What do you think?
Rate this book
Swindoll's Living Insights New Testament Commentary
Insights on Romans
Journey back in time to ancient Corinth, where, in the house of a Christian named Gaius, the apostle Paul dictates a letter to the Christians in Rome that forever shapes the course of the church. In depth and detail, Chuck Swindoll takes you inside Paul's letter to the Romans. Now, discover for yourself its narrative drive, overarching message, and joyous implications for our lives. Insights on Romans is a stirring exploration of the New Testament's foremost manifesto of faith, righteousness, grace, identification with Christ, and bright hope for the future. Swindoll's New Testament Insights Series 'To the end of my days, my major goal in life is to communicate the Word with accuracy, insight, clarity, and practicality.'---Charles Swindoll Combining rich, rock-solid scholarship with a storyteller's imagery and passion, Chuck Swindoll has a gift for sweeping people into the immediacy of the Scriptures. This landmark series is the legacy of a master teacher and communicator to the church of Jesus Christ. You'll gain remarkable new insights into the Bible---and far more. God's Word will come alive for you, filled with drama, power, and truth, as you journey with Chuck chapter by chapter through the New Testament.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published December 4, 2009
129 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Charles R. Swindoll
966 books836 followersCharles Swindoll has devoted over four decades to two passions: an unwavering commitment to the practical communication and application of God's Word, and an untiring devotion to seeing lives transformed by God's grace. Chuck graduated magna cum laude from Dallas Theological Seminary and has since been honored with four doctorates. For his teaching on Insight for Living, he has received the Program of the Year award and the Hall of Fame award from the National Religious Broadcasters as well as multiple book awards.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 5, 2015
Paul's letter to the Romans is the greatest theological work ever written. It cannot be improved upon.
However, it was written in a language with which most of us are not familiar, in a place, time and culture far different from our own. So we have commentaries that help illuminate the text for us.
Charles Swindoll's "Insights on Romans" is an excellent example of the genre. He is especially strong on illustration and application, as well as his ability to explain what was meant in the original Greek.
"Insights" also contains many welcome helps, such as photographs, lists of key words defined, charts, maps and sidebars on topics such as the teachings of Plato and circumcision.
However, it was written in a language with which most of us are not familiar, in a place, time and culture far different from our own. So we have commentaries that help illuminate the text for us.
Charles Swindoll's "Insights on Romans" is an excellent example of the genre. He is especially strong on illustration and application, as well as his ability to explain what was meant in the original Greek.
"Insights" also contains many welcome helps, such as photographs, lists of key words defined, charts, maps and sidebars on topics such as the teachings of Plato and circumcision.
December 11, 2014
This book is an excellent resource for a better understanding of the bible. I use it to supplement my daily reading and it has been extremely helpful to me. I love the way the book begins. Charles Swindoll's writing style takes you back 2000 years to when the book of Romans is said to be written. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a better understanding of the book of Romans.
May 8, 2015
"Insights on Romans" is a Bible commentary on the book of Romans. The author explained the meaning of various key Greek words to help the reader understand confusing passages and to bring out the full meaning of the text. He also provided information on the cultural and historical background and quoted similar statements made elsewhere in the Bible to help the reader fully understand the verses.
The book begins with an introduction explaining why Paul wrote the book. There was a timeline from 26 AD to 117 AD showing who was ruling and a black-and-white map showing the areas around the Mediterranean Sea.
The author then gave a paragraph or two of Scripture from Roman and then studied through that verse-by-verse. At the end of each section, he discussed how we can apply the writer's message to our own lives. He also included occasional "journal" pages were he talked about how those verses had been applied or worked out in his life.
Though you can look up information on just a single verse, this is more a Bible study book where it's assumed you'll read the whole book. Most of the sections focused on clarifying what the verses meant so the reader can better understand them. I appreciated that the author took a whole-Bible, balanced view of the verses, especially regarding the predestination (and free will) verses.
Overall, this book was easy to follow and understand. I'd recommend it to Christians who want to dig deeper into understanding Romans.
