Romans 1 — The Guilt

of All Humanity
Expanded Summary:
Paul opens by introducing
himself as a servant and apostle
set apart for the gospel of God.
He expresses his desire to visit
the believers in Rome and
emphasizes that the gospel is
the power of God for salvation to
everyone who believes—first to
the Jew, then to the Gentile.
From verse 18 onward, Paul
begins a strong indictment
against the ungodliness and
unrighteousness of mankind. He
explains that God’s wrath is
being revealed because people
have suppressed the truth and
refused to acknowledge God,
even though His divine nature
and power are clearly seen in
creation. Instead of worshiping
the
 Creator, they worshiped created
things. This led to a downward
spiral into sin, idolatry, and
various forms of moral
corruption. God "gave them over"
to their desires, showing that His
judgment is already at work in
those who reject Him.

PBE Questions:
1. What is Paul not ashamed of,
and why?
2. How is God’s invisible nature
revealed?
3. What did people exchange the
glory of God for?
4. What does "God gave them
over" mean in this chapter?
📖 Key Verse:
Romans 1:20 — “For since the
creation of the world God’s
invisible qualities...have been
clearly seen...”
Romans 1:16 — “For I am not
ashamed of the gospel...”
💡 Key Takeaway:
The rejection of God leads to
spiritual and moral decay. All
people are without excuse
because God has made His
existence clear.
Romans 2 — God’s
Righteous Judgment
Expanded Summary:
Paul turns his attention to those
who pass judgment on others,
especially Jews who rely on the
law but do not practice it. He
warns that judging others while
committing the same sins invites
God’s judgment. God’s judgment
is impartial and based on truth
both Jews and Gentiles will be
judged according to their deeds.
Paul emphasizes that merely
hearing the law or being
circumcised does not make
someone righteous; it is
obedience from the heart that
matters. Gentiles who follow the
moral requirements of the law
without having the written law
show that the law is
 written on their hearts.

PBE Questions:
5. Why are those who judge others
without excuse?
6. What leads us to repentance?
7. What is the difference between
an outward and inward Jew?
8. How will God judge secrets?
Key Verse:
Romans 2:6 — “God ‘will repay
each person according to what
they have done.’”
Romans 2:29 — “A person is a
Jew who is one inwardly...”
Key Takeaway:
God sees the heart. It’s not about
external religion but internal
transformation and obedience.
Romans 3 — All Have
Sinned
Expanded Summary:
Paul addresses potential
objections to his
teaching: If Jews have the law,
what advantage is there in being
a Jew? He explains that while
Jews were entrusted with God’s
Word, both Jews and Gentiles
alike are under the power of sin.
He strings together Old
Testament quotes to show that
no one is righteous—not even
one. Paul then transitions to the
good news: righteousness from
God is available apart from the
law and is given through faith in
Jesus Christ. This righteousness
is a gift of grace, not earned by
human effort, and is made
possible by Christ’s atoning
sacrifice.
 PBE Questions:
9. What advantage is there in being
a Jew?
10. Is anyone righteous according to
the law?
11. How are people justified?
12. What is the purpose of the law?

Key Verse:
Romans 3:23-24 — “For all have
sinned and fall short of the glory
of God, and all are justified freely
by his grace...”
Key Takeaway:
No one is righteous on their own.
Justification (being made right
with God) comes only through
faith in Christ, not by keeping the
law.

