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Previous Q&A with Rob Ventura

Q&A with Rob Ventura

Evan: What motivated you to write this new commentary on Romans?

Rob: Good question, especially since there are many good commentaries on Romans already available (e.g., John Murray, Douglas Moo, Thomas Schreiner, and John Harvey). In fact, I have the privilege of owning over one hundred and forty commentaries on this exceptional epistle. While Romans is a well-served letter, surprisingly, I did not find many resources which gave me quick, accessible, expository nuggets to help me prepare Greek-informed, hermeneutically-sound, and homiletically-clean sermons in time for preaching each week. Further, I noticed that few of the commentaries I used had any real practical and pointed applications to help bring home the truths of the text to the hearts and minds of my hearers. To address these matters, I wrote my volume. This material comes from my personal study and verse-by-verse preaching through this excellent epistle. I hope that this work will prove profitable to all who read it, but especially to preachers and teachers as they labor to instruct their hearers out of the precious Word of God, line upon line, and precept upon precept (Isa. 28:10).

Evan: What makes your commentary unique among commentaries on Romans?

Rob: I would say that my commentary is unique in that it is preacher-ready and preacher-friendly. In every section of Romans, I give a central theme, homiletical outline, exegetical and practical insights, and applications for believers and nonbelievers. This makes it a major timesaver for any expositor of this letter. Additionally, throughout my book, I quote from dozens of the best commentaries on this epistle so that it becomes kind of a one-stop shop. In this regard, I like what Phil Johnson said about it: “This is a splendidly rich and extremely useful volume, written in a style reminiscent of Spurgeon’s Treasury of David. It abounds with pithy outlines of the biblical text, insightful exegetical analysis, select quotations from classic commentaries, and suggested points of application. From now on, this will be the first resource I’ll turn to when studying any passage from Romans”.

Evan: How do you want readers to use this commentary?

Rob: I want them to use it as a help to make their sermons powerful, plain, and practical for their people. My volume should be consulted after ministers pray, labor in their exegesis, and study their text. It should be a companion volume to their own work and not a substitute for it. It should be used as a tool to help them get their hearts and minds going in the flow of any given passage.

Evan: What is your perspective on Romans 7?

Rob: My perspective is that Paul wrote Romans 7 as a Christian. However, some good commentators think that Paul wrote the last half of Romans 7, in his pre-converted days. I reject this idea for the following reasons: 1- Because there is no getting around Paul’s repeated use of the present tense verb beginning at verse 14 down to verse 25. Unless he was trying to trick us by switching from the past tense verb in verses 7 to 12 to the present tense verb, I think it is clear that he is speaking about his life presently as a believer. Here he is using language similar to 1 Timothy 1:15, when he wrote, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” 2- Because Paul’s purpose in writing this chapter was to instruct us about our sanctification as believers, why would he then take twelve verses to write about his non-Christian experience? 3- Because nowhere in any other portion of Scripture do we see Paul lamenting his sinfulness as an unconverted Pharisee. As a matter of fact, as an unsaved Pharisee, he did not say, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells” (7:18a). Rather, he said, “If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so” (Phil. 3:4). 4- Because unbelievers do not “delight in the law of God according to the inward man” (v. 22). This is the language of the regenerated soul since the unregenerate mind is “enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can it be” (8:7). 5- Because unbelievers do not desire to obey God’s law and do not feel great grief when they sin against God as Paul expresses throughout these verses. 6- Because unbelievers do not thank God “through Jesus Christ our Lord” as Paul himself did (v. 25a).

Evan: Do Romans 9 and 10 teach hyper-Calvinism?

Rob: If by hyper-Calvinism, you refer to the idea that the gospel should not be freely offered, I would say Paul shows the exact opposite ambition in Romans chapters 9 and 10. In fact, it is interesting that after putting forth his great chapter on election in Romans chapter 9, the apostle begins Romans 10 by saying that his “heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel [is] that they might be saved” (10:1). Moreover, he continues throughout that chapter discussing the means by which salvation would come to his countrymen, namely, through human instrumentality, specifically through the preaching of the gospel of Christ. As John Murray rightly says, “The main point is that the saving relationship to Christ involved in calling upon his name is not something that can occur in a vacuum; it occurs only in a context created by proclamation of the gospel on the part of those commissioned to proclaim it.”

Evan: What do you hope readers take away from your commentary?

Rob: I hope they take away the vital significance of the biblical gospel and an increasing desire to share it as widely as possible. Further, since the book of Romans supremely showcases the central doctrines of the Christian faith, my prayer is that having read my commentary, believers will be built up in their most holy faith and learn to live in ways that most honor the true and living God.

Evan: Will your one volume on Romans be part of a larger series?

Rob: Yes. Mentor Books is planning on publishing a series on the Pauline epistles by a few different authors in a similar format to my new volume.

Please pray for this new series, and expect to see forthcoming volumes.

