CollegePress
Romans - NIV
Romans - NIV
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 truths. 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.
In 1996 and 1998 College Press published the two volumes of Jack Cottrell's commentary on Romans as part of The College Press NIV Commentary series. Immediately the volumes received deservedly high praise. As a writer, Dr. Cottrell has the unusual ability to present his ideas clearly and simply. Even when dealing with complex issues he can cut to the very marrow of the matter. He takes great care to wrestle with the text until the meaning of Paul's words--God's words--is accurately exposed. In the process of explaining the text, Cottrell also interacts with other writers assessing their positions, attacking their weaknesses, and confirming their contributions to the understanding of the text.
All the while he is concerned about theology: theology that comes directly from Romans to be sure; however, he is also concerned about the theology that comes to Romans from the rest of Scripture. Cottrell also writes from the unique perspective of one who has long been a part of the Restoration Movement.
This edition of The College Press NIV Commentary series is the result of reducing the two-volume set to a single volume. The primary motivation behind this change is the desire to see greater distribution and use of what we consider to be a very important contribution from one of the Restoration Movement's most popular contemporary writers. The simple fact is more people are likely to benefit from a single volume on Romans than a double volume with its increased cost. However, the publisher agreed that all the material from the original two volumes will be included in the abridged version by way of an electronic copy. Thus the reader has the best of all possibilities: an abridged version of the commentary that also includes the original, unabridged version on a CD.
Romans has 559 pages.
ISBN 978-0-89900-247-7
WEB-247
Romans Preface
Romans Introduction & Outline
Excerpt
“… the basic theme of Romans is the contrast between law and grace as ways of salvation. This contrast is seen especially in 3:28, which (literally translated) says, ‘For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law.’ The contrast is stated succinctly in 6:14, ‘You are not under law, but under grace.’ This is the gospel, the good news of salvation. Certainly it is good news to know that God justifies us by faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ. But in a real sense it is also good news to know that we are not justified by law-keeping: a way of salvation which is not only futile but which sinners in their hearts know is futile, and which thus leads only to self-deception or to despair.” (p. 53)
Other Books by This Author
Bible Prophecy and End Times CD
Bible Prophecy and End Times MP3
Headship, Submission, & The Bible: Gender Roles in the Home
What The Bible Says About God The Creator, Ruler, Redeemer: God Most High
What the Bible Says About Grace: Set Free!
What The Bible Says About The Holy Spirit: Power From On High
Bautismo: Un estudio bíblico (Baptism: A Biblical Study)
La fe una vez dada (The Faith Once for All)
Los fundamentos de la fe (Faith's Fundamentals)
Ser tan bueno no es tan bueno (13 Lessons on Grace)
About the Author
Jack Cottrell, PhD, is professor of theology at Cincinnati Christian Seminary. He holds degrees from Cincinnati Bible Seminary (AB) , University of Cincinnati (AB), Westminster Theological Seminary (MDiv), and Princeton Theological Seminary (PhD). He has authored several books including Faith Once For All; Baptism: A Biblical Study; The Holy Spirit: A Biblical Study; and Power from On High: What the Bible Says about the Holy Spirit.