I’m beginning a series of blogs that will follow me along as I read, study and meditate through Paul’s letter to the Romans. Though I’m tempted to commit to a verse by verse exegetical approach, I think it’s realistic to go with more of a section by section flow with the freedom to explore themes and topics while occasionally drilling down deeper. Study is, by its very nature, an academic exercise. But study should direct us to application and encounter. My hope is for this series to offer something beyond academic analysis, moving on to practical living, powerful experience in God, and ultimately to a fuller expression of praise for His glory.

I should admit upfront that I’m nervous about this. Scripture is constantly doing violence to my theology and a serious reading of Romans is sure to leave my currently neat and tidy doctrinal box a bit battered and bruised. But we don’t approach scripture to confirm what we already know. Do we? Theological stretching invites us to broaden not just what we think, but how we think and, more importantly, how we seek. Every new vista in God, however unexpected, informs new worship and new surrender.

I will mostly use the ESV version of the Bible. It’s a word-for-word translation that reads easily and speaks with precision. In addition to study and meditation, my goal will be to listen through Romans via the ESV Hear the Word Audio Bible from Crossway multiple times weekly as the series progresses.

I don’t plan to travel alone. Spiros Zodhiates’ The Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament will help me gather helpful insight from the original language. I will also frequently use two commentaries. Douglas Moo’s The Epistle of Romans from the New International Commentary on the New Testament and Tom Wright’s (N.T. Wright) Romans for Everyone will be constant helps. I will reference them going forward as (Zodhiates), (Moo), and (Wright).

I anticipate encountering some controversy. Faith and works, issues of morality, righteousness and justification, sovereignty and volition, the role of the Holy Spirit, Israel and the Church: these themes and more are unavoidable in Romans and I’m not nearly smart enough to sort them all out. But it will be fun to explore what Paul has said. It will be even more fun to embrace the truths sometimes located at the intersection of paradox and meditate on the grandeur of the God who doesn’t fit between our ears.

I’m definitely not trying to start any arguments. If you’re looking for a theological sparring partner, look elsewhere. This is merely a journal of my journey. Your comments are welcome, but anything adversarial should be avoided. Pretty please.

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