Romans - September 23, 2007

Introduction - Romans 1:1-17 (continued)

II. {ROM 1:16-17} Announcing His Theme

A. Question For Discussion — According to Rom 1:16-17, what is Paul’s theme for the book of Romans?
B. Questions For Encouraging Discussion
1. What does Rom 1:16-17 say about the gospel?
a. It is God’s salvation power, power for saving mankind.

2. (v.16) What is the gospel?
a. ASV footnote suggest “good tidings”; Amplified suggest “good news”; 2098. euaggelion; a good message.
b. The text specifically says it is “God’s power of salvation”.
OBSERVATION: “the” before “power” is not part of the Greek, thus, “I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is God’s power unto salvation.” It was God’s creation power which brought mankind into existence and it is God’s gospel power which brings mankind back into fellowship with God — spiritually saves mankind. Nothing came into existence without God’s creation power and no one is saved from their sins without the use of God’s gospel power. The Holy Spirit, via Paul, does not offer an alternate plan of salvation nor even suggest there is a “zap” method of salvation.

3. What was the gospel’s purpose?
a. It was “unto salvation”.

4. Whom was it supposed to save?
a. Everyone who believed could be saved.
b. It was for the Jew and the Greek.

5. How does the gospel save?
a. It saved by faith, because salvation came to everyone who believed.

6. Why does Paul quote Habakkuk 2:4 in Romans 1:17?
a. He quoted Habakkuk, who was a Levite, because the prophet essentially speaks the same thought as Paul; “the righteous shall live by faith.”
b. The citation of this proof text gives Paul’s theme of “righteousness by faith” a definite Old Testament base, i.e., those under the Law of Moses were expected to be obedient to be saved by faith — salvation by faith is not found only in the New Testament.

7. Does Rom 10:17 shed light on the purpose of Rom 1:16-17?
a. Paul express same idea as Rom 1:17 in a different form.
b. Faith comes by hearing (reading and obeying) the doctrine about Christ and his mission.

C. DEEP PONDER: What is the meaning of the phrase: “from faith unto faith” in 1:17? From Old Testament faith to New Testament faith? From one degree of faith to another degree of faith? Something else? First consider the following...
1. What is the context?
a. (v.16) Paul is speaking of the gospel of Christ.
b. (v.15) He is ready to preach the gospel of Christ.
c. (v.16a) He is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
(1) Why is Paul not ashamed of the gospel of Christ?
(2) (v.16b) Because it is God’s power for salvation.
(a) (v.17) Because it revealed God’s righteousness.

2. Three words that must be correctly understood/applied for an accurate understanding of phrase...
a. “Righteousness” = 1343. dikaiosune; quality of being just (of character or act); specially the justification of a Christian...
(1) Phrase “righteousness of God”, in this and similar contexts, has reference to God’s acquittal of a man or His pronouncing a person free from past sins.
b. “From” = G1537. ek; out of; expressed origin or source; the point where an action or motion proceeds
c. “To” [“unto” ASV] = G1519. eis = Word denoting entrance into, or direction; into, to, in, towards, for, among.
(a) Word “EIS” informs the purpose of an action; “EIS” tells us why an action is taken.

3. How is faith used in the New Testament?
a. {Jud 1:3; Gal 3:23-25} System of teaching .
(1) Faith, by metonymy (one noun is used for another noun in which there is a relationship), is put for the thing believed.
b. {Rom 3:24-26} Conviction of the truth of anything; trust.

4. Deep Pondering Evidenced applied —Meaning of the expression “from faith to faith”
a. The first word “faith” of Rom 1:17 is used in the sense of a system of teaching [Jud 1:3; Gal 3:23-25]
(1) It is “from” (out of) the gospel (the “first” word faith, the system of teaching [cf. Rom 1:16]) that the “second word faith” is obtained.
(2) The “first word faith” is source for the “second word faith”, i.e., the second “faith” mentioned is the result of the first “faith” mentioned.
(3) First word faith in [1:17] is the “gospel” of [1:16].
b. “Second word faith” of Rom 1:17 is a firm conviction, assurance, trust in God is trust [Rom 3:24-26].
c. Thus, it is from the gospel (the first word faith) we learn(have a firm conviction) to trust in God’s righteousness to provide salvation, i.e., eternal life.

