Biblical Worldview Essay
Recognizing that Romans is not a systematic theology and does not contain all the essential truths that
are relevant to a worldview per se, the apostle Paul articulates truths that are foundational to the biblical
worldview. In Romans 1�8, Paul addresses certain components of a worldview that relate to the natural
world, human identity, human relationships, and culture.
In a 750�1000-word essay, describe what Romans 1�8 teaches regarding (1)the natural world,
(2)human identity,(3) human relationships, and (4) culture. Furthermore, (5)explain how this teaching of
these topics affects your worldview. Make sure that you address each of these topics in your essay.
� As an essay, it must be written with excellent grammar, spelling, and style.
� Begin your essay with an interesting introduction that contains a precisely stated thesis. End your
essay with a strong conclusion that summarizes your main points succinctly.
Biblical Worldview Essay
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Introduction/Thesis
Paul framed the book of Romans based on the faults within the Roman society and
culture. As stated by Dr. Jimmy Deyoung in the video Romans; the letter that changed the world
that, Paul was able to see a crack or a fault line in the Roman society and was able to use it in
writing the book of Romans (‘Romans: The Letter That Changed the World’, 2010). The sins
committed in the Roman society during Paul’s day are still he same sins committed in the present
day society. Following this, the present society can take major lessons from Paul’s writings. My
worldview is that, the society is not going to change for the better; therefore, there is need for
salvation and divine intervention to escape such morally decaying world. This paper will
analyze the book of Romans chapter 1-8, and in line with the area of interest, the paper will
explore on my view on: the natural world, human identity, human relationships, and culture.
The Natural World
I believe that the natural world is a world of perpetual sin. More sins are presently
committed than they were in the Days of Noah (Genesis 6:5), and the same was also evident in
Paul’s days where the Roman society was full of every imaginable sin. In the roman society
there was homosexuality, worshiping of creations rather than God, paganism and moralists that
believed that redemption and salvation could be achieved without God. The same can be seen in
the present day society where some people believe that by simply being good, they can finally
find themselves in heaven. The world has not changed, and it is arguable that it will not change
for the better; more sins are committed high scale owing to technologies like the internet’s ability
to propagate sin by keeping people from allover the world to be connected. Romans worshiped
many gods, because as the empire grew with every country conquered, gods of the conquered
countries were put into the Roman temple as a way of winning the hearts and minds of the
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people (Burbank & Cooper, 2010). In Romans chapter 1, Paul saw this issue as a fault in the
Roman society and addressed the issue with the Church of Rome.
Human Identity
Paul in Roman 2:15 was able to categorize humanity as either; saved or unsaved (Jews or
Gentiles). The Jews had the law to follow while the Gentiles the unsaved did not. Regardless of
this difference, Paul stated that whether humanity had laws or not, both are condemned (Romans
2:12). According to Paul, the Jews are condemned more than the Gentiles because they had the
law. Paul in Romans 4:15 asserted that the Jews’ knowledge of the law brings wrath. Through
the human evil deeds, humanity is doomed. People tend to believe that they can win God’s favor
by just being good, and that their good deed can make them obtain righteousness and even get to
heaven. People tend to assume a lot about God, yes God is a loving God, but since God cannot
tolerate sin (1st John 1:5), He deals with the issue of sin by separating Himself from it; sin and
God cannot be together (Edwards, 2003). The present day society has no difference with Paul’s
days, and the man’s tendency to sin has not changed.
Human Relationships
The human nature is meant to deal and interact with people; family friends and strangers;
therefore, human relationship is an essential part of humanity. Whether a Gentiles or Jew, man is
prone to sin. Following this, the present day human relationships have not difference with Paul’s
days, and if man is to improve his human relationship, this can only be achieved through faith in
Christ since Jesus is the grand architect of human experience (Sheldrake, 2013). The original
human experience as intended by God was perverted by man’s actions back in Eden (Genesis 3).
Humanity through its actions has no desire to be liberated and to know God, and for this reason
God came up with a plan to save mankind through Jesus (Wright, 2009). Even with the God’s
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effort, man through his actions continually hampers his ability to lead a blessed and productive
life as planned by God. Without God man cannot do anything and is destined to destruction
unless he develops a repentant heart and come to God through Jesus Christ. Paul handles the
issue of human relation according to how God planned the marriage institute (Romans 7:1-4).
Culture
Culture is an essential part of God’s plan. The present US culture leans towards a culture
of pluralizing God, and a pluralized culture not the culture that God expects of a Christian or a
Jew. During Paul’s time Caesar proclaimed himself as the savior and God of all his subjects in
the kingdom (Wright, 2000). Isaiah pointed out that man’s culture is completely at enmity with
God (Isaiah 55:8); this supports my stand on human identity, human relationship and culture
because I believe that the world is ungodly. Paul encouraged the Church in Rome by telling them
that there was hope, and that there was a way for mankind towards righteousness; through faith
in Jesus. In line with Paul in Romans 5:12 and Isaiah in Isaiah 55:8 my worldview on culture is
that nothing will ever change and man will never live in accordance with God’s intended culture
because man will always fall short before God’s eyes.
Conclusion
In accordance with this paper’s thesis on worldview and specifically in human identity,
natural world, human relationships and culture, man has not change and it is evident that for man
to succeed he needs the word of God. Rome in Paul’s days is not different to the present day
society as it is evident in Paul’s worldview that man is corrupt and morally deprived. Paul clearly
points out that, for man to escape God’s judgment he needs faith in Christ as the only way out.
Among the Rome’s faults was Caesar’s declaration of himself as god, making the people to
liberally live in sin. With the present day society believing in liberal movement that promotes
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corruption, the society is living in a ‘modern-day-Rome’. The present day society has pagans and
moralist who believe that they can get to heaven in their means and terms; meaning that they can
attain righteousness in their own self imposed terms. As a Christian, it is essential to understand
that everyone is a sinner at heart and that Jesus’ grace is the only way out. No man is better than
the other because all have sinned; however, it is essential to know what is wrong and what is
right.
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References
Burbank, J., & Cooper, F. (2010). Empires in World History: power and the politics of
difference. Princeton University Press.
Edwards, J. (2003). Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Bridge Logos Foundation.
Kingjamesbibleonline.org,. (2015). ROMANS CHAPTER 1. Retrieved 22 January 2015, from
http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Romans-Chapter-1-8/
Romans: The Letter That Changed the World. (2010). USA.
Sheldrake, P. (2013). Spirituality: A Brief History. John Wiley & Sons.
Wright, N. T. (2000). Paul’s gospel and Caesar’s empire. Paul and politics, 160-83.
Wright, N. T. (2009). Justification: God’s plan & Paul’s vision. InterVarsity Press.
