Romans Chapter 16

Jennie:

- vs 1-16: I don't recognize many names, but I love that men and women are mentioned. Do you think vs. 13 Paul really means that Rufus's mother is his mother? (So Rufus and Paul are brothers)

- vs 17-19: Paul is ending his letter with a warning, that the church in Rome should keep their eyes on anyone causing divisions and teaching anything contrary to the gospel. Paul calls them slaves to their own appetites. It'd be neat to do a more in depth study of what it means to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.

- vs 20: it's funny to me that "peace" and "crush" are used in the same sentence. But that's exactly right, God is the God of peace but he will also crush the enemy underneath our feet.

- vs. 22: Tertius must have been penning the letter for Paul (go personal assistants!)  :)

- vs 25: Paul gets a reputation for being a bit arrogant, probably for reasons like this verse when he says "my gospel" ... why would he call it that? The revelation of the mystery is Jesus Christ! I think it's called a mystery because while the prophets of old declared a savior would come, no one knew exactly what it would look like until he came. Kind of like the revelation we have of the end times, we can't see it clearly because it's yet to come.

Love!

Romans Chapter 15

Jennie:

- vs 4 stands out to me because we've been reading through 1 Chronicles which presents quite a challenge given the heavy genealogy. But Romans 15:4 tells us that whatever was written in earlier times was written for our:
instruction
perseverance
encouragement
hope

Otherwise, I made lists of what the Romans (we) were to do, and what we learn about God/Christ:

What we are to do:
- Bear the weaknesses of those without strength
- edify our neighbor
- be one in the same mind with one another
- with one accord and one voice glorify God
- accept one another
- glorify God for his mercy
- Praise the Lord
- abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit
- be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles
- strive together in prayer for our missionaries and ministers


What we learn about God/Jesus:
- Christ didn't please himself
- God gives perseverance and encouragement
- God is the father of our Lord Jesus Christ
- Christ accepted us to the glory of God
- God of hope
- God of peace

- We know Paul did eventually make it to Rome but it was as a prisoner, after his arrest in Jerusalem.

Love!

Romans Chapter 14

Hi Jennie!

This chapter is super loaded, kind of like a gun and I feel like I'm gonna hurt myself or someone else. I'll try to stick to the truth of the text by making lists

- vs. 1-9:
The person who eats meat (and is a believer):
- accept the weak in faith
- don't pass judgement on the weak in faith's opinions
- has faith that they can eat all things
- God has accepted him
- servants of God
- the Lord is able to make him stand

The person who eats only vegetables (and is a believer):
- weak in faith (yikes, the gun goes boom)
- not to judge the one who does eat meat
- servants of God
- the Lord is able to make him stand

The person who regards one day above another (and is a believer):
- must be fully convinced in his own mind
- observe it for the Lord
- live and die for the Lord
- belongs to the Lord

The person who regards every day alike (and is a believer):
- must be fully convinced in his own mind
- do so for the Lord
- live and die for the Lord
- belongs to the Lord

- vs. 10-23:
All believers:
- do not judge your brother
- we all stand before the judgement seat of God
- will give an account of ourselves to God
- don't put an obstacle or stumbling block in a brother's way
- if someone thinks something to be unclean, to him/her it is unclean
- do not hurt one another
- pursue the things which make for peace
- build one another up
- have your own conviction before God
- doesn't condemn himself in what he approves =Happy
- eats not from faith and doubts = condemned, sin

Romans Chapter 13

Jennie:

Hi!

What we learn about governing authorities:
- Every person is to be subjected to them
- From God (there is no authority except from Him)
- Established by God
- If we resist them we are opposed to God (and will receive condemnation)
- They are not a cause for fear for good behavior (I'd argue with Paul, here, regarding some countries)
- They are a cause for fear for evil behavior
- We will have praise from them if we do good
- Minister of God
- Avenger, bringing wrath on those who do evil
- Necessary to be in their subjection for the sake of our conscience
- They are servants of God
- They should be given what is due them: honor, fear, taxes (darn)

Regarding others:
- Owe nothing to anyone except mortgages and student loans (just kidding. But really: do you think God would say this is a command or more of a suggestion?)
- Love others, this fulfills the law
- Love others as I love myself (which implies I have to love myself)
- Do no wrong
- Sort of strange to me that Paul then goes into putting off deeds of darkness, making no provision for the flesh. How is that connected to loving others? Selflessness maybe?

Love!

Romans Chapter 12

Jennie:

Here's my thoughts on chapter 12:

- vs. 1: Therefore (because to God be the glory forever) present our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice. This is worship. And I like that it says "by the mercies of God, we can't do it all alone.
- vs. 2: God's good, acceptable, and perfect will can be known if we are 1. Not worldly 2. being transformed by the renewing of our minds
- vs. 3: I feel like we use this verse to say that everyone has been allotted some portion of faith from God, but do you think this is more saying that for believers, our faith helps us not think too highly of ourselves?
- vs. 4-8: Though there are many believers in Jesus Christ, we are one body
- vs. 9: "cling to what is good": This stands out to me because Proverbs 31 says I need to do my husband good and not evil all the days of my life. Lord, help me cling to good!
- vs. 10-13: Ooo, lots of good stuff here:
      - Be devoted
      - Have brotherly love for one another
      - Honor each other
      - Be fervent in spirit and diligence
      - Serve the Lord
      - Rejoice in hope
      - Persevere in tribulation
      - Be devoted to prayer
      - Contribute to the needs of others
      - Practice hospitality

- vs. 14-21: More good stuff (notice it never says "protest against people you disagree with")
      - Bless those who persecute you
      - Rejoice with those who rejoice
      - Weep with those who weep
      - Associate with the lowly
      - Don't be "wise" and haughty in your own mind
      - Never pay back evil with evil
      - Respect what is right
      - Be at peace with all men (not just talking about other believers here), so far as it depends on you (boundaries!)
      - Never take your own revenge
      - Leave room for God's wrath, for it is his to repay
      - Feed our enemies, give them something to drink
      - Overcome evil with good

Romans 11:17-35

Hi Jennie:

These verses are just so theologically heavy to me and I feel like I need a degree to understand it. So instead of asking a bunch of questions and getting frustrated, I'll just make lists about what I learn from these verses:

About Gentiles (us):
- Like a wild olive branch
- Grafted into the natural olive tree, contrary to nature
- Should not be arrogant
- Does not support the root, the root supports us
- Must stand by our faith
- Must not be conceited but fear God for God will not spare us either
- Once disobedient but have been shown mercy


About Jews:
- Like a natural olive branch
- Broken off for their unbelief
- Will be grafted back in if they don't continue in their unbelief
- A partial hardening has happened
- Beloved
- Will be shown mercy


About God:
- He is the rich root of the natural olive tree
- Kind
- Severe
- Able to graft branches into the natural olive tree
- Deliverer
- His gifts and calling are irrevocable
- Has shut up all in disobedience so that he may show mercy to all
- Deep riches of wisdom
- Deep riches of knowledge
- His judgements are unsearchable
- His way are unfathomable
- No one knows his mind
- No one has become his counselor
- No one has first given to him that God needs to pay him back
- From him and through him and to him are all things
- The glory is his forever

Romans 11:1-16

Jennie:

Hi! Thought I'd break this one up a bit too.

- vs. 1-2: We know that God hasn't rejected his people Israel because Paul is an Israelite and God has not rejected him.
- vs. 3-4: God "keeps for himself" people who do not bow their knee to other gods. Predestination?
- vs. 5-6: In the same way then God keeps for himself a remnant (very OT word) according to his gracious choice. Again, predestination? I've heard an argument that verse 6 seems to speak to - that of course God "chooses" people to be saved. Otherwise, it's something we have done and not grace alone.
- vs. 7-10: This seems to be saying that God hardens some hearts and darkens some eyes that they cannot see. But I think the point is that not all Israel has been hardened, some have been chosen.
- vs. 11-12: By the Israelite "transgression" (not believing Christ?) salvation has come to the gentiles. But if God choses them not to be saved, how it is transgression? How is it their fault? Again, this question haunts me. Would the biblical answer really be: well, who are you to question God?
- vs. 13-16:  Paul will keep amping up his ministry to the gentiles in hopes that he moves some of his fellow Israelites to jealousy and they are saved. Do you think this is saying that the piece of "dough" that we all originated from as followers of Christ and children of Abraham is God the Father?

Love!
Steph

Romans Chapter 10

Hi Jennie!