Evan: Thank you Pastor Rob for doing this Q&A! May the Lord continue to bless you, your family, and your ministry. May the Lord use Expository Outlines and Observations on Romans to help many believers!

Endorsements:

Rob Ventura’s thorougly Reformed exposition of Paul’s greatest epistle is packed full of insights for preachers and teachers of God’s Word. His approach strikes an excellent balance. He discusses the details of each verse without getting overly technical. He quotes great theologians of the Augustinian/Reformed tradition while letting the Scriptures speak for themselves. His commentary is exegetical, doctrinal, and warmly practical, containing helpful applications for both believers and unbelievers at the end of every section. This is a reliable and highly recommended exposition for people who want to be like Ezra in studying, obeying, and teaching God’s Word (Ezra 7:10). 

—Dr. Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan

In Rob Ventura’s commentary on the book of Romans, he states that Paul’s purpose in writing this letter to this church was fivefold: biographical, theological, practical, pastoral, and missional. The same can be said about this new work. Furthermore, its deep insights and simplicity make it useful to all believers — the seasoned expositor, the Sunday school teacher, the parent leading family devotions, and the recent convert.

—Paul Washer, Founder and Director of HeartCry Missionary Society

As readers, as ministers, as pastors, we can never get to the bottom of Romans. Rob Ventura in his study of the letter particularly assists those who preach and teach the epistle. This commentary is carefully outlined with helpful exegetical comments along with theological reflection. It especially stands out for its focus on application and for quotes from luminaries from the past.

—Dr. Tom Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky

If preachers around the world were to expound on Romans, as Steven J. Lawson in his foreword to this commentary wishes they would, they might think it too daunting a task. The sheer number of commentaries on Romans is overwhelming, and they are often aimed at the academy of scholars rather than the pastor of a local church. Rob Ventura has mined these resources, includes a list of his favorite evangelical commentaries for preaching through Romans, and provides his own solid and theologically grounded insights in a way that is most helpful for those who have the weekly charge to proclaim God’s Word. For each section, he lays out the general theme, provides a homiletical outline, a summary, key exegetical and practical insights (the latter are often alliterative). What is unique is his inclusion of suggested applications from the text for the non-Christian. His diligent research covering the long history of the interpretation of Romans and his own discerning reading of the text will be a most welcome resource for pastors. I highly recommend it.

—Dr. David E. Garland, Professor of Christian Scriptures, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University

With flair but no fluff, this well-organized study models how to think through Romans from the ground up. It will aid preachers and teachers in grasping both the stately trees (verses) and magnificent forest (the whole epistle) of the sublime gospel presentation called Romans. Notable features include (1) effective citation of dozens of commentators from previous centuries, (2) careful attention to the Greek text, and (3) the author’s zeal to see people saved through Jesus the Messiah whom Romans presents. We all need Him. This book skillfully unpacks, and packages for the reader, the power of God for salvation contained and explained in Romans.

—Dr. Robert W. Yarbrough, Professor of New Testament, Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO, USA

This is a splendidly rich and extremely useful volume, written in a style reminiscent of Spurgeon’s Treasury of David. It abounds with pithy outlines of the biblical text, insightful exegetical analysis, select quotations from classic commentaries, and suggested points of application. From now on, this will be the first resource I’ll turn to when studying any passage from Romans. 

—Phil Johnson, executive director, Grace to You, the media ministry of John MacArthur

There are few books of Scripture more important to understand and expound than Paul’s great epistle to the Romans. Its doctrinal exposition of the gospel is unique in Scripture. But it is crucially important to communicate its profound teachings practically, popularly, and passionately. This is the value of Rob Ventura’s exposition of the book. He provides the student and the preacher with a clear and straightforward exposition and also potent and timely application of the letter. May God give Rob’s work wonderful usefulness in spreading Romans life-changing gospel truths. 

—Dr. Sam Waldron, President, of Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary and One of the Pastors of Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Owensboro, Kentucky

Rob Ventura is an author, scholar, and pastor-preacher with the gift of expressing New Testament theology in clear, elegant prose. Reading him in full flow in his new commentary on Romans affords the simple pleasure of watching an expert do what they do best. He has plundered the finest commentators on this letter giving the book a delightful fragrance, and so, has put every succeeding expositor and preacher of Romans in his debt. In this fine achievement, he clothes conservative evangelical proclamation with a refreshing intellectual rigor. For everyone whose task and delight it is to explain the meaning and relevance of the Word of God, this book is an indispensable resource. Not only does it help us understand the meaning of this mighty letter but, from the manifested principles of interpretation and application, it illumines all of Scripture’s relevance to us. Tolle Lege! Take up and read!

—Dr. Geoff Thomas, former pastor for over fifty years of Alfred Place Baptist Church (Independent), Aberystwyth, Wales

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Evan Knies is an elder of North Hills Church in West Monroe, LA. He is the husband of Lauren and father to Maesyn. He is a graduate of Boyce College and Southern Seminary.