For Thursday's class, please read my study questions on Romans and then as much as you can of Paul's letter to the Romans. Fucusing on Chapters 1-3 and 12-15 will work well.
From the chapters you read, pick out a verse or two that you think is a particularly important part of Paul's recipe for helping Jewish and gentile believers get along with one another. Cite also a verse you find particularly puzzling and explain why you find this verse hard to understand.
Alternatively, you might take a stab at explaining the verse another student found difficult/confusing or at answering one of the study questions.
I really enjoy how Paul discusses how Jews and Gentiles view and act upon the law. In chapter 2 verses 14-20 he contrasts Jews and Gentiles: Jews know the law so well that they can just rest in God’s goodness, and they can more so focus on the desire of God rather than focus on knowing all the laws (because they already know them so well). Gentiles on the other hand don’t know the law as well - but they still know what to do because they have the law written on their hearts. In verse 11 Paul says that God has no partiality. Jews and Gentiles approach the gospel differently - but one isn’t better than the other! Everyone comes from a different background and everyone walks in their Christian life a little different - and that is okay.
ReplyDeleteSomething that strikes me as puzzling - not as far as understanding the passage but in looking at today’s culture - would be Romans 1:26-27. Paul is basically saying that men being with men and women being with women is bad… yet so many people in the world want gay marriage to be okay and acceptable. How do Christians endorse gay marriage with verses like these from Paul? I guess that is what I find puzzling, how so many believers can stand strong and say that gay marriage is okay. I suppose this might cause some riots in class - it’s only slightly counter-cultural. But it does raise an interesting question.
I do agree with you on the Romans 1:26-27, India. I am also a proponent of the fact that gay marriage is not acceptable. Many people would go and say that this no longer applies to us - we are not the ancient Roman Empire. But Paul, being a convert and a significant figure in the Early Church would know this. However, if you read before that in verses 22-23 it states,
Delete"Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things." Then, it goes to explain that "God gave them up" due to these things. Does this suggest homosexuality is some sort of punishment leading to them not being saved?
Paul gets right after it in Chapter 1 when it comes to the Jews and Gentiles. Verses 16 and 17 say that God's power will save all who believe; Jews and Gentiles. It goes on to say God puts people right with himself through the gospel. Chapter 3 also touches on the Jews and Gentiles in verse 9. Paul says that Jews and Gentiles are alike under the power of sin. It does not matter who you are if you are sinning. It also does not matter who you are as long as you are worshiping God.
ReplyDeleteOne passage that I found a little confusing was Romans 13:1-6. Paul is talking about how everyone should obey state authorities because they are God's servants. I guess I question and wonder if all state authority members were God's servants. At this point in time was Rome pretty much under control? Because there were many times in ancient Rome of great chaos and the authority leaders were definitely not followers of God.
I have always loved the book of Romans. It is one of the only books outside the Gospels that is used HEAVILY for apologetics. The passages that I think helped the uniting of Jews and Gentiles - particularly converted Jews/Gentiles- are the ones that many of us cite today. They are Romans 5:6-9 (Telling how Jesus was sent by God to die for us - fulfilling OT law.), and Romans chapter 8 (Be united under Christ Jesus - Spirit helps us obey the commandments because of what He did.) We still recite these today because of their importance. They tell exactly what the Gospel is in short form. Unite under that and support the Church.
ReplyDeleteThe only confusing part I think is Romans 11, with the story of branches "grafted in". Is this meaning to be a story of conversion in parable form? What is the reason for the story?
One of my favorite verses from Romans is Romans 12: 9-21. In this verse or verses, Paul is talking about love. He is telling the Romans to love one another. Verse 10 says, "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."
ReplyDeleteThe verse I find particularly interesting is 14-16, "14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." I absolutely love the last part, Do not be conceited. How important is this verse even today? There are so many people, myself included, that are conceited and proud. They do not want to associate with others below their supposed greatness.
I am with India when it comes to Romans 1:26-27 being a confusing verse. Later in Romans Paul is talking about loving everyone. As a Christian, I know that I should not be for gay marriage, but as a person I am completely ok with it. I know that as a Christian I should reach out and help people who have or are stumbling, but who am I to say that they are in face stumbling? I am extremely confused about this.
agreed!! is this a "hate the sin, love the sinner" sort of problem?
DeleteIn Romans chapters 2-3 Paul says some very important stuff to the Jews. He makes it clear that not everyone is right. Everyone sins and does not follow what they preach to others. I think this is important because it will makes the Jews see they are just like the Gentiles.
ReplyDeleteI think 13:1-8 is puzzling because if there is a bad ruler would people want to say God gave him he power so follow him. All rulers/ government people are not so good. This was a passage that was only meant for that time.
"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus us Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.' For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" (Romans 10:9-13 NIV)
ReplyDeleteVerse 12, poorly cited, states verbatim there is no difference between a Jew or a Gentile as long as they believe that Jesus is the Anointed One. This is good, especially since earlier chapters he was not happy with how the Jewish community wasn't the majority in the Christian community. They believed in God's teachings longer and lived by his Law, you'd think things would be different. Paul gives the Gentiles great advice concerning the Jewish; don't be arrogant. Just because you believe and they are having troubles, the Christians should be fearful that they also don't lose faith.
There wasn't any real passage(s) that was hard to understand except Romans 16:1-16. The more I thought on it, I believe these verses could be considered the ancient equivalent of the prayers of the church, and by that I mean a list of people that Paul thinks other Christians should pray for.
Petra- Just Reach Out
Based partially on Romans 10:9-13 (with Psalm 34:16-18)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUopILc0J-c
I really like the book of Romans as well, it is one that has definitely been stuck in my mind since vacation bible school when I was little. One of the verses I still know by heart because I learned it as a song, Romans 16:19.
ReplyDeleteBut in relation to this discussion, I think that Romans 2:17-2:25 are really important to Paul's plan to make the Jews and the Gentiles get along better. In this verse he is criticizing the Jews for their way of thinking, and he urges them to change it, or at least make more sense of their thoughts and actions. I also like the verses 3:9-3:10. I think that these also play an important role because it talks about how both Jews and Gentiles are sinners, in this way he makes them the same.
What I found confusing was the part that came after 3:10, I wasn't really sure what that selection was and what it was referring to.