Romans is one of the cornerstones of the New Testament. In it, Paul lays out the key doctrines of Christianity in a logical progression. It's hardly a dry dissertation, though. Martin Luther touched off the Protestant Reformation when he grasped what Paul had written. The truths even make Paul stop and praise God. (See 11:33-36)So how should you study Romans?
Slowly. Intentionally. Reverently. Just like any other study, right?
The book is roughly divided into three sections- Why we need salvation, how it's accomplished and how we should live as a result. A quick overview should answer those questions.
To go deeper, Romans lends itself to key word studies. Try tracking these words and recording what you learn about each of them:
- Sin
- Righteousness
- Faith/ Believe
- Hope
- Grace
Another approach is to watch for all that GOD does.
Paul uses transition words like therefore frequently. Sometimes it's helpful to watch for the cause and effect on either side of the "therefore".
Finally, if you like to memorize Scripture, Romans is full of great material.
What's your favorite verse or passage in Romans?