Last Sunday we began our preaching series on Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome. Jemima referred to the actor David Suchet and how reading Romans was important in his becoming a Christian. You can listen to David Suchet reading the whole letter, in just over an hour, at The Complete Holy Bible – NIVUK Audio Bible – 45 Romans – YouTube.
The Apostle Paul was the first theologian of the Church, and Romans is the earliest developed statement of Christian beliefs.
He wrote this letter before he had a chance to visit Rome, but Luke tells us, in ‘The Acts of the Apostles’, that Paul did get there in the end.
He had earlier been arrested in Jerusalem after a riot broke out when he was accused of rejecting the laws of Moses and defiling the Temple. He was held in custody and eventually, after two years, he appealed to be tried before the Emperor. And so, Paul finally arrived in Rome where he was held under house arrest while awaiting his trial.
Luke tells us that, ‘For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.’
Luke’s account ends there, but tradition tells us that Paul later died in Rome as a martyr, during the Emperor Nero’s persecution of the Roman Christians.
Last Sunday we thought about Paul’s understanding of our human predicament – ‘they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator.’
We have a problem, but God has a wonderful solution, and this week we will explore the good news of God’s gift of grace, made effective through faith in Jesus.
I look forward to sharing part two of our Romans series with you on Sunday.
With best wishes,
Stephen