The Letter to the Romans was written from Corinth around 58 AD and it is explicitly addressed to the Christians in Rome, whom Paul planned to visit on his way to Spain, “I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain and to be sent on my way there by you, after I have enjoyed being with you for a time” (Rom 15:25). The Letter begins with this greeting, “Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God…” (Rom 1:1). To preach the Gospel is Paul’s calling and these initial verses conclude with this benediction, “to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 1:7). Then, in the next verse, he praises them “because [their] faith is heralded throughout the world.”
At that time, most of the Christians in Rome were Gentile converts, who were being told by the Jewish residents there that salvation comes through the Law of Moses. However, those Gentile Christians had been taught that salvation was based on faith in Jesus Christ and that it was not necessary to keep the Mosaic law. In chapters 9-11, Paul discusses unbelieving Israel. He draws on the Old Testament and early Jewish rituals—those Jewish believers constituted the remnant of Israel, which indicates and also guarantees God’s faithfulness to all of Israel. Due to the existence of such a faithful remnant, then, Paul concludes that God’s gift and the calling issued to Israel is irrevocable (Rom 11:29), which was equally true in regard to the Gentiles. Thus, the Church is understood as the believing remnant of Israel supplemented by the presence of Gentile Christians, who steadfastly await the salvation of all of Israel.
There are two parts to the Letter—a dogmatic part, centering on the question of justification (Rom 1:18-11:34), and a moral part, which spells out the duties and obligations of Christians (Rom 12-15). To escape from the earthly situation and attain salvation, the only route is, as Paul states, faith in Jesus Christ: the Lord by his passion and death has made expiation for us (Rom 5:25). So, through faith in Christ (Rom 4:5) those who believe in Him can be justified or made righteous before God. Paul uses the example of Abraham to illustrate this teaching. Abraham was justified by faith, not by ritual acts and “in hope he believed against hope” (Rom 4:18). Abram believed in God’s promise that he would be the father of many nations. God did not grant him this inheritance as a reward for fidelity to the articles of a contract (the Law), but in view of the faith with which the father of many nations accepted that God’s promises would come true. Paul wants to emphasize that the Old Law, while valid, was actually oriented toward a higher and more perfect law, which Jesus Christ as the Messiah would inaugurate with his redeeming death.
In this Letter the concepts of justice and justification refer to the cancellation of a previous state of injustice or sin. The justification which Jesus Christ merits for us is the same thing as forgiveness of sins: All the sins of mankind are totally forgiven, though God did not turn a blind eye to the reality of sin – so, a price had to be paid to set things right! What once took place in Christ also concerns others – those who are His own, the Church and so forth. By virtue of that insight what took place in Christ and was accomplished by Him is applicable to others and it has become a supernatural benefit available to all those who believe.
Nature and dignity 