Examining the Evidence: Romans 8:28-39
SETTING
Authorship
Paul's authorship of this book has never been in dispute. As in most of his letters (or
all, if Hebrews is not counted), he announces himself at the outset, with a customary
greeting. He qualifies himself in three key ways: first, as "a bond-servant of Christ;"
second, as one "called to be an apostle;" and third, "separated to the gospel of God."
Date
The book was written close to the end of Paul's third missionary journey, probably
around A.D. 56. He was en route to Palestine bearing aid funds for the believers in
the Jerusalem church (Rom. 15:25). He trusted Phoebe to deliver this letter to the
Romans (16:1, 2).1
Place
Rome was at the time the largest and most important city in the world, with an
estimated population of one to four million people. Nero had just come to power; his
rule is been dated A.D. 54-68. At this point anti-Christian sentiments that would lead
to persecution had not yet begun; about a dozen synagogues were still left in the
city.2
Addressees
Paul addressed the letter "to the saints in Rome" (1:7). This was a fairly mixed group
of Jews and Gentiles; it is safe to assume that the latter were in the minority (he
refers to the church first of all as primarily Gentile [1:13], but makes reference to
the fact that some identify themselves as Jews [2:17]). The city of Rome was quite
cosmopolitan, and the church was no exception. It is likely that many who would be
reading this letter were converts of both Paul's and Peter's itinerate mission
ministries, and some may even have been "visitors from Rome" (Acts 2:10), present
at Pentecost and bearers of the message of Christ upon returning home.3
Purpose
To this point, Paul had not yet visited the church there, and this letter was his
indication to them that he would be paying a visit. His hopes were to raise support
for a missionary tour of Spain (15:23-25), but his primary goal for this letter was to
teach the truths of the gospel of grace to the church. They had never had opportunity
to sit under apostolic teaching, and this was Paul's opportunity to basic instruction to
the basics of salvation and Christian living.4
1Macarthur, John. The Macarthur Bible. (Word: 1997), 1688.
2Jensen, Irving L. Jensen' Survey of the New Testament.
(Moody Press: 1981), 2489.
3Ibid., 249.
4Jensen, 249.
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