I. Core Theological Concepts:;xNLx;;xNLx;Gospel (Greek: euangelion) (e.g., Romans 1:1, 9, 15-16; 2:16; 10:15-16; 11:28; 15:16, 19-20; 16:25): Literally "good news." In Romans, it refers specifically to the good news of God's saving action in Jesus Christ—His death, resurrection, and the offer of righteousness and eternal life through faith in Him. It is the power of God for salvation.;xNLx;Righteousness of God / God's Righteousness (e.g., Romans 1:17; 3:5, 21-22, 25-26; 10:3): A central theme. This refers to:;xNLx;God's own moral perfection, His intrinsic rightness, faithfulness, and justice.;xNLx;God's act of making sinners right with Himself (justification) by imputing or crediting Christ's righteousness to those who have faith. It is a righteousness that comes from God and is revealed in the gospel.;xNLx;Justification / Justify / Justified (Greek: dikaiosune, dikaioo) (e.g., Romans 2:13; 3:4, 20, 24, 26, 28, 30; 4:2, 5, 25; 5:1, 9, 16, 18; 8:30, 33): A legal or forensic term meaning to be declared righteous or acquitted by God. In Pauline theology, it is a gracious act of God whereby He declares a believing sinner righteous in His sight, not on the basis of their own works or a G_L_G (Good Law-Good) works, but on the basis of Christ's atoning death and resurrection, received through faith. It involves the forgiveness of sins and the imputation of Christ's righteousness.;xNLx;Faith (Greek: pistis) (e.g., Romans 1:5, 8, 12, 17; 3:3, 22, 25-28, 30-31; Chapter 4; 5:1-2; 9:30, 32; 10:6, 8-11, 14, 17; 11:20, 23; 12:3, 6; 14:1, 22-23; 16:26): Trust, belief, reliance, and personal commitment to Jesus Christ and His saving work. In Romans, faith is the sole means by which a person is justified and receives salvation, as opposed to works of the Law.;xNLx;Grace (Greek: charis) (e.g., Romans 1:5, 7; 3:24; 4:4, 16; 5:2, 15, 17, 20-21; 6:1, 14-15, 17; 11:5-6; 12:3, 6; 15:15; 16:20, 24): God's unmerited, unearned favor, kindness, and divine enablement extended to sinful humanity. It is the basis of salvation and the Christian life. Justification is "by his grace as a gift" (Romans 3:24).;xNLx;Law (Greek: nomos) (e.g., Romans 2:12-27; 3:19-21, 27-28, 31; 4:13-16; Chapter 5:13, 20; Chapter 6:14-15; Chapter 7; 8:2-4, 7; 9:4, 31-32; 10:4-5; 13:8, 10): Often refers to the Law of Moses (the Torah), the divine instruction given to Israel, including moral, ceremonial, and civil precepts. Paul discusses the Law's role in revealing sin, its inability to justify sinners, and its fulfillment in Christ. "The law" can also refer to a principle or system.;xNLx;Sin (Greek: hamartia) (e.g., Romans 1:18-3:20 [universality of sin]; 3:9, 20, 23; Chapter 4:7-8, 15; Chapter 5:12-21 [sin personified and its reign]; Chapter 6; 7:5-25; 8:2-3, 10; 11:27; 14:23): Missing the mark of God's holy standard; transgression of God's law; a power or principle that enslaves humanity and leads to death and condemnation. Paul personifies Sin as a ruling power.;xNLx;Wrath of God (Romans 1:18; 2:5, 8; 3:5; 4:15; 5:9; 9:22; 12:19; 13:4-5): God's righteous anger, settled opposition, and holy judgment against sin and unrighteousness. It is not capricious human anger but a just response to evil.;xNLx;Redemption (Greek: apolytrosis) (Romans 3:24; 8:23): Deliverance or liberation from sin, bondage, or evil through the payment of a ransom. In Romans, it refers to the salvation accomplished through Jesus Christ, who "redeemed" believers from the slavery of sin and the condemnation of the Law. Romans 8:23 also speaks of the future "redemption of our bodies" (resurrection).;xNLx;Propitiation / Expiation / Sacrifice of atonement (Greek: hilasterion) (Romans 3:25): An offering that satisfies God's righteous wrath against sin and makes atonement (covering or reconciliation) for sin. Jesus Christ is presented as the propitiation, whom God put forward "as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." This means His sacrificial death appeased God's justice and cleansed sin, making reconciliation possible. (ESV footnote often offers "sacrifice of atonement" or similar).;xNLx;Adoption (as sons) (Greek: huiothesia) (Romans 8:15, 23; 9:4): The act by which God brings believers into His family as His beloved children, granting them the status, privileges, and inheritance of sons, including an intimate relationship with Him ("Abba! Father!") through the Holy Spirit.;xNLx;Sanctification / Sanctify / Holy (Greek: hagiasmos, hagiazo, hagios) (e.g., Romans 1:2, 4, 7 ["called to be saints"]; 6:19, 22; 7:12 ["the commandment is holy"]; 8:27; 11:16; 12:1; 15:16; 16:2, 16): The process or state of being set apart for God, made holy, and conformed to the image of Christ. It is both a positional reality for believers (declared holy in Christ) and a progressive work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, leading to moral and spiritual transformation.;xNLx;Glorification / Glory (Greek: doxa, doxazo) (e.g., Romans 1:21, 23; 2:7, 10; 3:7, 23; 4:20; 5:2; 6:4; 8:17-18, 21, 30; 9:4, 23; 11:36; 15:6-7, 9; 16:27):;xNLx;God's intrinsic majesty, honor, splendor, and perfection.;xNLx;The future, ultimate state of believers when they will be fully conformed to Christ's image, resurrected with glorified bodies, and will fully share in God's glory in His eternal kingdom. It is the final step in the order of salvation (Romans 8:30).;xNLx;Election / Choose / Foreknow / Predestine (e.g., Romans 8:29-30, 33; 9:6-29; Chapter 11; 