Romans 4 —
Justification by Faith:
Abraham as the
Example
Expanded Summary:
Paul uses Abraham as a case
study to reinforce the idea that
people are justified by faith, not
by works. Abraham was
considered righteous before he
was circumcised, which proves
that faith is the
 basis of justification, not law or
ritual. David is also quoted as
one who rejoiced in the
forgiveness of sins apart from
works. Paul emphasizes that this
promise is not just for Jews but
for all who believe. Abraham
believed God’s promise even
when it seemed impossible—his
faith was credited to him as
righteousness. This same
principle applies to all believers
who trust in Christ.
PBE Questions:
13. What was “credited” to
Abraham?
14. Was Abraham declared righteous
before or after circumcision?
15. What does David say about the
 man whose sins are forgiven?
16. What does Abraham’s faith teach
us about God’s promises?
Key Verse:
Romans 4:3 — “Abraham
believed God, and it was credited
to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4:20-21 — “He did not
waver through unbelief...being
fully persuaded...”
Key Takeaway:
Faith precedes works and ritual.
Abraham was made righteous
because of his belief in God’s
promise, and so are we.
Romans 5 — Peace
and Life Through
Christ
Expanded Summary:
Paul now discusses the results of
justification by faith: peace with
God, access to grace, and the
hope of glory. Believers can
rejoice even in suffering, knowing
that it produces perseverance,
character, and hope. Paul
contrasts Adam and Christ.
Through Adam, sin entered the
world, bringing death to all. But
through Jesus, grace and life
overflow to all who receive Him.
Adam’s disobedience made
many sinners; Christ’s obedience
made
 many righteous. The law was
brought in so that sin might be
recognized and grace even more
magnified.
PBE Questions:
17. What does being justified by faith
result in?
18. What does suffering produce?
19. How does Adam compare to
Christ?
20. Why did death reign through
Adam?
📖 Key Verse:
Romans 5:8 — “But God
demonstrates his own love for us
in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:1 — “Therefore, since
we have been justified through
faith, we have peace with God...”
Key Takeaway:
Christ reversed the damage
caused by Adam. Justification
gives us peace, and grace
abounds more than sin.
Romans 6 — Dead to
Sin, Alive in Christ
Expanded Summary:
Paul anticipates a question: If
God’s grace increases when sin
increases, should we keep
sinning so that grace may
abound? He responds strongly:
By no means! When believers
are baptized into Christ, they are
united with Him in His death and
resurrection. That means we
have died to sin and should no
longer live in it. Paul explains
that our old self was crucified
with Christ so we’re no longer
slaves to sin. Instead, we are
now alive to God. He uses the
 analogy of slavery to contrast
being slaves to sin (leading to
death) and being slaves to
righteousness (leading to
holiness and eternal life).
PBE Questions:
21. What does baptism symbolize in
 relation to Christ?
22. What does it mean to be “dead to
sin”?
23. What are the wages of sin?
24. What is the gift of God?
Key Verse:
Romans 6:23 — “For the wages
of sin is death, but the gift of God
is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.”
Romans 6:11 — “Count
yourselves dead to sin but alive
to God in Christ Jesus.”
Key Takeaway:
Grace is not a license to sin.
Believers are called to live new
lives, free from sin and focused
on righteousness.
Romans 7 — The
Struggle with Sin
Expanded Summary:
Paul explains that believers have
died to the law through Christ,
just as a woman is released from
the law binding her to her
 husband once he dies. Though
the law itself is holy, it also
exposes and even arouses sinful
desires. Paul reflects on his inner
conflict—he wants to do good,
but finds himself doing what he
hates. This inner war between
his mind (which delights in God's
law) and his flesh (which is
drawn to sin) reveals the struggle
every believer faces. He cries out
in desperation, asking who will
rescue him, then rejoices that
deliverance comes through
Jesus Christ.
PBE Questions:
25. How does Paul illustrate release
from the law?
26. What does the law do regarding
 sin?
27. What inner conflict does Paul
describe?
28. Who delivers us from this body of
death?
📖 Key Verse:
Romans 7:24–25 — “What a
wretched man
I am! Who will rescue me...
Thanks be to God, who delivers
me through Jesus Christ our
Lord!”
💡 Key Takeaway:
Even though believers desire to
do good, they battle with sin.
Only Christ can deliver us from
that struggle.
Romans 8 — Life
Through the Spirit
Expanded Summary:
This chapter opens triumphantly:
“There is now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ
Jesus.” Through the Spirit,
believers are set free from the
law of sin and death. The chapter
contrasts living according to the
flesh versus living by the Spirit.
The Spirit not only empowers
holy living, but also confirms we
are God’s children and heirs with
Christ. Even though suffering
may occur, Paul reminds us that
God
 works all things for the good of
those who love Him. Nothing can
separate us from God’s love—
not trouble, persecution, or any
power in heaven or on earth.
PBE Questions:
29. What sets us free from the law of
sin and death?
30. What are the characteristics of
those who live by the Spirit?
31. How does the Spirit help us in
weakness?
32. What can separate us from the
love of Christ?
Key Verses:
Romans 8:1 — “There is now no
condemnation for those who are
in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:28 — “And we know
that in all things God works for
the good of those who love
Him...”
Romans 8:38-39 — “Nothing will
be able to
separate us from the love of
God...”
Key Takeaway:
The Spirit brings freedom,
assurance, and victory. Believers
are secure in God’s love, no
matter what they face.

