Romans: Epistolary Genre

Based that Paul wrote a letter to the believers of Rome, the Romans passage will obviously be of an epistolary genre. Romans 2:1-16 is on the premise that the Jews are going to be judged, only through their own works that they have done while on this earth. However, the following passage, Romans 2:17-3:8, the Jews do not even follow the law that they were taught from, especially the Pharisees during Jesus’ time, but they ask a question that Paul would answer if they have a clear advantage over the Gentiles since they have the law. Romans 3:21-31 indicates that righteousness is best described as having faith in Christ that those might be free of sin through the very sacrifice Christ gave so that our sins will be removed. A clear example of someone

that exemplifies righteousness is Abraham, in Romans 4:1-25. He displayed righteousness through his faith, even before the procedure of circumcision was needed back in Old Testament law. So how does Romans 3:9-20 fit the context of all these passages mentioned earlier? It says that all men are declared guilty and thus have the need to receive the righteousness of God as none are righteous. Because they follow the law, they realize they are corrupt and are aware of their own sin. That concludes that they must have righteousness. Romans 3:10-12 gives links to Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; and Ecclesiastes 7:20. Verses 13 and 14 are also mentioned or resembled by Psalm 140:3 and Psalm 10:7. While 15-17 is like Isaiah 59:7-8, verse 18 is synonymous with Psalm 36:1. These references clarify the point that men are corrupt: they are not righteous, they do not fear God, and their mouths are full of wickedness and they wish to walk a path of destruction.