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!