRomans 1:8–17
  • God’s Wrath against SinRomans 1:18–32
  • God’s Righteous JudgmentRomans 2:1–16
  • The Jews and the LawRomans 2:17–29
  • God Remains FaithfulRomans 3:1–8
  • There Is No One RighteousRomans 3:9–20
  • Righteousness through Faith in ChristRomans 3:21–31
  • Abraham Justified by FaithRomans 4:1–12
  • Abraham Receives the PromiseRomans 4:13–25
  • The Triumph of FaithRomans 5:1–5
  • Christ’s Sacrifice for the UngodlyRomans 5:6–11
  • Death in Adam, Life in ChristRomans 5:12–21
  • Dead to Sin, Alive to GodRomans 6:1–14
  • The Wages of SinRomans 6:15–23
  • Release from the LawRomans 7:1–6
  • God’s Law Is HolyRomans 7:7–12
  • Struggling with SinRomans 7:13–25
  • Walking by the SpiritRomans 8:1–11
  • Heirs with ChristRomans 8:12–17
  • Future GloryRomans 8:18–27
  • God Works in All ThingsRomans 8:28–34
  • More than ConquerorsRomans 8:35–39
  • Paul’s Concern for the JewsRomans 9:1–5
  • God’s Sovereign ChoiceRomans 9:6–29
  • Israel’s UnbeliefRomans 9:30–33
  • The Word Brings SalvationRomans 10:1–21
  • A Remnant Chosen by GraceRomans 11:1–10
  • The Ingrafting of the GentilesRomans 11:11–24
  • All Israel Will Be SavedRomans 11:25–32
  • A Hymn of PraiseRomans 11:33–36
  • Living SacrificesRomans 12:1–8
  • Love, Zeal, Hope, HospitalityRomans 12:9–13
  • ForgivenessRomans 12:14–21
  • Submission to AuthoritiesRomans 13:1–7
  • Love Fulfills the LawRomans 13:8–10
  • The Day Is NearRomans 13:11–14
  • The Law of LibertyRomans 14:1–12
  • The Law of LoveRomans 14:13–23
  • Accept One AnotherRomans 15:1–6
  • Christ the Servant of Jews and GentilesRomans 15:7–13
  • Paul the Minister to the GentilesRomans 15:14–22
  • Paul’s Travel PlansRomans 15:23–33
  • Personal Greetings and LoveRomans 16:1–16
  • Avoid DivisionsRomans 16:17–20
  • Greetings from Paul’s Fellow WorkersRomans 16:21–23
  • DoxologyRomans 16:25–27

GREEK WORDS

The words it leans on

Its key Greek words, counted in the Greek text. Click one to list every verse it appears in.

OLD TESTAMENT

The Old Testament behind Romans

Where the quotations in Paul's letters come from, book by book. Click a book or a letter to keep it. Below, each quotation in Romans, linked to the passage it comes from.

Each band joins an Old Testament book to a letter that quotes it; its width is the number of places in the letter that quote that book (a passage drawing on two verses of one book counts once). Allusions are left out. The lists are the dossiers' selection of clear quotations, not a census of every echo. Romans quotes far more than any other letter, above all from Isaiah and the Psalms; Habakkuk 2:4, Genesis 15:6, Leviticus 18:5 and Leviticus 19:18 are quoted in both Romans and Galatians. Romans 1:17 Galatians 3:11

  • Romans 1:17 quotes Habakkuk 2:4 "The just shall live by faith"
  • Romans 2:24 quotes Isaiah 52:5
  • Romans 3:4 quotes Psalms 51:4
  • Romans 3:10–12 quotes Psalms 14:1–3 Also Ps 53:1-3
  • Romans 3:10–12 quotes Psalms 53:1–3
  • Romans 3:13 quotes Psalms 5:9
  • Romans 3:13 quotes Psalms 140:3
  • Romans 3:14 quotes Psalms 10:7
  • Romans 3:15–17 quotes Isaiah 59:7–8
  • Romans 3:18 quotes Psalms 36:1
  • Romans 4:3 quotes Genesis 15:6
  • Romans 4:7–8 quotes Psalms 32:1–2
  • Romans 4:17 quotes Genesis 17:5
  • Romans 4:18 quotes Genesis 15:5
  • Romans 7:7 quotes Exodus 20:17
  • Romans 8:36 quotes Psalms 44:22
  • Romans 9:7 quotes Genesis 21:12
  • Romans 9:9 quotes Genesis 18:10
  • Romans 9:12 quotes Genesis 25:23
  • Romans 9:13 quotes Malachi 1:2–3
  • Romans 9:15 quotes Exodus 33:19
  • Romans 9:17 quotes Exodus 9:16
  • Romans 9:25 quotes Hosea 2:23
  • Romans 9:26 quotes Hosea 1:10
  • Romans 9:27–28 quotes Isaiah 10:22–23
  • Romans 9:29 quotes Isaiah 1:9
  • Romans 9:33 quotes Isaiah 28:16
  • Romans 9:33 quotes Isaiah 8:14
  • Romans 10:5 quotes Leviticus 18:5
  • Romans 10:6–8 quotes Deuteronomy 30:12–14
  • Romans 10:11 quotes Isaiah 28:16
  • Romans 10:13 quotes Joel 2:32
  • Romans 10:15 quotes Isaiah 52:7
  • Romans 10:16 quotes Isaiah 53:1
  • Romans 10:18 quotes Psalms 19:4
  • Romans 10:19 quotes Deuteronomy 32:21
  • Romans 10:20–21 quotes Isaiah 65:1–2
  • Romans 11:3 quotes 1 Kings 19:10
  • Romans 11:4 quotes 1 Kings 19:18
  • Romans 11:8 quotes Isaiah 29:10
  • Romans 11:8 quotes Deuteronomy 29:4
  • Romans 11:9–10 quotes Psalms 69:22–23
  • Romans 11:26–27 quotes Isaiah 59:20–21
  • Romans 11:26–27 quotes Isaiah 27:9
  • Romans 11:34 quotes Isaiah 40:13
  • Romans 11:35 quotes Job 41:11
  • Romans 12:19 quotes Deuteronomy 32:35
  • Romans 12:20 quotes Proverbs 25:21–22
  • Romans 13:9 quotes Exodus 20:13–17
  • Romans 13:9 quotes Leviticus 19:18
  • Romans 14:11 quotes Isaiah 45:23
  • Romans 15:3 quotes Psalms 69:9
  • Romans 15:9 quotes Psalms 18:49 First of a chain of texts on the Gentiles praising God (Rom 15:9-12)
  • Romans 15:10 quotes Deuteronomy 32:43
  • Romans 15:11 quotes Psalms 117:1
  • Romans 15:12 quotes Isaiah 11:10
  • Romans 15:21 quotes Isaiah 52:15

