Author’s Note
What had originally started as a two week study on the book of Romans with a couple of commentaries, turned into over half a year of detailed, verse by verse study with the addition of dozens of study resources. The overall verse by verse notes are those of my own insights, but with a healthy dose of influence (as well as many quotations) from scholars and theologians throughout history. The bibliography ballooned to over 50 different resources from early church fathers writing in the 4th century, to Matthew Henry in the 1700s, to scholars and theologians from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. You’ll find a bibliography for the quotes used at the end of every chapter. Sources are listed in the order in which they first appear in each respective chapter.
The commentary you’ll find from me is nothing short of biblically conservative, clinging to traditional (thus broadly orthodox) views. Everything is done under the presupposition that The Bible is the inerrant and inspired word of God.There is no hubris in trying to re-interpret Paul in ways that would oppose the historical understanding of the gospel. Namely, doctrines relating to: man’s sinfulness and need of atonement (both Jew and Gentile), Jesus as the One who fulfilled the Law and was the perfect atonement for our sins (thus bringing about a new covenant), faith in Christ as the requirement to appropriate forgiveness of sins, inclusion of the Gentiles into this new covenant, how to live as a follower of Christ, and final judgment of mankind in the age to come.
Hopefully, you’ll find this as a useful and insightful study tool as you read through Romans or get to verses that provide more questions than answers. The goal is to be an accessible “one stop shop” to have questions answered or simply have a better understanding of the text. This will be much more in depth than something like a study Bible will provide, yet not overly long or too technical. The majority of verses are summed up in 1-3 paragraphs, but there are plenty of instances where multiple pages are dedicated to a few verses at a time. There are also a few topics that are looked at in more detail by way of an Excursus. Most people do not have the money to spend on a plethora of commentaries and Greek word study resources, much less the freedom to devote many months pouring them over. I aim to be the solution to that, thus distilling down what I’ve learned through my studies into (hopefully) an easy to read and understand verse by verse exposition backed by credible and biblically conservative theologians throughout history.
-Korey Napier
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995): New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NET are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.