The Book of Romans
This study is not designed to be an in depth exegesis of each verse. Each week I am going to sit down and read a chapter. Then I am going give my thoughts on a few verses that stick out to me of course using some commentaries and other resources. I am not planning on spending a lot of time on this each week.
Your part is to read the chapter in any or multiple versions and give your thoughts. You can respond to what I wrote or take the conversation in a whole new direction. This is the benefit of having a Bible Study on a blog is you are free to respond to each others opinions.
Guide lines - feel free to encourage, question or even disagree. BUT, do not resort to name calling, questioning of each other’s intelligence or faith. This is to be a discussion not a wrestling match. As Paul said Romans 1:12 - 12that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.
THE TEXT
Romans 1
1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4and who through the Spirit[a] of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God[b] by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
7To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul's Longing to Visit Rome
8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
11I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. 13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.
16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[c] just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."[d]
God's Wrath Against Mankind
18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Footnotes:
- Romans 1:4 Or who as to his spirit
- Romans 1:4 Or was appointed to be the Son of God with power
- Romans 1:17 Or is from faith to faith
- Romans 1:17 Hab. 2:4
My 2 cents
Romans 1:1 – Paul has no problem telling the Romans that he has been “set apart” for the Gospel of God. It may seem like he is lording his position over the Romans. But his first words of the letter are key here. 1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, this is his position. Paul at the beginning of letter contrasts his position as servant with the greatness of God and the message that he proclaims. My experience as a Pastor is that at times I seemed to forget that fact. I actually equated my effectiveness with God’s greatness. If God was doing great things then I must be a great pastor.
Now some pastors are not using the term volunteer in their church but using the term servant. I feel that a lot of this is semantics. But we live in a sound byte world. The media in it’s coverage of the first English language debate talked about the importance of the debate. They said that the debate can produce that one sentence that resonates with voters, which will turn a campaign around. One sentence can determine who will be the next prime minister. So what does the word servant imply here? In the light of Romans 1:1, that we are all called. That every believer has a part to play in the proclamation of the Gospel, to be part of church should really bring about mutual ministry. Paul states in Romans 1:12, in his eagerness to see the Romans, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. This is the point of youth ministry.
Romans 1:16 – 17 – This verse is so straight forward. That is probably why I want to comment on it. I understand it! The point that I need to remind myself is that the Gospel is God’s power not mine, and that I receive this power through faith. That there is nothing else I can do to touch the divine. I keep thinking about teaching I received growing up. To me it boiled down God loves you no matter what but if you want him to like you here are the rules that you have to follow. NO! I can’t teach it and I don’t get it. The power to follow the rules is from God too. Isn’t that what was promised in Acts 1:8. It isn’t about me trying to live for God, it is about God living through me. By stating that my Christianity is contingent on how I live, isn’t that putting some of my faith in me. All of the sudden I have the power. Satan tempted Eve with same thing, if you eat the fruit you will have the power. Righteous living is not about me, it is a natural outflow of my faith.
Romans 1:18-32 – Contains some of most hotly contested Scripture today. Verses 26 and 27 are open for debate in many Christian circles, as they talk about homosexuality. My issue with the homosexuality debate is this. By blessing gay marriage or saying that it isn’t sin aren’t we cheapening what Jesus died for. So I strongly believe that Scripture condemns homosexuality as sin, but I do believe that we as church have reflected the attitude of society on this matter. When homosexuality was BAD! In society’s view we were allowed in church to use words like “fag”, or “homo” as insults in jest. We helped insight hatred and pushed homosexual people away from the church. I am thinking why didn’t we use other sins as insults. Like calling someone a “luster” or “thief”, or even “idol worshipper”. Call someone a gossip you might get a shrug and I know I shouldn’t but hey, blah blah blah.
Verse 25 - Made me do a double take. “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” After telling us that the power is found in no else except God. Paul tells us that the depraved ones are the ones who served created things rather than the creator. Ding Ding Ding – This is how the Israelites got in trouble. Our society is having huge moral issues after the rise of humanism. I would venture to say that one of the reasons there is so much moral failure in our church communities is the same reason. We have made the power about us and not about God. We worship our pastor, worship leader, church, good deeds and our faith is in us. Last I checked I am created.
Chapter 1 was really written to Christians coming out of the Greek/pagan culture.
What stood out to you in Romans 1?
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