Romans
Bible Study #1 Introduction
– 1:1-15
Rules
to play by:
When
I taught writing and students were given a writing prompt:
-They could quickly
write down the first three ideas that came into their heads and
their finished product would be like everyone else, OR they could
take a few extra moments and come up with something creative that
would give the grader something to be wowed by.
-If you're a person
who always speaks first, give others who process more slowly the
opportunity to answer, and make yourself search for that answer that
may be a bit deeper and cause us all more insight.
Presuppositions:
- There is a particular truth that leads to salvation: Gal 1:6-9; Acts 4:11, 12; Rom 10:1-4 → Even the Jews's righteousness is not enough to please God's righteousness; Jn 14:6.
Q #1:
Why is it important for us to establish what the Bible says is the
way to Salvation, and can we really know that?
- Dillon Thornton's four tests to apply to genuine Christians:
a) Adherence to the authority of
the Bible
b) Belief in the true identity
of Jesus
c) Understanding the
seriousness of sin
d) The necessity of love.
Q
#2: Is there anything
that you would add to this list?
Background:
Hodge: At the time of Paul's
writing, many followers of Judaism and Paganism were showing signs
that their beliefs were no longer viable. Other philosophies were
being turned to:
Stoicism: tended to repress
passion and natural feelings.
Platonism: saw all religions as
basically the same with different expressions.
Judaism:
Pharisees: contented with the
form and ritual of their faith.
Essenes: caught up in their
enthusiasm and mysticism.
Sadducees: little more than
skeptics.
The general population had very
little in the different philosophies to hold on to or to give them
hope.
Q
#3:
This was obviously advantageous for a new Gospel coming on the
scene. What other things had taken place, historically, that made
this a perfect time for God to send His Son to save us?
Date
& Place of writing: Probably written in early A.D. 57 in or near
Corinth.
Paul's
Training:
Tarsus had a center for education
that was equal to that in Alexandria and Athens. His referencing
Greek authors in 1 Cor. 15:33 and Titus 1:12 indicates that he at
least had a partial classical education. In Acts 22:3, Paul says of
his Jewish training, I am a
Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated
at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of
our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.
Paul's
conversion to Christianity was unique. I Galatians 1:11, 12 we are
told by him that it was not human persuasion which led him to the
feet of Jesus, but
the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not
receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it
through a revelation of Jesus Christ. His
unusual training put him on a par with other apostles and allowed him
to have a scholarly polemic that could refute both Gentile and Jew.
Q
#4:
What difference does it make knowing that Paul was a highly educated
theologian?
Q
#5:
Think of some ways that this fact differentiates Paul from the other
apostles.
Theologians on Romans:
Luther:
It is worthy not only
that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but
that he should occupy himself with it every day.
Calvin:
If we have
gained a true understanding of this epistle, we have an open door to
all the most profound treasures of Scripture.
Tyndale:
A light and a
way unto the whole of Scripture.
Barth:
With a joyful
sense of discovery, the mighty voice of Paul was new to me: and if to
me, no doubt, to many others also.
Lewis:
Have
you ever read the Analects
of Confucius? He ends up by saying, “This is the Tao1.
I do not know if any one has ever kept it.” That's significant: one
can really go direct from there to the Epistle
to the Romans.
The Church in Rome:
No one is sure how it came into
existence.
- It could have been Jewish
believers returning to Rome from Pentecost.
- As the capital of the empire
and a huge commerce center, believers may have moved to Rome for
business reasons.
Major
Theme:
Q
#6:
The NIV Study Bible says that the Major Theme of Romans has been
suggested to be justification
by faith;
although a broader theme states the message of the book is more
adequately stated: “Righteousness from God” (v. 1:17), which
includes justification by faith. What do you think?
Outline:
(Simple) LABC → A. What to
believe (1:1-11:36)
- Sinfulness of mankind
- Forgiveness of sin through Christ
- Freedom from sin's grasp
- Israel's past, present, and future
B. How to behave (12:1-16:27)
- Personal responsibility
- Personal notes
Romans 1:1-15, an
introduction:
Q
#7:
What are Pauls's qualifications listed here in v. 1?
Jesus brought several people
back from the dead, but they would all die again. Because Jesus
was the first person to die and then be resurrected to etermal
life, we will too (1 Jn 3:2).
Q
#8: What
are the things that are listed in vs. 2-6, and why are they
important?
Q
#9:
Would a few of you like to share a couple of short examples from
your life where you developed an interest, and then you acted on
it because you felt a calling from God?
The Jews rebelled against Rome
in 66-70 A.D. And then later in 132-135. The Gospel achieved
peacefully what the Jewish rebellions could not. We also see Paul's
willingness to go to Rome on God's schedule rather than his own.
Q
# 10:
Does anyone have a story, personal or second hand, that
demonstrates a person moving forward on a plan either in God's
timing or the result of doing something on their own timing?
PRAY
1Tao:
the
absolute principle underlying the universe, combining within itself
the principles of yin and yang and signifying the way, or code of
behavior, that is in harmony with the natural order.