Romans 9 — God’s
Sovereign Choice
Expanded Summary:
Paul expresses deep sorrow that
many Israelites have rejected the
Messiah. He clarifies that not all
descendants of Israel are part of
God’s promise—only the children
of the promise, like Isaac and
Jacob, not Ishmael and Esau.
Paul explains that God has the
sovereign right to show mercy or
harden hearts, as He did with
Pharaoh. This doesn’t make God
unjust; He is the potter, and we
are the clay. Gentiles who didn’t
pursue
 righteousness obtained it by
faith, while Israel, who pursued
the law, stumbled because they
sought righteousness by works,
not faith.
PBE Questions:
33. What causes Paul “great sorrow
and unceasing anguish”?
34. Who are the true children of
Abraham?
35. Why did God raise Pharaoh up?
36. Why did Israel stumble?
Key Verses:
Romans 9:15 — “I will have
mercy on whom I have mercy...”
Romans 9:16 — “It does not,
therefore, depend on human
desire or effort, but on God’s
mercy.”
Key Takeaway:
God’s purposes are not based on
human effort but His sovereign
mercy. Faith, not lineage or law,
makes someone part of God’s
people.
Romans 10 —
Salvation for All Who
Believe
Expanded Summary:
Paul longs for Israel’s salvation,
but points out they are zealous
without understanding. They
sought righteousness by keeping
the law instead of submitting to
God’s righteousness, which
comes by faith in Christ. Paul
emphasizes that salvation is
available to all who believe and
confess Jesus as Lord. There’s
no distinction between Jew and
Gentile—everyone who calls on
the Lord will be saved. He
underscores the need for
 preaching, because people
cannot believe without hearing
the message.
PBE Questions:
37. What does Paul say about
Israel’s zeal?
38. How is someone saved
according to this chapter?
39. What does it mean to “confess
with your mouth”?
40. Why is preaching important?
Key Verses:
Romans 10:9 — “If you declare
with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’
and believe in your heart... you
will be saved.”
Romans 10:17 — “Faith comes
from hearing the message...”
Key Takeaway:
Salvation is by faith alone and is
available to all people. But the
message must be preached so
people can believe.

Romans 11 — The
Remnant of Israel and
God’s Mercy
Expanded Summary:
Paul asks: Has God rejected His
people Israel? He answers: By
no means! Paul himself is an
Israelite, and there is a
 faithful remnant chosen by grace.
While many Israelites rejected
Christ, their rejection opened the
door of salvation to the Gentiles.
Paul uses the metaphor of an
olive tree: natural branches
(Israel) were broken off because
of unbelief, and wild branches
(Gentiles) were grafted in. But
the Gentiles should not boast—
they stand by faith, and God can
graft the Jews in again. Paul
ends with a vision of hope: a
future time when "all Israel will
be saved" as part of God's
unfolding mercy plan for all
nations.
PBE Questions:
41. Who is part of the remnant
 chosen by grace?
42. What metaphor does Paul use to
describe Jews and Gentiles?
43. What warning is given to the
Gentiles?
44. What does Paul say about God's
gifts and calling?
 Key Verse:
Romans 11:29 — “For God’s
gifts and His call are irrevocable.”
Romans 11:33 — “Oh, the depth
of the riches of the wisdom and
knowledge of God!”
Key Takeaway:
God hasn’t rejected Israel; He’s
working out a plan of mercy for
all. We are saved by grace and
should remain humble.

Romans 12 — Living
Sacrifices and
Transformed Lives
Expanded Summary:
Paul now shifts to practical
Christian living. He urges
believers to offer themselves as
living sacrifices—holy and
pleasing to God. Rather than
conforming to the world, they
must be transformed by
renewing their minds. He talks
about
 humility in how we view
ourselves, recognizing our
different gifts and using them to
serve the body of Christ. Paul
gives a powerful list of how
Christians should behave: love
sincerely, hate evil, serve joyfully,
be patient in affliction, bless
those who persecute you, and
live in harmony with others.
PBE Questions:
45. What does it mean to be a living
sacrifice?
46. How are believers to view
themselves?
47. What are some instructions for
Christian living?
48. How should we treat our
enemies?
 Key Verse:
Romans 12:2 — “Do not conform
to the pattern of this world, but
be transformed by the renewing
of your mind.”
Romans 12:21 — “Do not be
overcome by
evil, but overcome evil with
good.”
Key Takeaway:
True worship is living a life of
daily surrender to God. Our
actions should reflect Christlike
love, humility, and service.