D. Evidence Applied — [Discussion Question Answered} Announcing His Theme
1.

Romans - September 16, 2007

INTRODUCTION (ROM 1:1-17) Continued...

5. What does Paul say was his mission when he was given authority of apostleship?
a. Paul tells them in [Rom 1:5] his mission is to bring the reason for obedience to a level of “want-to” because it is logical. In [Rom 16:26] he tells them they have received what is necessary to have a “want-to” attitude based on what they have learned about the gospel. To create or cause the desire to have an obedient faith [trust] that will lead to a perfect faith (always trusting the source your faith)...
(1) Game of falling, without bending your knees, into the arms of one behind you begin with a short fall, likewise faith is a process of developing trust (reading the Bible)
b. No doubt Paul is also writing for the benefit of the Jews [Rom 2:17], not only those influenced by the Jews [cf. Rom 9:1-11:36]. Paul is telling the Jews his mission is to bring the Gentiles to an obedience of faith. In his process of teaching the Gentiles (which was his God given mission) the church in Rome (Jews and Gentiles alike) will also gain a better appreciation of what it means to have an obedience of faith.

6. How did Paul win the favor of the church [group] as a church [group]?
a. (v.8) He complimented them on their faith being proclaimed throughout the whole world.
b. (v.9) He mentioned them often in his prayers.
c. (v.10) He told them he wanted to come and see them; Why did he want to come see them?.
(1) (v.11) To impart some spiritual gift to “establish” them.
(a) What does “establish” mean?
i) “established” = 4741. sterizo; to set fast; . (lit.) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (fig.) to confirm.
(2) (v.12) To be mutually comforted by each other’s faith.
(3) (v.13) To have some fruit among them as among the rest of the Gentiles.
d. (v.13) Had tried to come before, but was let (KJV) [hindered (ASV)].
e. (v.14) He said he was a debtor:
(1) To the Greeks and Barbarians.
(2) To the wise and unwise.
OBSERVATION: This is Paul’s picturesque way of saying “all of mankind”. He was a debtor to all the ones for whom his Master had died.
f. (v.15) He was ready (eager) to preach the gospel in Rome.

C. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered]— What do these verses indicate about how Paul gained favorable attention of the church in Roman in this letter; motivate them to read or listen to the letter?
1. Informed them, in word and deed, he was doing the work he was given to do, not as one who is important but as another’s slave; but he was also eager to do so.
2. He was authorized by deity to take the message of salvation he was bringing, thus, while he was a slave he was doing the work of his master.
3. The message he was giving them was for their benefit, thus, he was eager to be able to them help know more about God’s salvation power — the gospel.

II. {ROM 1:16-17} Announcing His Theme

Romans - September 11, 2007

I. Introduction (1-17) continued...

3. PONDER: Consider location of “the” to obedience and faith in Romans 1:5 in KJV and other versions. What do you think is the significance of the location?
a. “To bring about the obedience of faith” [NASB] and “unto obedience of faith” [ASV] as opposed to “for obedience to the faith” [KJV]
(1) The NASB, ASV, and others inform “obedience is springing from faith (trust); The KJV informs “obedience to the doctrine or the gospel (the faith)
(2) These Christians have been raised/taught (no doubt by Jews who first heard the gospel on the first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection) with the idea salvation is based on what you do (works of merit, outward actions) not on doing what you do because you have surrender to Christ. They were taught works of have-to not works of want-to. They were taught the outward man makes the inward man do things pleasing to Christ. Paul is going to teach them the inward man makes the outward man do things that are pleasing to Christ. Paul is going to move them from being babes in Christ (“have to do”) to adults in Christ (“want to do”).
b. If necessary consider the following comments on obedience of faith is the correct reading in Rom 1:5:
(1) [Robertson’s Word Pictures] - Subjective genitive as also in Rom 16:26 means the obedience which spring from faith (the act of assent or surrender).
(2) [Vincent’s Word Studies] - Unto marks the object of the grace and apostleship: in order to bring about. Obedience of faith is the obedience which is characterized and proceeds from faith.
c. Also consider this:
(1) “For” (KJV); “Unto” (ASV); “to bring about” (NASB) is the Greek word G1519. eis, A primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.). Thus, Paul is telling the readers his purpose is to inform their obedience should spring from faith, i.e. trust, not doctrine (book learning alone)
(2) An Example: Wearing a seat-belt because it is the law is the same as “obedience to the faith”; wearing a seat-belt because you agree it saved lives — you would wear it even it is was not the law is the same as the obedience of faith. Wearing a seat-belt because it is the law or because you have seen the wisdom of the seal-belt will both save your life, however, such is not the case in saving our soul. To save your soul you must do what you do because you want to (desire) not because you have to (fear). Paul’s is going to teach them to desire to wear their seat-belt because it is logical, it is the right thing to do considering what God has done by the way of Christ.