16:13): God's sovereign and gracious choice of individuals or groups (like Israel, or the church) for salvation and for His special purposes, based on His foreknowledge and will. These are complex doctrines Paul explores, especially in relation to Israel's status and God's mercy.;xNLx;Foreknowledge (Romans 8:29; 11:2): God's prior knowing, which in a relational sense can imply a prior loving or choosing.;xNLx;Predestination (Romans 8:29-30): God's predetermination of the ultimate destiny of believers, conforming them to the image of His Son.;xNLx;Flesh (Greek: sarx) (e.g., Romans 1:3; 2:28; 3:20; 4:1; 6:19; Chapter 7:5, 14, 18, 25; Chapter 8:1-13; 9:3, 5, 8; 13:14): Can refer to:;xNLx;Physical human nature, the body.;xNLx;Humanity in its natural, unregenerate state, characterized by weakness, sinfulness, and opposition to God. Living "according to the flesh" is contrasted with living "according to the Spirit.";xNLx;Spirit / Holy Spirit (Greek: pneuma) (e.g., Romans 1:4, 9; 2:29; 5:5; Chapter 8; 9:1; 12:11; 14:17; 15:13, 16, 19, 30): The third person of the Trinity, who indwells believers, empowers them for righteous living, gives new life, intercedes for them, and assures them of their adoption as God's children. Living "according to the Spirit" is central to the Christian life described in Romans 8.;xNLx;Death (Spiritual and Physical) (e.g., Romans 1:32; 5:10, 12, 14-17, 21; 6:3-5, 9, 16, 21, 23; 7:5, 9-11, 13, 24; 8:2, 6, 10, 13, 38):;xNLx;Physical death: The cessation of earthly life.;xNLx;Spiritual death: Separation from God due to sin; a state of being under sin's dominion and condemnation.;xNLx;The "wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), but Christ's death brings life.;xNLx;Hope (e.g., Romans 4:18; 5:2, 4-5; 8:20, 24-25; 12:12; 15:4, 13): Confident expectation and assurance concerning God's future promises, especially salvation, resurrection, and glorification, based on God's character and past faithfulness.;xNLx;II. Terms Relating to Israel and Gentiles:;xNLx;;xNLx;Israel / Israelites (e.g., Romans 2:17-29; 3:1-2; Chapters 9-11; 15:8, 10, 12, 27): The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, chosen by God for a special covenant relationship and to be the recipients of His promises and Law. Paul extensively discusses Israel's historical privileges, their present unbelief (in part), and God's ultimate saving purposes for them.;xNLx;Gentiles / Nations (Greek: ethne) (e.g., Romans 1:5, 13-16; 2:9-10, 14, 24; 3:9, 29; 4:17-18; 9:24, 30; 10:19; 11:11-13, 25; 15:8-12, 16, 18, 27; 16:4, 26): Non-Jewish peoples. A major theme in Romans is that the gospel is for both Jews and Gentiles, and that both are justified by faith apart from works of the Law.;xNLx;Circumcision / Uncircumcision (e.g., Romans 2:25-29; 3:1, 30; 4:9-12; 15:8):;xNLx;Circumcision: The physical sign of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Paul argues that true circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not merely an outward physical rite.;xNLx;Uncircumcision: Refers to Gentiles who were not physically circumcised.;xNLx;Remnant (Romans 9:27; 11:5): A portion of Israel chosen by God's grace who remain faithful or who will be saved, even when the majority may be disobedient.;xNLx;Olive Tree (metaphor) (Romans 11:16-24): Paul uses the imagery of an olive tree to illustrate the relationship between Israel (the natural branches, some of whom were broken off due to unbelief) and Gentile believers (wild olive shoots grafted in). This emphasizes God's faithfulness to His promises to Israel and the inclusion of Gentiles by grace.;xNLx;III. Ethical and Practical Terms:;xNLx;;xNLx;Conscience (Romans 2:15; 9:1; 13:5): An inner moral awareness or sense of right and wrong.;xNLx;Obedience (of faith) (Romans 1:5; 5:19; 6:12, 16-17; 10:3, 16; 15:18; 16:19, 26): Submission and conformity to God's will, stemming from faith in Jesus Christ.;xNLx;Sovereignty (of God) (A pervasive theme, especially in Romans 9-11, e.g., 9:11, 15-23): God's supreme power, authority, and freedom to act according to His own purposes and will, particularly in matters of election and salvation.;xNLx;Stumbling block / Offense (Romans 9:32-33; 11:9; 14:13, 20-21; 16:17): Anything that causes someone to sin, lose faith, or be hindered in their spiritual progress.;xNLx;Weak / Strong (in faith) (Romans 14:1-15:2): Refers to believers who may differ in their understanding or practice regarding non-essential matters (like diet or observance of special days). Paul calls for mutual acceptance and for the strong not to despise or cause the weak to stumble.;xNLx;Bondservant / Slave (Greek: doulos) (Romans 1:1 [Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus]; 6:6, 16-22): Can refer to a literal slave, but Paul uses it to describe believers as "slaves of righteousness" or "slaves of God," in contrast to being slaves of sin. He also calls himself a "bondservant of Christ Jesus," indicating total dedication and submission.;xNLx;Authorities / Governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7): Civil rulers and governments, which Paul states are instituted by God and to whom believers should be subject.;xNLx;This list provides definitions for many of the key theological and conceptual terms encountered in the Book of Romans (ESV). Given its depth and complex argumentation, a careful understanding of this vocabulary is essential for grasping Paul's powerful exposition of the gospel.