Romans 13 —
Submission to
Authority and Love’s
Fulfillment of the Law
Expanded Summary:
Paul instructs Christians to
submit to governing authorities
because all authority is
established by God.
Disobedience to lawful authority
is resisting God’s order.
Christians are to obey not just to
avoid punishment but as a matter
of conscience. Paul reminds
believers to pay taxes and give
honor where it's due. Then he
returns to love: all the
commandments are summed up
in “love your neighbor as
 yourself.” Paul urges believers to
live as children of the light,
casting off deeds of darkness
because salvation is nearer now
than when we first believed.
PBE Questions:
49. Why should Christians submit to
authorities?
50. What fulfills the law?
51. How should believers live in light
of Christ’s return?
52. What should we “put on” instead
of gratifying the flesh?
Key Verse:
Romans 13:10 — “Love does no
harm to a neighbor. Therefore
love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Romans 13:14 — “Clothe
yourselves with the Lord Jesus
Christ...”
Key Takeaway:
God calls us to submit to
authority and live honorably.
Love is the heart of all God’s
commandments.

Romans 14 — Do Not
Judge One Another
Expanded Summary:
Paul addresses disputes
between believers over
disputable matters, such as
eating meat or observing special
days. He instructs both the
“weak” and “strong” in faith to not
judge one another. Each person
should be fully convinced in their
own mind and act in faith. What
matters is that we live for the
Lord. Paul says not to do
anything that will cause another
believer to stumble. The kingdom
of God is not about eating or
drinking but righteousness,
peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
We must pursue peace and
mutual edification.
PBE Questions:
53. What examples of disputable
matters does Paul mention?
54. How should the strong treat the
weak?
55. What does Paul say the kingdom
of God is about?
56. Why is it important not to cause
another believer to stumble?

Key Verse:
Romans 14:19 — “Let us
therefore make every effort to do
what leads to peace and to
mutual edification.”
Key Takeaway:
Unity in the body of Christ means
accepting one another in love,
even when we disagree over
non-essential matters.
Romans 15 — Christ
Our Example and
Paul's Mission
Expanded Summary:
Paul calls believers to bear with
the
 failings of the weak and to please
others, not themselves. He
points to Christ, who did not
please Himself but bore insults
for the sake of others. Paul
emphasizes the Scriptures'
encouragement and unity
between Jews and Gentiles.
Christ became a servant to both.
Paul expresses his priestly role
in bringing the Gentiles to God
and outlines his travel plans.
Though he longs to visit Rome,
he first plans to deliver aid to
Jerusalem. He asks for prayers
for protection and success.
PBE Questions:
57. What does Paul say about
bearing with the weak?
58. How does Christ serve as our
example?
59. What does Paul say about the
Scriptures?
60. What does Paul ask the Romans
to pray for?
Key Verse:
Romans 15:4 — “Everything that
was written in the past was
written to teach us...”
Romans 15:7 — “Accept one
another... just as Christ accepted
you.”
Key Takeaway:
We are called to serve others as
Christ did, building unity and
hope through Scripture and love.
Romans 16 — Final
Greetings and
Warnings
Expanded Summary:
Paul concludes with personal
greetings to many individuals
who served in the church. He
commends Phoebe, a deacon,
and acknowledges women like
Priscilla and Mary who worked
hard in the Lord. Paul warns
against those who cause
divisions and deceive with
smooth talk. He calls believers to
be wise about what is good
 and innocent about what is evil.
Paul finishes with praise to God,
celebrating the gospel now
revealed and made known to all
nations.
PBE Questions:
61. Who was Phoebe and how did
Paul describe her?
62. What warning does Paul give in
this chapter?
63. What does Paul say about those
who cause divisions?
64. How does Paul end his letter?
Key Verse:
Romans 16:17 — “Watch out for
those who cause divisions and
put obstacles in your way that
are contrary to the teaching...”
Romans 16:27 — “To the only
wise God be glory forever
through Jesus Christ! Amen.”
Key Takeaway:
Faithful service and unity in the
body of Christ are essential. Stay
alert, avoid
division, and give glory to God.

The end.