2 Tim 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
To begin, start by reading the book of Romans several times with a King James Bible. Then, begin to really study out the book of Romans verse by verse. Reading and studying are different. Reading is to help you get familiar with the word and studying helps you to more closely understand it. I also recommend doing a simple 15 minutes a day reading the Bible in a Year program. This will help you to get familiar with the whole word of God.
Romans 1:8-12 KJB
“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.”
Romans 1: 8-12 in the King James Bible is the Apostle Paul speaking to the saints (believers) regarding his prayer to God that the believers would be established (which means to make stable/firm) in the sound grace doctrine that is given in his epistles of Romans-Philemon and beginning with the book of Romans. The layout of Romans- Philemon is specifically designed to establish, edify and build up the believer in sound grace doctrine. Romans will give you the foundational teachings of the grace faith; specifically, it will teach you:
• The spiritual condition and depravity of unsaved man (chapter 1).
• The worthlessness of our own self-efforts to try and save ourselves through religious works and human moralism (chapter 2).
• That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (chapter 3).
• That we are saved by grace through faith alone plus nothing (chapter 3).
• That believers are eternally secure in Christ (chapters 4 and 5).
• Our identity in Christ and how we should not just live after our flesh (chapters 6-8).
• How to yield unto God by walking in the Spirit instead of walking after the flesh (chapters 6-8).
• The dispensational changes and how God is right and just in temporarily setting aside the nation of Israel and their program in order to form the church the Body of Christ today to fill the heavenly places (Chapters 9-11).
• How to be of loving service to others especially towards fellow believers (chapter 12).
• Being good citizens on the earth while we remain here temporarily until the rapture (Chapter 13).
• Dealing with weaker brethren with grace (Chapter 14).
• Living more for others instead of just for yourself – work of the ministry (Chapter 15).
• Warnings to avoid false doctrine and to stick with the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (Chapter 16).
Once we have been firmly established in these doctrines of grace, we can continue to read and study through all of Paul's epistles as well as to study the whole bible rightly divided.
I also have an entire playlist of Romans chapters 1-8 verse-by-verse Bible Studies available on my Youtube Channel - CLICK HERE for that playlist.
I also have a Christian Meditation that is centered around Romans foundational grace teachings - it is a way to help you to get the doctrine more down into your heart (meditating on the word). It is included in a bundle with another Christian Meditation on our freedom in Christ based on Galatians. Click image below to purchase.
The Importance of Studying 1 Corinthians KJB Rightly Divided (After Being Established in Romans Sound Doctrine)
Before a believer steps into the corrective and practical instruction of 1 Corinthians, they must first be spiritually established in the foundational doctrine laid out in Romans. Romans is the book that grounds the believer in:
• Justification by faith
• Their identity in Christ
• Freedom from sin
• Life in the Spirit
• Their place in the Body of Christ
• God’s dispensational dealings
Paul calls this grounding “my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery” (Rom. 16:25 KJB).
Only after this establishment can the believer properly understand and apply the correction, reproof, and instruction found in 1 Corinthians.
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1. Romans Establishes the Foundation—1 Corinthians Builds Upon It
Romans gives the doctrinal foundation for the dispensation of grace.
1 Corinthians gives the practical correction for saints who are not walking in that doctrine.
Without Romans:
• 1 Corinthians becomes confusing
• Spiritual gifts are misunderstood
• Church order is misapplied
• Carnality is excused instead of corrected
A Mid‑Acts perspective recognizes that Romans must come first, because it stabilizes the inner man before addressing outward behavior.
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2. 1 Corinthians Corrects Carnality Using the Doctrine Already Taught in Romans
Paul repeatedly appeals to truths he already taught:
• The wisdom of God vs. the wisdom of the world
• The believer’s identity in Christ
• The sanctified position of the saint
• The call to walk worthy
These truths are rooted in Romans.
Studying 1 Corinthians after Romans allows the believer to see how doctrine produces maturity.
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3. It Clarifies Prophecy vs. Mystery—But Only Makes Sense After Romans
Chapters 12–14 deal with spiritual gifts, signs, and the transition from the prophetic program to the mystery.
A believer grounded in Romans already understands:
• Paul’s unique apostleship
• The revelation of the mystery
• The difference between Israel’s program and the Body of Christ
• Why sign gifts were temporary
This makes 1 Corinthians a book of clarity—not confusion.
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4. It Teaches Grace‑Based Church Life
1 Corinthians gives instruction for:
• Marriage
• Liberty
• Giving
• Communion
• Ministry
• Order in the assembly
But these instructions rest on the grace doctrine already established in Romans.
Without Romans, believers often mix law and grace, leading to guilt, legalism, or spiritual instability.
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5. It Contains the Clearest Statement of the Gospel—Which Romans Explains in Full
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 gives the facts of the gospel.
Romans explains the doctrine of the gospel.
Studying Romans first ensures the believer understands:
• What Christ accomplished
• What salvation provides
• What justification means
• Why works cannot save
• How grace operates
Then 1 Corinthians 15 becomes a chapter of strength and assurance.
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6. It Strengthens the Believer’s Walk—Once the Foundation Is Laid
Romans establishes the believer.
1 Corinthians matures the believer.
Together, they form the beginning of Paul’s edification design:
1. Romans — Establishment
2. 1 Corinthians — Correction
3. 2 Corinthians — Comfort & Ministry
4. Galatians — Defense of Grace
This is the divine order for spiritual growth.
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Studying 1 Corinthians is essential—but only after a believer is grounded in the sound doctrine of Romans.
A Mid‑Acts perspective honors Paul’s edification pattern and protects the believer from confusion, instability, and misapplication.
When Romans lays the foundation, 1 Corinthians becomes:
• Clear
• Practical
• Transforming
• Doctrinally rich
• Spiritually strengthening
It becomes a book that shapes the believer’s walk in grace with maturity and discernment.
SEE MY WEEKLY BLOG POSTS WHERE I HAVE FREE STUDIES IN BOTH ROMANS AND 1ST CORINTHIANS.
What Is Edification and What Does It Mean to Be Established?
"For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;" — Romans 1:11 (KJB)
From a Mid-Acts Rightly Divided perspective, edification means to be spiritually built up through the sound doctrine committed to the Apostle Paul for the Body of Christ in this present Dispensation of Grace.
The word edify literally means to build up. Just as a house needs a strong foundation, believers need to be grounded in God's Word. But we are not built up by mixing God's different programs together—we are edified by rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God... rightly dividing the word of truth." — 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJB)
Paul desired that the believers in Rome would be established—firm, grounded, and unwavering in the grace of God. Later in the same epistle he explains exactly how believers are established:
"Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery... made manifest..." — Romans 16:25-26 (KJB)
According to these verses, God establishes believers through:
My gospel (the gospel committed to Paul) — 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, the truth revealed to Paul concerning the Body of Christ.
The Scriptures, rightly understood and believed.
Being established is more than simply being saved. It is becoming spiritually mature, rooted in grace, and able to discern truth from error. An established believer is not "tossed to and fro" by every new teaching but stands confidently upon God's Word.
Edification comes as we consistently read, study, believe, and apply Paul's epistles—Romans through Philemon—which contain Christ's instructions to the Church, the Body of Christ, for today. While all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable (2 Timothy 3:16 KJB), not all Scripture is written directly to the Church in this dispensation. All Scripture is for our learning (Romans 15:4 KJB), but we must rightly divide God's Word to understand His different programs and purposes.
As we grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ, our faith is strengthened, our understanding increases, and we become established believers who can encourage and edify others.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE EDIFICATION PROCESS OF ROMANS-PHILEMON
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