The book of Romans was written by the Apostle Paul (who wrote about half of the New Testament). It’s a letter, or epistle, to the people of Rome, and by extension the Roman empire (the dominate world power of the day) and ostensibly the entire world.
Romans is an organized summary of Paul’s message, which is found scattered throughout his other writings. It’s an esteemed and profoundly influential book that lays out the importance and significance in salvation through Jesus. As such its focus is on the fundamentals of theology.
With a casual read, the first eleven chapters of Romans may seem to be a rambling discourse. However, Paul’s frequent restating and repetition of themes, often with slight variation, is done to add emphasis.
A common practice of the day was to repeat important and significant ideas three times. Therefore, when reading Romans, pay special attention to concepts that are repeated.
A different writing style is adopted in chapter 12 and following. This section is reminiscent of Ecclesiastes with its concise listings of commands, instructions, and advice.
The book’s conclusion, in chapter 16, is notable for the many people listed and the interesting reasons given for their inclusion.
A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.