WHERE THIS PAGE COMES FROM

  • A. T. Robertson, Paul, the Apostle (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), parts 1 (Sources), 3 (Chronology of Paul's Career), 4 (Equipment) and 5 (Work); checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • H. C. G. Moule, Romans, Epistle to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • R. Dykes Shaw, Corinthians, First Epistle to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • R. Dykes Shaw, Corinthians, Second Epistle to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • George G. Findlay, Galatians, Epistle to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • Rollin Hough Walker, Thessalonians, the First Epistle of Paul to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • Rollin Hough Walker, Thessalonians, the Second Epistle of Paul to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • Charles Smith Lewis, Ephesians, Epistle to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • Charles Smith Lewis, Colossians, Epistle to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • Charles Smith Lewis, Philemon, Epistle to (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • Doremus Almy Hayes, Philippians, the Epistle to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • John Rutherfurd, Pastoral Epistles (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • E. J. Banks, Colossae (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • M. G. Easton, Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), entries on each letter, its city and Paul's companions.
  • W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson, The Life and Epistles of St. Paul, vol. 1 (first published 1852) (1864), New York printing, pp. 333-337 (Thessalonica) and 415-416 (Corinth).
  • W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson, The Life and Epistles of St. Paul, new edition (first published 1852) (1891), chs. XXV-XXVII.
  • W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen (1895), Chronological Index; ch. 5, Foundation of the Churches of Galatia.
  • J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Galatians (1865), Introduction II-III (pp. 20, 36-40); note on Gal 6:11 (pp. 220-221).
  • J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Philippians, 4th ed. (1878), pp. 30-46, 69, 74-77, 95-99, 138-142.
  • J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon (1875), Introduction ch. I-II; The Epistle from Laodicea (pp. 340-366); Philemon introduction (pp. 369-395).
  • Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, vol. 1: Apostolic Christianity (revised ed.) (1890), sections 88-99.
  • John Calvin (trans. William Pringle), Commentary on Galatians (1548) (1854), on Gal 2:1.
  • Clement of Rome (trans. J. B. Lightfoot), 1 Clement (1891), 5:5-7; 35:5-6; 47:1-3.
  • Clement of Rome (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1), 1 Clement (1885), ch. 5.
  • Ignatius (trans. J. B. Lightfoot), To the Ephesians (1891), 18:1.
  • Ignatius (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1), To the Ephesians (1885), chs. 1 and 12.
  • Polycarp (trans. J. B. Lightfoot), To the Philippians (1891), 2:2; 3:3; 5:1; 6:1-2; 11:2-4.
  • Polycarp (trans. Roberts and Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Christian Library), Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians (1867), chs. 3, 4, 9, 11, 12.
  • Irenaeus (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1), Against Heresies (1885), I preface; III.3.3; III.7; III.13-16; IV.21.2; V.2.3; V.6.1; V.25.1.
  • Clement of Alexandria (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 2), Stromata (1885), I.14.
  • Tertullian (trans. Peter Holmes, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 3), Against Marcion, book 5 (1885), chs. 2-21.
  • Unknown (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 5), The Muratorian Fragment (Canon Muratorianus) (1886).
  • Eusebius (trans. A. C. McGiffert, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 1), Church History (1890), II.22; II.25.5; III.3.5; III.4.
  • Suetonius (trans. J. C. Rolfe), Life of Claudius (1914), 25.4.
  • Ernst Ranke (ed.), Codex Fuldensis: Novum Testamentum Latine interprete Hieronymo (1868), Latin prologues to the Pauline letters (manuscript copied about AD 546).

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