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