The book begins with an introduction explaining why Paul wrote the book. There was a timeline from 26 AD to 117 AD showing who was ruling and a black-and-white map showing the areas around the Mediterranean Sea.
The author then gave a paragraph or two of Scripture from Roman and then studied through that verse-by-verse. At the end of each section, he discussed how we can apply the writer's message to our own lives. He also included occasional "journal" pages were he talked about how those verses had been applied or worked out in his life.
Though you can look up information on just a single verse, this is more a Bible study book where it's assumed you'll read the whole book. Most of the sections focused on clarifying what the verses meant so the reader can better understand them. I appreciated that the author took a whole-Bible, balanced view of the verses, especially regarding the predestination (and free will) verses.
Overall, this book was easy to follow and understand. I'd recommend it to Christians who want to dig deeper into understanding Romans.
April 25, 2018
Romans is considered one of the pivotal books of the New Testament, an important theological treatise which gives a thorough explanation of God's plan for salvation. For Calvinists, Romans contains the strongest scriptural argument for the doctrine of election. For Luther, Romans was the road that he travelled from religion to faith. Swindoll utilizes an approach which combines historical background, greek word study and a section by section look at the text to help Christians decipher the many layers of teaching contained within this epic epistle. One of the key factors I found missing was a look at the overlaying doctrines of the book. Careful examination of the text shows that Paul had one overlying message, with the rest of the text serving as detail. Swindoll also gave too great an emphasis on teachings which might be intellectually interesting for some but which ultimately are unhelpful to believers in their day to day lives. I don't know if writers studying this book simply give out from exhaustion but it seemed to me that chapters 14-16, which deal with how to live as a church received too little explanation, while other chapters received far too much attention.
This has been part of a long study I have been doing on Romans, one of many books used.
This has been part of a long study I have been doing on Romans, one of many books used.
Read
February 24, 2010Charles “Chuck” Swindoll has indeed done an amazing job on Insights On Romans.
Listening to Swindoll on the radio is good. Reading his books is good. I never dreamed, however, that his commentary would be so good.
Swindoll combines an amazing amount of background information: society, geography, religious beliefs, politics, etc. He then shows how these things are relevant to the text.
Not only does he do this, but Swindoll takes the text and faithfully expounds upon it.
Then there are charts, maps, illustrations, etc. to help the reader.
Scholar, layman, and pastor will find this a good reference.
I honestly was very pleased with this book and look forward to using it more in the future.
Zondervan has done a great service to the people of Christ by publishing this work by Swindoll.
Thanks to our friends at Zondervan for supplying a copy for review.
Listening to Swindoll on the radio is good. Reading his books is good. I never dreamed, however, that his commentary would be so good.
Swindoll combines an amazing amount of background information: society, geography, religious beliefs, politics, etc. He then shows how these things are relevant to the text.
Not only does he do this, but Swindoll takes the text and faithfully expounds upon it.
Then there are charts, maps, illustrations, etc. to help the reader.
Scholar, layman, and pastor will find this a good reference.
I honestly was very pleased with this book and look forward to using it more in the future.
Zondervan has done a great service to the people of Christ by publishing this work by Swindoll.
Thanks to our friends at Zondervan for supplying a copy for review.
November 21, 2018
Outstanding read for the novice
Swindoll's explanation of each passage, using his vast knowledge of historical language and culture, as well as colorful stories, clearly draws a picture of the time place and purpose of each of the pages of Romans. Romans has always been a very "scary" book for me and hard to understand. If you start at the beginning, it kinda draws a grim picture of how much trouble we're in as fallen humans. But after spending months slowly working thru these pages, I'm no longer scared, but instead grateful, for Paul's letter to clarify our purpose and His expectations, and to Swindoll for dumbing it down for me!
