SECTION OUTLINE ONE (ROMANS 1)
Paul opens his letter to the Roman church by talking about God’s anger with sin. The opening chapter may be thought of as a trial, where God is the judge and sinful humans are the accused.


I. THE COURT RECORDER (1:1–17): Here Paul, author of Romans, provides his readers with some pretrial introductory material.
A. His credentials (1:1, 5): Paul relates four facts about himself.
1. He is a servant of Jesus (1:1a).
2. He is an apostle (1:1b).
3. He has been set apart to preach the gospel (1:1c).
4. He is a missionary to the Gentiles (1:5) .
B. His Christ (1:2–4)
1. The Messiah was prophesied in the Old Testament (1:2) .
2. The Messiah is now proclaimed in the New Testament (1:3–4).
a. In regard to his human nature (1:3) : He is a descendant of David.
b. In regard to his divine nature (1:4) : His resurrection proves his deity.
C. His congregation (1:6–15): Paul writes this epistle to a local church assembly.
1. The identity of this church (1:6–7): It is the congregation in Rome.
2. The intercession for this church (1:8–10)
a. His praise of them (1:8) : Paul praises them for their universally known faith.
b. His prayers for them (1:9–10): He prays for the church and asks God that he be allowed to visit them.
3. The interest in this church (1:11–13)
a. Paul desires to see them (1:11–12).
b. Paul desires to serve them (1:13) : He desires to sow seed among them.
4. The indebtedness to the church (1:14–15): Paul feels an obligation to minister to them.
D. His confidence (1:16–17): Paul expresses his full assurance in the power of the gospel to accomplish two things.
1. To bring about saving faith for sinners (1:16) : Through faith a sinner may be saved.
2. To bring about sanctifying faith for saints (1:17) : Through faith a righteous person may have life.


II. THE COURT RECORD (1:18–32): Paul records the evidence presented at this trial.
A. The general charge (1:18–19): “God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves. For the truth about God is known to them instinctively.”
B. The specific charges (1:20–32)
1. First indictment—inexcusable ignorance (1:20) : God has always revealed his existence and power to mankind.
2. Second indictment—ingratitude (1:21) : People are thankless, refusing to worship their Creator.
3. Third indictment—insolence (1:22) : Claiming themselves to be wise without God, they become fools instead.
4. Fourth indictment—idolatry (1:23) : They exchange God’s glory for idols resembling mere people, birds, animals, and snakes.
5. Fifth indictment—immorality (1:24–27): They are guilty of lesbianism and homosexuality.
6. Sixth indictment—incorrigibility (1:28–32)
a. They embrace their wicked deeds (1:28–31).
b. They endorse their wicked deeds (1:32) .


SECTION OUTLINE TWO (ROMANS 2)
Paul describes God’s dealings with three kinds of people. Each is charged with high treason against God.


I. THE MORAL PERSON AND GOD (2:1–11)
A. The plea rendered (2:1a): The moral person says, “I should be acquitted on grounds that I am not as bad as some pagans are.”
B. The plea refuted (2:1b–11)
1. The reason for this (2:1b–4): God says, “You do the same basic things, only in a more refined way!”
2. The results of this (2:5–11)
a. To be the object of God’s terrible wrath (2:5–8)
b. To experience sorrow and suffering (2:9–11)


II. THE PAGAN PERSON AND GOD (2:12–16)
A. The plea rendered (2:12–13): The pagan person says, “I should be acquitted on the grounds of ignorance!”
B. The plea refuted (2:14–16): God says, “You have the twin witnesses of conscience and nature (see also 1:19–20). Therefore, you will be judged by these and not by the written law.”


III. THE RELIGIOUS PERSON AND GOD (2:17–29)
A. The plea rendered (2:17–20): The religious man says, “I should be acquitted on the grounds that I know the law of God and teach courses in religion!”
B. The plea refuted (2:21–29): God says, “You don’t practice what you preach!”
1. The marks of religious Jews (2:21–24): Because of their hypocrisy, they dishonor God’s holy name among the Gentiles.
2. The marks of redeemed Jews (2:25–29): Their hearts are right with God.


SECTION OUTLINE THREE (ROMANS 3)
Paul presents six questions and answers them for his readers.


I. FIRST QUESTION AND ANSWER (3:1–2)
A. Question (3:1) : What are the advantages of being a Jew or of being circumcised?
B. Answer (3:2) : The most important advantage is that Israel has been entrusted with the Word of God.


II. SECOND QUESTION AND ANSWER (3:3–4)
A. Question (3:3) : Will Israel’s unfaithfulness nullify God’s promises?
B. Answer (3:4)
1. Paul’s testimony (3:4a): “Of course not! Though everyone else in the world is a liar, God is true.”
2. David’s testimony (3:4b): Paul quotes from Psalm 51:4 to prove his point.


III. THIRD QUESTION AND ANSWER (3:5–8)
A. Question (3:5) : If our unrighteousness brings out God’s righ-teousness, isn’t he unfair to punish us?
B. Answer (3:6–8)
1. The reprobation (3:8b): Paul has been falsely accused of teaching this very thing—that is, do evil that good may result.
2. The reply (3:6–8a): Paul responds, “If you follow that kind of thinking … you might as well say that the more we sin the better it is! Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.”


IV. FOURTH QUESTION AND ANSWER (3:9–20)
A. Question (3:9a): Are the Jews better than all other people?
B. Answer (3:9b–20)
1. The corruption (3:10–18): Paul describes the cancer of sin that has infected the human race.
a. Human conscience is depraved (3:10–11): No one even desires to know and follow God.
b. Human character is depraved (3:12) : All have left the path of good and have became worthless.
c. Human conversation is depraved (3:13–14): People’s talk is foul and filthy, resembling:
(1) The stench from an open grave (3:13a)
(2) The poison from a deadly snake (3:13b–14)
d. Human conduct is depraved (3:15–18).
(1) “They are quick to commit murder” (3:15–17).
(2) “They have no fear of God” (3:18) .
2. The conclusion (3:9, 19–20): After presenting all the terrible facts, Paul reaches this twofold conclusion:
a. Both Jew and Gentile have sinned against God (3:9) .
b. Both Jew and Gentile stand accused before God (3:19–20).


V. FIFTH QUESTION AND ANSWER (3:21–30)
A. Question (3:21a): How then does God save people?
B. Answer (3:21b–30)
1. The need for salvation (3:23) : It is desperately needed, for all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.
2. The Old Testament witness to salvation (3:21b): The Scriptures promise salvation apart from the law.
3. The method of salvation (3:22, 24–25, 27–28)
a. Negative (3:27–28): It is not accomplished by good works.
b. Positive (3:22, 24–25): It comes about by grace through faith in the sacrifice of Christ.
4. The legal accomplishment of salvation (3:26) : It permits a just and holy God to declare repenting sinners righteous.
5. The scope of salvation (3:29–30): It is available for both Jews and Gentiles alike.


VI. SIXTH QUESTION AND ANSWER (3:31)
A. Question (3:31a): Does faith nullify the law?
B. Answer (3:31b): To the contrary, faith fulfills the law!


Willmington, H. L. (1999). The Outline Bible (Ro 1–3:31). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.