4. PONDER: Considering “nations” in 1:5 what is the previous religious leanings of the hearers — Jew or Gentile? Would this have an impact on how the received the gospel of Christ
a. They were for the most part Gentiles influenced by the Jew concept of Christ.
b. Rom 1:5 is not the “Jews” under discussion but the “Gentiles” for the word ethnos (nations) is used. It can mean the Jewish nation if used in the singular but here it is used as plural and the plural refers exclusively to the Gentiles. (Lensky in his commentary on Rom 1:5 states “nations” here does include the Jews.) It might be noted other versions translate the word as Gentiles rather than “nations” as the KJV. It is interesting in the KJV 93 times the Greek word ethnos is translated as Gentiles but not at Roman 1:5
c. Would not be surprised if some of the church in Rome were obeying the gospel because they felt they had to or it "seemed to be" the right thing to do, not because they understood the importance of and the need for a different plan of salvation that only the gospel (the doctrine or the faith) could fill. This letter to the Romans would make clear, to Jews and Gentiles, why the gospel of Christ was the only way of salvation, thus, it would be illogical to reject it.
d. The significance of the reading Gentile may be it is speaking specifically to the Gentile converts at Rome and it is entirely probable they would be quite familiar with the thought the coming of Christ was a promise of prophecy. As there was not a written "new testament" much reading of the scripture (and Law) probably took place during their meetings or coming together to study and worship. While Paul has expressed things that should and would have more meaning to Jews on face value but because of their familiarity with the subject Paul is only restating to emphasize Christ came as was promised in prophesy.
e. No doubt there were Jews in the city who were converts, (converts for one reason or another), as the gospel was spread because of Christians being dispersed by persecution. There were undoubtedly many (Gentile as well as Jew) who "obeyed" the gospel for reasons other than true conviction and would need to be convinced of obedience to, because of faith (or trust), in order to obtain forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God.
f. It is also evident from continuing in the book of Romans that there was an influence (Jews, teaching false doctrine) in Rome that suggested that converts must continue to live by the Law and which Paul in his writing is discounting and making it very clear that the new and different "plan of salvation" was now in effect and would be the only one acceptable to God and could not be combined with another.

5. What does Paul say was his mission when he was given authority of apostleship?
a.

Romans - September 2, 2007

The Book of Romans
I. Introduction (1:1-17)

I. {ROM 1:1-15} Addressing The Church In Rome
A. Question For Discussion — What do these verses indicate about how Paul gained favorable attention of the church in Roman in this letter; motivate them to read or listen to the letter?

B. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...

1. How did Paul establish a common tie with those who were under the influence of the Jew’s understanding of the gospel and were part of Christ’s church in Rome?
a. (v.2) The gospel had been promised through the Old Testament prophets.
b. (v.3) Jesus was the seed of David as was prophesied.

2. How did Paul establish the authority of his apostleship?
a. (v.1) By claiming he was a “called” apostle.

OBSERVATION: “as” or “to be” is italicized, i.e. added by translators, and gives the wrong idea about Paul’s apostleship. The word “called” is a verbal adjective; it takes the nature of a verb and an adjective; Paul was not telling them what he was called to be, but informing them of his current vocation. A better read would be, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.”
b. (v.1) By claiming he had been separated unto the gospel.
c. (v.5) By claiming he had received grace and favor through Jesus the Christ to be an apostle.

3. PONDER: Consider location of “the” to obedience and faith in Romans 1:5 in KJV and other versions. What do you think is the significance of the location?
a.