Swindoll's explanation of each passage, using his vast knowledge of historical language and culture, as well as colorful stories, clearly draws a picture of the time place and purpose of each of the pages of Romans. Romans has always been a very "scary" book for me and hard to understand. If you start at the beginning, it kinda draws a grim picture of how much trouble we're in as fallen humans. But after spending months slowly working thru these pages, I'm no longer scared, but instead grateful, for Paul's letter to clarify our purpose and His expectations, and to Swindoll for dumbing it down for me!
September 7, 2016
Chuck Swindoll is probably my favorite Bible teachers. I have enjoyed many of his books on characters in the Bible and scriptural commentaries. I believe this is one of his best commentaries. It is extremely helpful in the study of Paul's letter to the Romans. I have also used it as a devotional, reading it a section at a time, concurrently with the passage from Romans covered by that section of Chuck's book. Romans is central to our beliefs as Christians, and 'Insights on Romans' is one of the very best commentaries on that book of the Bible.
November 24, 2017
I love love love this book
Chuck Swindoll is a master at using analogies and personal stories to bring scripture to life and make it relevant to our lives. This book can used as a commentary reference or read as a regular book. Very easy to read and understand. I couldn’t put it down,
Chuck Swindoll is a master at using analogies and personal stories to bring scripture to life and make it relevant to our lives. This book can used as a commentary reference or read as a regular book. Very easy to read and understand. I couldn’t put it down,
April 23, 2019
Very detailed look at Romans
The author is very wise and knowledgeable and an excellent teacher. However, I completely disagree with his theology that God no longer speaks to people. Put that aside and glean from the book.
The author is very wise and knowledgeable and an excellent teacher. However, I completely disagree with his theology that God no longer speaks to people. Put that aside and glean from the book.
June 17, 2016
As always Swindoll brings great insight to the scriptures and give you a lot to think about.
March 14, 2019
One I need to read again!
April 9, 2025
A surprisingly excellent commentary on one of the more challenging, theologically robust books in the Bible, Insights on Romans is well-balanced, incredibly detailed, and holistically applicable. Swindoll utilizes an approach that combines historical background, Greek word study, and section-by-section commentary of the text to help the reader mine the depth of this ancient epistle.
I used the commentary as a guide for preparing teaching outlines for my church's 7-week study through the book of Romans. I probably could not have found a more streamlined and accessible guide.
I used the commentary as a guide for preparing teaching outlines for my church's 7-week study through the book of Romans. I probably could not have found a more streamlined and accessible guide.
March 19, 2020
I love Charles Swindoll's commentaries. Very informative, including historical context, social conventions at that time, etc. His series of books are excellent companion books if you are reading any book of the New Testament.
March 3, 2022
Excellent study guide for both new and old Christians
Chuck gives easy to understand explanations of each chapter, including notes on the culture at the time Paul was writing in. Each section is then followed with ways the Scripture can be applied to the individual's life.
Chuck gives easy to understand explanations of each chapter, including notes on the culture at the time Paul was writing in. Each section is then followed with ways the Scripture can be applied to the individual's life.
September 14, 2025
In his usual friendly, and through way, Swindoll leads through the book of Romans. Paul's words to the Romans become clear and and made me aware of how important the words are for today. Kindness, acceptance, compromise and dialogue are always important
March 11, 2021
Great review of the book of Romans, with many insightful details on language and concepts.
Written in understandable terms, very accessible for anyone.
Written in understandable terms, very accessible for anyone.
June 14, 2024
Great study material
I used this book in my daily study through the new testament. I love it. I'm learning a lot. I'm looking forward to learning more
I used this book in my daily study through the new testament. I love it. I'm learning a lot. I'm looking forward to learning more
October 26, 2025
Love Swindolls commentaries, it’s just hard to do Romans justice. Some things felt like they could have been deeper and some of the applications felt awkward, but still a great and useful commentary.
July 22, 2024
I really appreciated this commentary as I studied the book of Romans. Pastor Swindoll is super organized and gives background info for context and understanding. He is also great at making charts and special visuals to help aid the understanding of key teachings.
It is a super commentary!
It is a super commentary!
January 19, 2022
enjoying this commentary
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews