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.