Questions

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 11:25–32

Paul continues to warn the Gentile Christians against harboring any ill feelings toward Israel:

1. What is the mystery that Paul now reveals to us about the future of Israel?

2. When will it happen?

3. What then is its implication to you, personally?

4. While Paul uses OT passages to affirm the reality of this mystery (like Isa. 59:20-21 and Jer. 31:33-34), such prophecies could have been considered fulfilled if we consider the Gentile Christians as the “spiritual Israel”.  Therefore, by citing these passages which support the revelation of this mystery, is Paul not telling us that God’s covenant with Israel is not only to be understood spiritually, but also factually?  What do you think, especially in light of v. 29?

5. How can you reconcile the apparent contradiction in v. 28?  It is easier to understand that they are “beloved” because of the fathers, but why would Paul say that they are enemies (of God) “because of” the Gentiles?

6. Paul seeks to further assure us of the certainty of the repentance of Israel with a logical deduction in v. 30:

Gentiles:   
  Once disobedient—
    through Israel’s disobedience→
      they now obtain mercy

Israel:   
  Now disobedient —
    through Gentile’s mercy →
      they may obtain mercy!

“Gentile’s mercy” probably means the kind of mercy received by the Gentiles —
What conclusion does Paul draw in v. 32 because of this?

7. Reflect carefully on Paul’s conclusion in v. 32;

a. What has caused the disobedience of the Gentiles?

b. What has caused the disobedience of Israel?

c. What could God have done because of the disobedience of both (people groups)?

d. What has God done instead?

8. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 11:33–12:2

1. Paul bursts into one of the most glorious doxologies, prompted by his conclusion in v. 32.  So, review your thoughts on v. 32 of the last lesson (and if you skipped this question, it is necessary for you to reflect on it, before you can grasp Paul’s doxology which follows).

2. Based on your thoughts prompted also by v. 32, how would you echo Paul’s praises of God’s plan of salvation for both Israel and the Gentiles?

a. What richness is being embodied?

b. What wisdom is being revealed?

c. What knowledge is being demonstrated?

d. Why does Paul say that His judgment is unsearchable?

e. How are His paths (or ways) “beyond tracing”?

3. Paul is echoing the same praise of Isaiah 40:13 when he thinks of God’s plan of salvation.  What part of God’s plan of salvation might be the most unthinkable (to you)?

4. Paul also quotes from Job 41:11, a speech by God in confronting Job of His mighty power revealed in creation.  What is the point that Paul makes concerning God’s plan of salvation?

5. In v. 36, Paul draws our attention to who God is and His relationship to all created things. He uses the following prepositions concerning “all things”. What do they tell you about God’s greatness?

a. from Him

b. through Him

c. to Him!

6. Remember that this doxology has been prompted by the thought of God’s “mercy” in v. 24.  How then can you define God’s mercy?  In what way can you echo this doxology?

7. How then shall we live, as recipients of such mercy?

8. What is meant by:

a. Offering our “bodies” as sacrifices?

b. Being a “living”, not “dead”, sacrifice?

9. We normally focus our worship to Sundays.  What does Paul tell us about the true meaning of worship?

10. As Christians, we all had a mind patterned after the world (before our conversion), and our minds are still subject to its influence.

a. How then can our mind be transformed (the original word signifies “metamorphosis”)?

b. How can we “detect” the part of our mind which is still after the pattern of the world?

c. What is the factor that has prevented us from knowing the will of God?

d. In truly understanding God’s will, why does Paul ask us to “test and approve” it?

e. How does God’s will differ from our own will?

11. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 12:3–8

1. “Grace” is used twice in this passage of exhortation, once in v. 3 and then in v. 6:

a. What are the different emphases in these two places?

b. What might be common in these emphases?

2. Paul asks us not to be prideful in viewing our gift(s), but to use sober judgment and in accordance to the “measure of faith” that God has given us.  What does that mean?  What does faith have to do with the exercise of our gift(s)?

3. In the exercise of our gifts, Paul resorts to his familiar imagery of a body.  In referring to the physical body, his emphasis is on the different functions; but in referring to the body in Christ, what is his emphasis and why?

4. In naming the different gifts, the original writing reads more like,

“Or prophesy, in proportion to his faith;
Or ministry, in ministry;
Or encouragement, in encouragement;
Or contributing, in simplicity;
On leadership, in leadership;
Or showing mercy, in cheerfulness…”

If Cranfield is right that “the proportion of faith” is essentially the same as the “measure of faith” in v. 3, (see Cranfield, Romans, 621) then (in my opinion), Paul’s emphasis here appears to be exhorting us to use our gifts “in proportion” to our faith; this is not confined to the gift of prophecy, but to all gifts.

However, (a) many commentators opine that Paul’s emphasis is for us to recognize our gift and use it, and (b) other translators see the emphasis as “being focused” on using the particular gift being given.

You may wish to adopt (a) or (b) in the following reflection. However, I would also suggest that you consider reflecting on how to exercise
 each gift below based on what it means to exercise them “in proportion to” your faith.

a. To prophesy “in proportion to” your faith

b. To minister “in proportion to” your faith

c. To teach “in proportion to” your faith

d. To encourage “in proportion to” your faith

e. To contribute “in proportion to” your faith, generously (or in simplicity)

f. To lead “in proportion to” your faith, in diligence

g. To show mercy “in proportion to” your faith, cheerfully.

5. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 12:9–21

It appears that Paul is finally done with his theological debates and now turns to ethical teachings concerning the Christian life. While many scholars prefer to treat this passage as “parenesis” (a collection of ethical sayings), based on the use of many participial clauses and a few finite verbs, I tend to agree with some scholars that v. 9, the exhortation to love (agape love), is the main theme and the rest are practical exhortations on how to love.

Vv. 9-13:  Love is the main term, followed by six pairs of participles (according to Cranfield):

1. Do you think Paul is referring to loving God or loving people?

2. Why does he stress that love should be sincere (or as the original writing indicates, not counterfeit)?

3. Let’s reflect on the following six pairs of participles that ask:

- “What do they have to do with sincere (or non- counterfeit) love”?
- “What is the relationship between the two participles within the pair”?

a. Hating evil and clinging to good;

b. Loving one another in brotherly love and honoring one another;

c. Not lacking in zeal, but burning in spirit;

d. Serving the Lord and rejoicing in hope;

e. Enduring affliction and praying unceasingly;

f. Sharing with needy saints and pursuing hospitality.

Vv. 14-21:  Dealing mostly with that which is unpleasant with agape love:

4. What are the reasons given here for us not to curse or repay evil to those who persecute or do evil to us?

5. Paul tells us to bless instead. How should we bless not only with words but with deeds according to v. 18 and v. 20?

6. Why should we care about “the eyes of everybody”?

7. Many commentators categorize this section as dealings with non-Christians. Do you agree?  Why or why not?

8. If we are to obey these exhortations, should our ultimate purpose be that God will repay our enemies?  Why or why not?

9. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Note:

 Vv. 15-16 appear related to the preceding section of vv. 9-13, and use the infinitives, “to rejoice” and “to weep”, and the participle, “minding”, to emphasize harmony and humility within the faith community.

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 13:1–7

1. Paul lived under the authority of the Roman Empire.  According to your knowledge, what kind of rulers are these Caesars, in terms of morality, godliness and their exercise of power?

2. How would they compare to your government in these aspects?

3. Given the immoral, godless and ruthless nature of these Caesars, Paul still insists that we should submit to them.  What reason does he give in v. 1?  How then should we understand the meaning of being “established” by God?

4. What does God desire of these rulers according to vv. 3-4?

5. Does Paul’s exhortation depend on whether these rulers fulfill their God-desired role?  Why or why not?

6. Of course, we know that not submitting to the authority of the land will bring punishment, but Paul asks us to submit also for reason of “conscience”.  What does he mean?

7. In submitting to the authority, how should we express it according to v. 7?

8. As a result, we obviously cannot evade taxes.  But according to the spirit of submission:

a. Should we strive to avoid paying taxes and exploit tax loopholes?

b. Have you ever thought of paying taxes out of an attitude of respect and honor?

c. How then should you look at your duty to pay taxes from now on?

9. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 13:8–14

When he draws near the end of his epistle, Paul continues with ethical exhortations, using the thought of “debt” in v. 7 and applying it, once again, to love:

1. In his emphasis of love, why do you think he once again ties it to the “law”?

2. Of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, why does Paul cite only these commandments? (i.e. what is the point he is trying to make?)

3. Compare it to what Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-40.  Why does he cite only the latter or second part of what Jesus has said, and can still make the same conclusion in v. 10?

4. How does 1 John 4:20 reinforce Paul’s emphasis of loving our neighbors?  Have you been able to “fulfill the law”?

5. What does Paul mean by “our salvation is near”?  Have we not been saved? (See Rom. 8:23.)

6. Paul likens the coming of the Lord as the arrival of the “day” and urges us (a) to wake up or arise from our slumber, (b) to cast off our deeds of darkness, and (c) to put on the armor of light.

a. In what ways can you identify your present condition as being still in a slumber?

b. What are the deeds of darkness that we need to cast off, according to v. 13?  Which one speaks to you most?

c. What is the armor of light we should put on according to Ephesians 6:11ff?

7. Finally, Paul uses the imagery of clothing again, but this time he asks us to “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ”.  How might clothing ourselves with the Lord differ in nuance from that of the armor of light?

8. Why does Paul contrast being clothed with the Lord with the gratification of the desires of our flesh (which is Paul’s way of referring to our sinful nature or body)?

9. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 14:1–12

Paul now turns to address some of the common issues which do not pertain to the essence of the gospel and yet have unnecessarily divided the early church.  They are the same issues that Paul addresses the church in Corinth (1 Cor. 8) and the church in Colosse (Col. 2:16), namely the eating of food sacrificed to idols and the observance of certain days as sacred.

1. Although the issues addressed here are different from those of the previous chapter, what common thread can you detect among the issues addressed?

2. What then do you understand as the main challenge to the church community then and now?

3. I call the issue of eating food sacrificed to idols and the observance of so-called sacred days as non-essential to the gospel.  Do you agree?  Why or why not?

4. Why does Paul call those who eat “vegetables only” weak in faith?

5. What is the reason given by Paul that even though they may be “weak”, we cannot show contempt nor judge them (according to v. 4)?  What might happen if we do, as implied by this verse?

6. In holding on to our position concerning food or sacred days, what should be our key motive, according to v.6?

7. As we hold our position over non-essential issues, what other motives might we have that are not pleasing to the Lord?

8. Can you honestly say that “If I live, I live for the Lord, and if I die, I die for the Lord”?  Why or why not?  (Please pause and think through this question.)

9. Paul concludes with warning us that even as Christians, “we will all stand before God’s judgment seat…(and) give an account of ourselves to God.”  How then shall you live, especially among brothers and sisters in the church?

10. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?