For this chapter I think I'll break it up like this:

What we learn about Paul:
- His heart's desire and his prayer is that the people of Israel would be saved


What we learn about Israel:
- They have a zeal for God
- They do not know about God's righteousness
- They try to establish their own righteousness
- God will use other people to make them jealous
- Disobedient and obstinate


What we learn about Christ:
- He is the end of the law
- He is Lord
- His words bring about faith


What we learn about God:
- He raised Jesus from the dead
- Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed
- He is Lord of all, both Jew and Greek
- He is abounding in riches for all who call on his name
- He became manifest/found by those who did not ask for him (gentiles)

Romans Chapter 9

Jennie:

- vs. 1-5: Paul has great grief and sorrow in his heart for his fellow Israelites, he would choose to be separated from Christ if it meant that they could be saved.
- vs. 6-13: I think this is telling us that gentiles who believe in Christ (you and I) are also descendants of Abraham because of the promise, is that your understanding? Not sure why the reference to Rebekah and her sons...
- vs. 14-22: I struggle with these verses. I think Paul is saying that God hardens some hearts (like Pharaoh) to bring glory to his name and demonstrate his power. So some vessels (people) that the potter (God) makes are created to not be saved (predestination?). And of course I ask the exact thing this scripture tells me not to ask: how is it their fault then? The answer is: who are we to question God? Which is probably perfectly legitimate - I have no right to question God for who am I? Did I create the heavens and the earth and set the waters into place and breathe life into living creatures? No. But I just can't help but to think that's sort of a "lame" explanation. It's like a parent telling a child "because I said so".
- vs. 23-29: Verses about other places in scripture that show us that God called some from among the Jews and from among the Gentiles
- vs. 30-33: I think this is saying that Jesus is a "stumbling block" because we get tripped up trying to understand that we are saved not by works (following the law or being "good") but by faith in Jesus Christ alone. But for those who believe in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, we will not be disappointed.

Love!

Romans 8:18-37

Jennie:

To help me look at many of these popular verses in another way, I'm going to list what we "learn" from these verses about us as believers:

- glory will be revealed in us
- our sufferings don't even compare to this glory
- we are children of God
- the glory of the children of God will set creation free from its slavery to corruption
- we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons
- our bodies will be redeemed
- in hope we have been saved
- we hope for what we do not see
- the Spirit helps our weakness
- we don't know how to pray as we should
- the Spirit intercedes for us according to the will of God
- we are saints (category not a description, haha)
- because we are called according to his purpose and love God, he will cause all things to work together for good
- God is for us
- no one can be against us
- God didn't spare his own Son but delivered him over for us
- Christ Jesus intercedes for us too
- tribulation, distress, persecution, peril, sword, nakedness - none of these can separate us from the love of Christ
- He loves us and through him we overwhelmingly conquer
- no created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God
- the love of God for us is in Christ Jesus our Lord

Romans 8: 1-17

Hi Jennie!

This is a power-packed chapter! I decided to split it up a bit.

- vs. 1: Do you think there is missing manuscript at the end of chapter 7? It doesn't really make sense to say one the other hand I am with my flesh serving the law of sin Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- But vs. 2 clarifies a little more: The law of the Spirit in Christ Jesus has actually set us free from the law of sin and death.
- Thank you Lord for sending your own son in the likeness of sinful man, yet perfect, to be an acceptable offering for our sins.
- Help us Lord to keep our minds set on the things of the Spirit
- vs. 7-8: We see again that sin is a slavery that renders those in its grip no choice but to sin
- vs. 10-11: Praise God that though these bodies of ours are wasting away, our spirit is alive in Christ Jesus and the same power of God that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in us!
- vs. 14: who are the sons of God? All who are being lead by the Spirit of God
- vs. 15-17: We are adopted as sons, fellow heirs of the Kingdom of God with Christ Jesus. By the way, I'm totally ok with being a "son" of God even though I'm a woman. In the context of biblical times it was the son that inherited the riches and wealth of his father. God uses "daughter" plenty in the Bible. I'm not offended at all to be called a son in the light of these verses.

Romans Chapter 7

Hi Jennie!

Chapter 7 has a lot of "huh"?s for me. But I'll work through it anyway:

- vs. 1-3: I think Paul is using the law of marriage to describe how once we have passed away we are no longer under the law (and thus physically removed from the presence of sin). Is this your understanding? While it appears this commentary is strictly for a parallel between the law of marriage and the law which makes us aware of our sin, it's still interesting to me that Paul says "if while her husband is still living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress".  There's no exception here that says "unless she divorces for unfaithfulness". This sticks out to me because adulteress is among those mentioned in the gospels who will not inherit the kingdom of God, along with homosexuals. But the church isn't protesting second marriages is it?
- vs. 4: Thank you Lord that through Jesus we can bear fruit for you and not bear fruit for death
- vs. 7-14: I get that the law itself isn't sin. It makes us aware of our sin. However, I think Paul is "wrong" when he says (vs.9) "I was once alive apart from the Law but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died". Is that allowed? To think Paul is wrong? Haha... Paul just told us in chapter 2 that the law is written on our hearts. So it doesn't make sense that only once the commandments came that we (as a human race) became aware of our sin. That happened way back in the garden.
- vs. 18-19: Here we get our popular saying the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Though I want to do good, there is evil present in me "waging war" (vs. 23) Thank you Lord that Jesus will save us from this body of death! (vs. 24, 25)

Romans Chapter 6

Hi Jennie!

- I feel like this chapter is all about Paul trying to help the Roman Church (and us) understand the complexities yet simplicities of grace and how the freedom it brings us in Christ Jesus is freedom in righteousness not freedom to keep on sinning because that totally makes no sense. When we've died to sin we can't continue in it.
- vs. 4: We will walk in newness of life someday in resurrected bodies just as Jesus walks in newness of life in his resurrected body.
- vs. 10: The death that Jesus died he died to sin once for all. Thank you Lord!
- This chapter also helps me understand why it's really not helpful to put the moral demands of Christianity onto people who haven't yet accepted the free gift of grace in Jesus Christ. They are slaves to sin. Just as I was once. There's really no choice in the matter. Like you have to say yes to sin because it's your master and you are its slave. And at that point your "enemy" is God. But your enemy actually loves you and wants you to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and be freed from the slavery of sin. When you accept it, only then can you actually make the choice to not sin.

That's all for now. Love!
Steph

Romans Chapter 5

Jennie:

Hi! Here are my thoughts on chapter 5:

- vs 1: Thank you, Lord, that we have peace with you through Jesus Christ and are saved from your wrath through him (vs. 9)
- vs. 2: I like that this verse says by this grace in which we STAND
- vs. 3-5: I wrote these verses down for my hubby, good encouragement on a rough road. Hope does not disappoint!
- vs. 6-10: We get that someone might die for a righteous or a good person but Christ died for us when we were totally helpless sinners and his enemies
- vs. 12-21: I know these verses are comparing the sin that came into the world through one man, Adam, with the righteous that came into the world through one man, Jesus Christ. I love the parallel, it's totally great. But it breaks down for me on this one point: through Adam ALL were born into sin and thus doomed to die to pay for the consequences of sin. Through Christ, only SOME are born again into righteousness through his blood because not all will believe. But these verses don't make that distinction. Vs 18 says: "so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men." Really, all? Seems very universalist. What do you think?

Romans Chapter 4

Hi Jennie!

- This chapter is all about Abraham. Here are some things that stuck out to me:
   - vs. 3 & 10: Good reminder that Abraham was credited with righteousness because of his faith (he believed God) even before he was circumcised. Circumcision was a sign of his faith and righteousness. Therefore, circumcision alone doesn't indicate righteousness. Kind of like how I could wear a wedding ring (the physical symbol) but not actually be married.
    - vs 7-8: Thank you Lord for forgiving our lawless deeds, covering our sin, and not taking it into account!
    - vs: 17: Abraham is the father of us all who believe and have faith. God, please give life to the dead places in our lives and call into being that which does not exist (like a job for my husband)  :)
   - vs 19-21 say "without becoming weak in faith ... he did not waiver in unbelief... assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform" but I'm kind of like: uh, Paul, did you read the story of Abraham? Abraham slept with his wife's maid-servant because his wife, Sara, wanted to 'help God out' in fulfilling his promise of a son. So how can Paul say Abraham didn't waiver or become weak in faith?
   - vs 24: Jesus is Lord. If we believe in God, who raised Jesus from the dead, we are credited with righteousness as Abraham was
    - vs. 25: Jesus was delivered over to death to pay for our transgressions. Because he was God (perfect, sinless), he didn't have to die to pay for his own sins. He paid for ours in our place. And he rose as proof that the debt has been paid.

