Commentary on Romans

This is a insightful commentary book - I recommend it as a good study material.

Really good and heartfelt exposition on Romans. Can be going due to the old translation, but worth the effort.

Perhaps the following quote from Luther will help clarify how he viewed this Bible Book:"I greatly longed to understand Paul's Epistle to the Romans, and nothing stood in the way but that one expression, 'the righteounses of God', because I took it to mean that righteousness whereby God is righteous and deals righteously in punishing the unrighteous .. Night and day I pondered until ... I grasped the truth that the righteousness of God is that righteousness whereby, through grace and sheer mercy, he justifies us by faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise. The whole of Scripture took on a new meaning, and whereas before 'the righteousness of God' had filled me with hate, now it became to me inexpressibly sweet in greater love. This passage of Paul became to me a gateway to heaven." Knowing what the Book of Romans meant to him makes it worth reading this commentary and finding out from this great theologian why there was a reformation at all.

I find it sad that Athanasius chose to use the forum as a means of expounding his personal opinion of theology or lack of rather than review the book in a helpful and critical manner. So, I must reply in defense of one of Christendom's greatest theologians. So, let's look at Romans 3 verses 27 and 28 "Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law."Hmmmmm.... how about Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast."Galatians 2:21 "I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes throught he Law, then Christ died needlessly."Finally, how about Romans 5:1-2 "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God."So there would appear to be a contridiction between the above Pauline quotes and that from James (2:24). But if our friend had studied the context of the general epistle then he would have discovered that James was writing, as Matthew Henry said, to "reprove Christians for their great degeneracy both in faith and manners, and to prevent the spreading of those libertine doctrines which threatened the destruction of all practical Godliness." True faith should spring forth a well of good works. Read yourselves. Don't let he or I decide for you. Read the scriptures and see for yourself. Oh, yeah. And the Luther commentary rocks. Not very helpful, I know, but this is getting too long.

This is a must read for any Christian. Martin Luther was a great theologian and wrote with conviction. Luther attacks the issue of sin in our lives and how God provided a way for us to overcome sin. If you are looking for a guideline on how to live, this is it.