The College Press NIV Commentary: Romans, Volume 1
Overview
God's word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path (Psalm 119:105), and no part of it shines more brilliantly than the book of Romans. The truth of God's Word sets us free (John 8:32) and Romans teaches us the most liberating of all truth. God's Word is sharp and piercing like a sword (Hebrews 4:12), and no blade penetrates more deeply into our hearts than Romans. Martin Luther called the Epistle to the Romans "the greatest book within the greatest book." He undoubtedly was referring to the awesome power of God revealed in Romans. This power, contained within Paul's Epistle, has saved lives, changed hearts and altered the very course of human history. American churches have tended to concentrate on the book of Acts. Acts is a tremendous book, especially when it comes to building New Testament churches. However, Romans is to Acts what meat is to milk. As a group we need to mature; we need to move from Acts to Romans. The Apostle Paul understood the power of the Gospel of Christ. His Epistle reveals salvation on an intellectual and spiritual level not attainable by any other work or religion. It is this challenge to the intellect of men and women that produces historic change. The Epistle to the Romans is, therefore, an intellectual guide to Christianity.
Top Highlights
“To be baptized into Christ means to be baptized for the purpose of entering into a specific relationship with him, or into a living union with him.” (Romans 6:3)
“In the final analysis it does not matter what content anyone feels compelled to pour into the concept of ‘original sin,’ because Paul’s main point is this: whatever the whole human race got (or would have got) from Adam has been completely canceled out for the whole human race by the gracious atoning work of Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:12–21)
“It was a call to service, not a call to salvation.” (Romans 1:1)
“His main subject is Jesus and his cross and the universal, all-sufficient consequences of that saving event. His purpose is not to emphasize what happened to the race as the result of Adam’s sin, but to emphasize what has happened to it as the result of Christ’s saving work.” (Romans 5:12–21)
“In these verses are three major points, each of which is stated in a variety of ways: we died to sin; we were raised up from spiritual death and are now alive unto God; therefore we can and should stop being slaves to sin.” (Romans 6:1–14)
- Title: Romans, Volume 1
- Author: Jack Cottrell
- Series: College Press NIV Commentary
- Publisher: College Press
- Print Publication Date: 1996
- Logos Release Date: 2001
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Bible. N.T. Romans › Commentaries
- Resource ID: LLS:29.50.5
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-04-26T02:10:32Z
Dr. Jack W. Cottrell has been a professor of theology at Cincinnati Christian University since 1967. Dr. Cottrell has earned a BA, ThB from Cincinnati Christian University; a BA from the University of Cincinnati; an MDiv from Westminster Theological Seminary; and a PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary.
He’s been married to his beautiful wife, Barbara, for over 50 years, and he ministers at the Bright Christian Church in Bright, Indiana. Dr. Cottrell has been teaching theology at the Cincinnati Christian University for over 40 years, and he’s been writing for over 30 years. He and Barbara have three children and four grandchildren.
Those who know Dr. Cottrell know he’s a huge fan of University of Kentucky basketball and bluegrass music. He likes to read mystery novels and watch Wheel of Fortune and Texas Hold’em tournaments.
Reviews
7 ratings
John Moniz
11/10/2018
Seth Bourne
12/1/2017
A wonderful Commentary that has helped many with the complexities of Romans and brings powerful insight to the deep truth of God’s grace. It’s great that it isn’t biased toward Calvinism or a particular denomination. Hard to find good commentators like that these days, but Jack Cottrell is the real deal! My students at the Discipleship Academy always love his works. Highly recommend!Curtis Zehner
8/9/2016
Tim Tibbles
2/5/2015
such a great commentary. A breath of fresh air in a day most commentaries tend to lean towards calvinism.preacherrocky
3/26/2014
David Mills
9/27/2013
