Paul’s letter to the Romans is one of the most important pieces of written correspondence in all of human history. Formerly known as Saul of Tarsus,  Paul—a Pharisee who actively persecuted Christians—had a radical encounter with the risen Lord Jesus and was commissioned by Jesus as an apostle to proclaim the Good News to the Gentiles (the world of non-Jewish people). Paul proclaimed the Gospel, established churches, and wrote to these new communities along with their leaders to instruct, encourage, and correct them. As one set apart for the gospel of God, Paul writes to the Roman Christians in order to proclaim this good news, defend his apostolic authority, enlist the prayerful support of the Roman Christians, and express his eagerness to visit them. Paul—as apostle, teacher, and pastor—longs for the believers to be strengthened and mutually encouraged by the gospel. We approach Romans with the same hope.

In this eighteen-part series, we’ll explore Romans with the same hope as Paul had for his original audience: that we would grow in our understanding of the gospel, grasp the implications of the gospel for our lives, and be strengthened as disciples of Jesus — collectively and individually.