Romans Chapter 3

Jennie:

- vs 1-2: Paul says there is still great advantage to being a Jew and to the benefit of circumcision.
- vs 3: Thank you Lord that unbelief doesn't nullify your faithfulness!
- vs 4-7: Not sure what Paul is trying to say here, do you know?
- vs 8: Paul setting the record straight here
- vs 9: We are all under sin
- vs 10:18: Where do you think these things are written?
- vs 19-20: The reason for the law: 1. that every mouth may be closed. 2. that the world may become accountable. 3. through the law comes the knowledge of sin
- vs 24-26: We are redeemed through Christ Jesus, the GIFT of God's grace. God publicly displayed this act of justification (Jesus on the cross to pay for us sins). Sins committed previous to Jesus's coming God passed over as well.
- vs 27-31: The law is established (through it we know we have sinned) but the law doesn't save us, only faith saves us. So we can't boast in our works (keeping the law).

Romans Chapter 2

Hi Jennie!

- vs 1-3: We should be extremely careful when passing any sort of judgement on others, this verse says if we judge others yet practice the same things, we condemn ourselves
- vs 4: Lord, help us not to take lightly the riches of your kindness and tolerance and patience. Thank you that your kindness leads us to repentance.
- vs 5: Stubbornness and an unrepentant heart is what stores up wrath for ourselves
- vs 6-10: How do we reconcile these verses about doing good = eternal life with the gospel of Jesus Christ that says by grace alone we are saved through faith?
- vs 11: Jew or Gentile, we all stand on the same ground before God
- vs 13: Again, doing the law = justification.  But how is that grace?
- vs 15: the Law is written in our hearts. I think this is why philanthropy is so popular among those who don't profess God. They don't have to profess God, He still wrote the law on their hearts
- vs 24: The name of the Lord is still dishonored among us today because of our hypocrisy I'm sure
- vs 25-29: I imagine if you were a Jew hearing these things for the first time, it could be pretty upsetting, because circumcision was a commandment handed down to the Jews from God himself. But thinking back to the original intent of circumcision, it was a physical sign that the Jews were set apart as God's chosen people. Like my wedding ring is a sign that I have been set apart for my husband. It's not the sign that matters so much, it's the actual setting apart of our hearts.

Romans Chapter 1

Jennie:

- vs 1-7: Wow, Paul really packs it in during his formal greeting to the Roman church. Here's a few truths I pulled out:
       - The Gospel of God was promised before hand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures
       - God's Son was born as a descendant of David, humanly speaking
       - Jesus was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead
       - There is a Spirit of holiness? (Who is Jesus Christ?)
       - Through Jesus Christ our Lord we receive grace
       - Through Jesus Christ our Lord we receive apostleship (not sure the definition of that exactly)
       - We have received this grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all     people, for the sake of Jesus Christ
        - The Roman church (and us) are among the called of Jesus Christ
        - We are called as saints (hey, it's a category not a description)   :)

- vs. 8: First Paul thanks God. This is a good model for us, in our prayers, in our letters, in our attitudes
- vs. 9: I like that Paul says he serves God in his spirit. It's a good check-point for me; am I serving God truly in my spirit (or just with my lips and my actions alone)
- vs. 10-15: You can tell just how much Paul really really wants to go be with the Roman church. Paul sounds a bit arrogant here (as I feel like he often does), he'll some impart some spiritual gift and wisdom and to them. But he does say he wants them to be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. I wonder what the definition was at the time for "barbarian"?
- vs. 18: verse about the wrath of God
- vs. 20: We are without excuse because God has revealed his power and nature through what he has made (but some don't honor him as God)
- vs 23-32: Do you think this is a commentary on when the Jewish people waited for Abraham to come back down the mountain and got impatient and so started creating their own gods, etc? PS: Do you think there is anyway that "natural function" could mean that it is sinful for heterosexual individuals to abandon their natural function but because homosexual individuals "natural function"is toward one another this verse isn't applicable to them? In fact, it would actually be wrong for homosexuals to exchange their "natural function" for the ways of heterosexuals because it's not natural to them... (almost didn't have the courage to write that, I'll start a war)