Drive Thru History: Bible Backroads The Romans - Episode Guide, Ratings & Streaming

The Book of Romans is a letter written by Paul to the Christians living in Rome. Paul wrote this letter from the city of Corinth in about 57 AD. At the time of Paul, Corinth was the capital of Achaia Province and the seat of Roman power in the region. As a major hub of travel and commerce, Corinth was the fifth largest city in the entire Roman Empire behind Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, and Ephesus. Today, this incredible archaeological site reveals the Corinth that Paul visited during his missionary journeys.

Rome is one of Dave’s favorite cities in the world. Since this series covered Paul’s letter to the Romans, what better opportunity to take you on a little tour of some of Rome’s ancient sites.

Like all of Paul’s writings, his letter to the Romans is rich with theological concepts but incorporates practical information as well. This letter has served as a source of inspiration and transformation for Christians in every generation. One of the most famous Christians of the fourth century, Augustine, became a believer after reading Romans. In the 16th century, it was Romans that inspired Martin Luther to fully develop the principle of justification by faith. And, in the early 19th century, the poet and theologian, Samuel Taylor Coleridge called Romans, “The most profound piece of writing in existence.”

here is a strange paradox in the Bible’s teaching about sin and salvation. The invitation to believe and trust Jesus as Savior is so simple a small child can understand it. Yet, the nuances of God’s righteousness and how that righteousness is given to us has left brilliant theologians to ponder the depths of Paul’s writings for centuries. Yes, Jesus Christ died for our sins. But what does that really mean and how does the sacrifice of Jesus work in the lives of sinners to save us? According to Romans, faith and justification are the way we can have right standing with God.

Congratulations! We made it through some complex words presented in Romans, such as Sin, Righteousness, Justification, and Sanctification. Now you understand why many scholars consider Paul’s letter to the Romans as some of the more complicated teaching in the New Testament. However, over the centuries, Paul’s letter to the Romans has also been used as one of the most simple and clear presentations of the Gospel. Across time, languages and cultures, evangelists have used a few verses in Romans as a roadmap to Jesus Christ, appropriately called the “Roman Road.”

Paul’s writings are rich in teaching but also rich in what we might think as practical instructions for ‘Christian living.’ Based on what God provided for us through Jesus Christ, Paul explored how we should live as a result. What’s Paul’s fundamental answer for how we should live as Christians? Honor the Lord by living in sacrificial obedience, which is reasonable, holy, and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1).