Study Romans with David Bercot through early Christian interpretation before Augustine and Luther. Explore faith, works, law, grace, judgment, free will, and Paul's message to Jews and Gentiles.

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Course Content

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What Did the Early Christians Believe About the Book of Romans? — Introduction (Part 1)
Free Will and the Historical Background of Romans — Introduction (Part 2)
Paul's Greeting to the Romans Explained — Romans 1:1-9 (Part 3)
I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel — Romans 1:10-19 (Part 4)
The Wrath of God Revealed: Suppressing the Truth — Romans 1:20-32 (Part 5)
God Will Render to Each According to His Works — Romans 2:1-10 (Part 6)
Hearers vs. Doers of the Law: God Shows No Partiality — Romans 2:11-29 (Part 7)
What Advantage Has the Jew? — Romans 3:1-19 (Part 8)
By the Works of the Law No Flesh Shall Be Justified — Romans 3:20 (Part 9)
Propitiation by His Blood: Justified by Faith — Romans 3:21-31 (Part 10)
Peace With God Through Christ: While We Were Yet Sinners — Romans 5:1-11 (Part 12)
The Book of Romans Explained Simply: Faith and Works in Paul's Letter (Part 13)
Free Course Guide

What This Free Course Covers

Romans Explained is a careful study of Paul’s letter with special attention to how early Christians understood Romans before Augustine and the Reformation. David Bercot begins by asking why Romans has often been read through later theological debates, especially around Martin Luther, and then works through key passages in Romans 1–3 and Romans 5. The lessons return often to Paul’s central concern:

Jewish and Gentile believers are saved on the same basis, without Gentiles needing circumcision or the law of Moses. At the same time, the course argues that Paul does not teach a salvation that makes obedience irrelevant. Students will hear repeated discussion of grace, faith, repentance, baptism, judgment according to works, free will, the law of Moses, the law of Christ, and the need to remain faithful. The final lesson summarizes the course’s main distinctions:

two phases of salvation, two kinds of law, and two kinds of works.

Early Christian interpretation Jew and Gentile equality Faith and obedience Law of Moses Law of Christ Judgment according to works Free will and responsibility Grace as a conditional gift Justification by faith Christ’s blood and life

What You Will Study

  • Why the course reads Romans through early Christian interpretation rather than later Western theological systems
  • How Paul addresses tension between Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome
  • Why Gentile believers are not required to come under circumcision or the law of Moses
  • How Romans 2 frames judgment according to works and God’s lack of partiality
  • How Romans 3 teaches justification by faith without making obedience to Christ unnecessary
  • The difference between works of the Mosaic law and works of obedience to Christ
  • How grace, faith, repentance, baptism, and continuing faithfulness fit together in the course’s reading of Romans
  • Why the course rejects readings of Romans that deny meaningful human response, free will, or responsibility

Questions This Course Helps Answer

  • How did early Christians understand Romans before Augustine and the Reformation?
  • Why does the course warn that Paul’s letters can be hard to understand?
  • What is the main issue Paul is addressing between Jewish and Gentile Christians?
  • What does Paul mean when he says the gospel is to the Jew first and also to the Greek?
  • Why does Romans 1 speak of people suppressing the truth?
  • How does Romans 2 teach that God will render to each person according to works?
  • What does it mean that hearers of the law are not the same as doers of the law?
  • What advantage did the Jews have if Jews and Gentiles are judged without partiality?
  • What are the “works of the law” in Romans 3?
  • How can a person be justified by faith without making the law void?
  • What does propitiation by Christ’s blood mean in Romans 3?
  • How does Romans 5 connect peace with God, tribulation, endurance, and salvation by Christ’s life?

Lesson-by-Lesson Guide

What Did the Early Christians Believe About the Book of Romans? — Introduction (Part 1)

This opening lesson explains the purpose of the series: to read Romans as it was understood by Christians close to the apostolic era. It also warns that later interpretations, especially Luther’s, have strongly shaped modern readings of Romans and can cause readers to set Paul against other parts of Scripture.

  • Why begin Romans with an introduction instead of Romans 1:1?
  • How has Martin Luther influenced later readings of Romans?
  • Why does the course say Paul’s letters require caution?
  • How should Romans be read without contradicting Jesus or the rest of Scripture?

Free Will and the Historical Background of Romans — Introduction (Part 2)

This lesson gives historical background on Jews and Romans and introduces free will as a major early Christian belief over against pagan and Gnostic ideas of fate or predestination. It also lays out the course’s framework of two stages of salvation: initial salvation by grace through faith, repentance, and baptism, followed by faithful obedience.

  • What historical background helps explain Jews, Romans, and the setting of the letter?
  • Why did early Christians defend free will?
  • How did Christians differ from pagans and Gnostics on human responsibility?
  • What are the two stages of salvation described in the course?

Paul's Greeting to the Romans Explained — Romans 1:1-9 (Part 3)

This lesson begins the text of Romans by examining Paul’s greeting and his careful approach to a church he did not found. It emphasizes Paul’s apostolic authority, his love for the Roman believers, and his early hints that fleshly descent and spiritual sonship must be distinguished.

