Romans 

WRITER, The apostle Paul

ADDRESSED TO Roman Christians
 Ro 1:7

KEY VERSES
 Ro 1:16 5:1

The epistle may be divided into two main sections:

PART I. DOCTRINAL chs. 1-11
 Ro 1:1 - 11:1

PART II. PRACTICAL, chs. 12-16
 Ro 12:1 - 16:1

MAIN THEME of Part I, The Plan of Salvation. Justification by Faith and Sanctification through the Holy Spirit. Part II. Mainly Exhortations concerning Christian Duties.

A MASTERLY ARGUMENT. In Part I, the apostle proceeds to prove that the entire human race is surrounded by three insurmountable walls.

(1) The wall of universal guilt, chs. 1-3
 Ro 1:1 - 3:1

(2) The wall of sinful tendencies and fleshly lusts
 Ro 7:15-24

(3) The wall of the supposed sovereign election of God of a certain portion of the race to salvation, and the divine reprobation of all others
 Ro 9:7-18

In the midst of his argument showing the awful situation of the natural man, he points out the DOORS OF DIVINE MERCY provided for in the plan of salvation, by which all men can escape the impending judgments of God if they will.

The "DOORS of ESCAPE" or "DIVINE MERCY" in the "WALLS" are..
(a) Justification by Faith
 Ro 5:1

(b) Regeneration
 Ro 8:1-4

(c) Universal Opportunity
 Ro 10:13

KEY CHAIN showing the current of thought
 Ro 1:16 3:22,23,28 4:3 5:1,18 9:31,32 10:3,4,6-9

SYNOPSIS

PART I. THE PLAN OF SALVATION.
(1) The need of, grounded in the universal guilt of mankind:

(a) Of the Gentile world
 Ro 1:18 - 2.7

(b) Likewise the Jews, under the condemnation of the law
 Ro 2:8 - 3:20

(c) All alike sinners
 Ro 3:23

(2) The method of, Justification, or righteousness, by faith
 Ro 3:21-28

(a) Universal
 Ro 3:29-30

(b) Honours the law
 Ro 3:31

(3) Illustrated in the life of Abraham ch. 4
 Ro 4:1

(a) Apart from works
 Ro 4:1-6

(b) Apart from ordinances
 Ro 4:9-12

(c) Apart from the law
 Ro 4:13-25

(4) The blessings of, made effective through the love of God as manifested in the sacrificial death of Christ.
 Ro 5:1-11

(5) The scope of the free gift of salvation expounded
 Ro 5:12-21

(6) The free gift does not encourage the continuance in sin, but demands rather the crucifixion of man's corrupt nature, and a life of holy service to God
 Ro 6:1-23

(7) In chapter seven, Paul is evidently speaking of the struggle with sinful tendencies and fleshly lusts.
Whether he refers to his own experience before, or after conversion, is a question concerning which Bible students differ in opinion. All agree that he vividly portrays the strife going on in the human heart.
 Ro 7:7-24

(8) The culmination of the divine plan of salvation is pictured in chapter eight. It is a new spiritual life of liberty and righteousness, through faith in Christ. This is one of the great spiritual chapters of the Bible, in it the Holy Spirit is referred to nineteen times. 

(9) Parenthesis, Paul's solicitude for his own people
 Ro 9:1-5

(10) The Mystery of Divine Election and God's dealings with Israel.

(a) Special privileges of Israel
 Ro 9:4-5
See also  Ro 3:1,2

(b) The distinction between the natural and spiritual seed of Abraham
 Ro 9:6-13

(c) The mystery of the divine sovereignty
 Ro 9:14-24

(d) The prophets predicted the failure of the Jews to live up to their privileges; the calling of the Gentiles and their acceptance of the divine plan of righteousness by faith.
 Ro 9:25-33

(11) The Misapprehension by the Jews of the divine plan, resulting in their self-righteousness
 Ro 10:1-3

(12) The Plan of "Salvation by Faith" expounded and its universal application set forth
 Ro 10:4-18
(13) God's dealings with Israel
 Ro 10:19 - 11:12

(14) The Gentiles warned not to boast because of their privileges, but to take heed lest they fall under condemnation
 Ro 11:13-22

(15) The Restoration of Israel predicted and the mysteries of God's ways declared to be unsearchable
 11:23-36

PART II. PRACTICAL. Chiefly exhortations and Instructions concerning Christian Duties, chs. 12-16
 Ro 12:1 - 16:1

Ch. 12. This chapter presents one of the finest summaries of Christian Duties found in the Scriptures.
 Ro 12:1

Ch. 13.
(1) Civic and social duties
 Ro 13:1-10

(2) The duty of living as "children of the day,"
 Ro 13:11-14
Chs. 14.1 to 15:7 Duties to the Weak.

(1) Charitableness in judging
 Ro 14:1-13

(2) Carefulness not to give offence to
 Ro 14:15-23

(3) Bearing the infirmities of, and not pleasing self
 Ro 15:1-7

CLOSING THOUGHTS, Mainly personal experiences and greetings.
Ch. 15. (Cont.)
(1) Reasons for thanksgiving on the part of the Gentiles and the apostle's wide-spread ministry among them
 Ro 15:8-21

(2) Paul's desire to visit Rome and his greetings to the various Christian friends
 Ro 15:22 - 16:16

(3) Final words and benediction
 Ro 16:17-27

(Outline from Thompson’s Chain Reference Bible)

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