The Impact of the Book of Romans

Because his plans to visit the Roman church were repeatedly hindered, Paul could only visit them by writing a letter instead. As a result, the truths of the Gospel expounded in this epistle not only edified the Roman church of his day but have also built up God’s church throughout all generations. Let’s look at the impact the Book of Romans has had on later generations:

1）In the summer of 386 AD, Augustine accidentally read Romans 13:13-14 and was instantly illuminated by the Holy Spirit. His life was completely transformed, and he went on to become the greatest theologian of the early Middle Ages.

2）In the autumn of 1513, Martin Luther, a professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg, understood Romans 1:17. His grasp of the Gospel truth revealed by Paul subsequently sparked the Protestant Reformation.

3）In May 1738, while attending a Moravian brothers’ meeting on Aldersgate Street in London, John Wesley heard Martin Luther’s preface to his commentary on Romans. He suddenly and miraculously received assurance of salvation, which completely transformed his life and ignited the fire of the 18th-century Evangelical Revival.

Beyond its foundational role in doctrine, the Book of Romans has made a unique contribution to church history. From Augustine in the Patristic era to Luther, Calvin, and John Wesley, countless individuals were completely transformed by the Holy Spirit through Romans and became greatly used servants of God. These pivotal figures in church history gained spiritual revival or profound insights from Romans, which in turn had an extraordinary impact on the church. Furthermore, innumerable believers have had their lives turned around by deeply studying Romans. From this historical review, we discover that Romans has a special function: this book acts like a great light, compelling sinners to return to God and guiding churches that have strayed back to righteousness.