  • Why did Paul need to approach the Roman church carefully?
  • What issue would be difficult for Jewish believers in Rome to hear?
  • Why does Paul emphasize his apostleship at the beginning?
  • How does Paul introduce the difference between flesh and spirit?

I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel — Romans 1:10-19 (Part 4)

This lesson continues Romans 1 by discussing Paul’s desire to visit Rome, his debt to preach, and his statement that he is not ashamed of the gospel. It explains “to the Jew first and also to the Greek” as historical order, not a hierarchy inside the church.

  • Why does Paul tell the Romans he longs to visit them?
  • What does it mean to be unashamed of the gospel?
  • Why did the gospel go to the Jew first?
  • What does “from faith to faith” introduce in Paul’s argument?

The Wrath of God Revealed: Suppressing the Truth — Romans 1:20-32 (Part 5)

This lesson finishes Romans 1 by examining Paul’s account of Gentile sin, idolatry, and the suppression of known truth. It also stresses that Christians are not called to control the world, but they must not approve what God condemns.

  • What does Romans 1 mean by suppressing the truth?
  • How does Paul describe idolatry and its consequences?
  • What does it mean that God gave people up to sinful desires?
  • Why does the lesson warn against approving sin even when one does not commit it?

God Will Render to Each According to His Works — Romans 2:1-10 (Part 6)

This lesson argues that Romans 2 is essential for understanding the whole letter. It focuses on Paul’s teaching that God will judge every person according to works, while distinguishing initial salvation by grace from the need to remain fruitful in Christ.

  • Why does the course say Romans 2 is often skipped?
  • How does Romans 2 shape the rest of the letter?
  • What does it mean that God will render to each according to works?
  • How does the vine-and-branches image help explain continuing faithfulness?

Hearers vs. Doers of the Law: God Shows No Partiality — Romans 2:11-29 (Part 7)

This lesson continues Romans 2 with Paul’s teaching that God shows no partiality. It contrasts hearing the law with doing it, discusses Jewish confidence in the law, and highlights the seriousness of both outward actions and inward thoughts before God.

  • What does it mean that God shows no partiality?
  • Why are hearers of the law not enough?
  • How does Paul address Jewish confidence in possessing the law?
  • Why do thoughts as well as actions matter in judgment?

What Advantage Has the Jew? — Romans 3:1-19 (Part 8)

This lesson begins Romans 3 and introduces Paul’s dialogue with an objector who questions God’s treatment of Jews and Gentiles. It explains Paul’s use of sweeping Old Testament sin texts without denying other Scriptures that speak of righteous people.

  • What advantage did the Jews have?
  • Who is the objector in Paul’s argument?
  • How can Paul say no one is righteous while other Scriptures call people righteous?
  • How were Christian teachings about sinners misunderstood or twisted?

By the Works of the Law No Flesh Shall Be Justified — Romans 3:20 (Part 9)

This lesson focuses closely on Romans 3:20 and argues that “works of the law” refers to the law of Moses, not obedience to Christ in general. It also explains that the law gives the knowledge of sin and compares later debates with earlier conflicts against Gnostic readings of the law.

  • What does Paul mean by “works of the law”?
  • Why does the lesson identify this law as the law of Moses?
  • How does Galatians help clarify Paul’s meaning?
  • What does it mean that by the law comes the knowledge of sin?

Propitiation by His Blood: Justified by Faith — Romans 3:21-31 (Part 10)

This lesson finishes Romans 3 by discussing justification by faith, propitiation, redemption, and the blood of Christ. It emphasizes that being freely justified does not make obedience unnecessary, since Christ’s work fulfills the purpose of the law by bringing people to righteousness.

  • What does Romans 3 say about being justified by faith?
  • What is propitiation by Christ’s blood?
  • How is redemption like ransom or release from bondage?
  • Why does faith establish rather than void the law?

Peace With God Through Christ: While We Were Yet Sinners — Romans 5:1-11 (Part 12)

This lesson moves to Romans 5 and discusses peace with God, rejoicing in tribulation, endurance, hope, and Christ’s death for sinners. It also stresses that believers are saved not only by Christ’s death, but by His life in them as they continue faithfully.

  • What does it mean to have peace with God through Christ?
  • Why can Christians rejoice in tribulation?
  • How do tribulation, endurance, approval, and hope fit together?
  • What does it mean to be saved by Christ’s life?

The Book of Romans Explained Simply: Faith and Works in Paul's Letter (Part 13)

This concluding overview simplifies the course’s main reading of Romans without reducing it to “faith alone.” It summarizes the distinctions between initial and ultimate salvation, the law of Moses and the law of Christ, and Mosaic works versus obedient works after conversion.

  • Can Romans be summarized without oversimplifying Paul’s message?
  • What are the two phases of salvation?
  • What is the difference between the law of Moses and the law of Christ?
  • How can James say a person is justified by works and not by faith alone?

First student reviews

2 reviews so far
Jolene Shiley Aug 19, 2026
★★★★★
Enjoyed listening to this talk on Roman's again!
Ken Yutzy Jul 13, 2026
★★★★★
David Bercot definitely simplifies Romans and makes it very understandable! Very refreshing!
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Romans Explained

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Course Includes

  • 12 Lessons
  • 12 Quizzes
  • Course Certificate