Thoughts and Quotes on "Romans" - Part 2

If you have never done an indepth study of Romans then read the following excerpt which is the first paragraph from Martin Luther's Preface to the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans:

“This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian’s while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or to meditate on this letter too much or too well. The more one deals with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes.” Click here to read his entire Preface.

Romans 1:1-2 "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures." For Paul, the gospel that he preached was the same gospel that was promised in the Old Testament. In light of this thought, listen to this excerpt from William Tyndale's Preface to Romans:

“Wherefore it appeareth evidently, that Paul’s mind was to comprehend briefly in this epistle all the whole learning of Christ’s gospel, and to prepare an introduction unto all the Old Testament. For without doubt whosoever hath this epistle perfectly in his heart, the same hath the light and the effect of the Old Testament with him. Wherefore let every man without exception exercise himself therein diligently, and record it night and day continually, until he be full acquainted therewith.” Click here to read his entire Preface.

Here is F.F. Bruce's reponse to the above excerpt:

“It is noteworthy that Tyndale commends this Epistle as an introduction, not to the New Testament but to the Old; that is to say, he finds it an indispensable guide to the Christian understanding of the books of the old covenant. In this he is in agreement with Paul’s own mind; for Paul claims that the gospel which this Epistle sets forth was announced beforehand in the prophetic writings and that the way of righteousness which is opened up in the gospel was attested by the Law and the Prophets. The Old Testament was the Bible which the apostles and other Christians of the first generations used in their propagation of the gospel; it was the arsenal from which they drew their proofs that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world; and the Epistle to the Romans provides an outstanding example of the way in which it served their purpose.” Bruce's commentary on Romans in the Tyndale New Testament Commentary Series, p. 9-10.