Questions

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 14:13–23

1. This section begins with the word “therefore”.  What is Paul referring to, in telling us not to judge one another in Christ?

2. Instead of using our mind to judge others, what does Paul now ask us to resolve not to do with our mind?

3. Paul does agree that no food is unclean in itself. Why then should I be bound by someone’s incorrect opinion?  How would someone who is weak in faith in this respect be destroyed by my insistence in eating foods of all kinds?

4. Mull over v. 17 carefully:

a. Why is the Kingdom of God not a matter of eating and drinking?

b. However, in what way(s) might they become (or turn into) a matter of the Kingdom of God? (i.e. one of righteousness, peace and joy in the Spirit)

5. In our case today, the eating of things once offered to idols may not be an issue. Can you think of similar (non-Kingdom) issues that may lead to the destruction of the faith of our brothers and sisters in Christ?

6. Try to sum up the exhortations in vv. 13-17 and see how we should serve (in the church) so that it will be pleasing to God. (Rom. 12:2)

7. Compare your answer above to vv. 19-21.  How does Paul’s conclusion in vv. 19-21 add to your answer above?

8. Are you the kind of Christian who cannot hold your peace, but seek to instantly correct (what you perceive as) erroneous views of others concerning the Bible (whether in a Sunday school class or a Bible study group)?  How might v. 22 speak to such an attitude?

9. However, Paul does not only exhort the “strong” believers, but the “weak” ones too in v. 23.  What is his exhortation to the weak? How may you apply it to your life?

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

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 15:1–13

As Paul makes one final effort to exhort us to bear with the weaker ones in faith, he appeals to the example of Christ.

1. Psalm 69:9 is the prophetic word concerning Christ, the Messiah, in that He has received insults on God’s behalf for the sake of His Zeal for God’s house.   How does He then demonstrate that He does not seek to please Himself?

2. How may we emulate Christ then, according to 15:1-2?

3. How does Christ’s example teach us endurance?

4. How does Christ’s example provide us with encouragement?

5. According to v. 7, Christ has also demonstrated another example that we need to emulate.  What is it?

6. How does our unity (in one mind and one voice) bring glory and praise to God?

7. What then will a church divided and in conflict bring to the name of God?

8. According to the original wording of vv. 8-9, “on behalf of God’s truth” appears as parallel to “on behalf of mercy”.  Why does Paul refer to “God’s truth” concerning the circumcised (i.e. the Jews), but “God’s mercy” concerning the Gentiles?

9. In support of his teaching, Paul quotes from Psalm 18:49, Deut. 32:43, Psalm 117:1, and Isaiah 11:10.  With such clear prophetic words, why would the Jews discriminate against the Gentiles spiritually and how could the early Jewish Christians still look at the gospel as essentially a Jewish gospel?

10. How do Paul’s words of benedictions echo what the Kingdom of God is about in 14:17?

11. Of joy, peace and hope, which one means the most to you?  Why?

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

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 15:14–21

1. Do you detect a change of tone in this passage?  What do you think is the reason?

2. Since Paul is a minister of the gospel, why does he feel the need to almost apologize for the boldness of using rather harsh words of admonition in the previous chapters?  What does it say about Paul?

3. How can we learn from him as we minister to our brothers and sisters with boldness?

4. Paul uses the language of a priest (v.16), presenting a sacrifice to describe his ministry to the Gentiles. With these, he echoes the language used in Romans 12:1-2.

a. Have you ever thought of your ministry as being the offer of a sacrifice to God?

b. If you are a Sunday School teacher or someone with whom God has entrusted His people, how does this priestly language remind you in terms of the sacredness and importance of your ministry?

5. vv. 18-19 is a “clumsy sentence”, but Paul has not been speaking “anything other than what Christ has wrought through him by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit, to bring about obedience of the Gentiles” and this “seems to be the simplest and most natural way to understand it” (Cranfield, 738).  As much as it affirms the authority of Paul’s previous admonitions, how does it also reveal the integrity of Paul’s ministry?

6. Paul now gives us some insight into a priority of his ministry:  He strives to go where Christ has yet been known.

a. Is it right for Paul to set his priority this way?

b. Is it prideful of him to not wish to build on someone else’s foundation?  Why or why not?

c. Do you think Paul should stick to (remain in) one location instead of being an itinerant apostle?  Why?

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

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 15:22–33

1. Why does Paul say that “there is no place for me to work in these regions”?  What “work” is he referring to? (15:23)

2. Why does he want to go to Spain?

3. What does he desire to achieve by stopping over in Rome?

4. However, he has decided to go to Jerusalem first.  What are the purposes for his Jerusalem journey?

5. We understand that numerous warnings have been given to Paul concerning his journey to Jerusalem (Acts 21:4, 11). Why then would he insist on going?

6. Sensing the danger ahead, Paul appeals for help from the Roman Christians:

a. What is his appeal?

b. Why does he say that his appeal is by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit?

c. What is meant by joining him in his “struggle” in prayer? (Gen. 32:22-32)

d. Asking to be rescued from the unbelievers is understandable. But, why does he also ask that his service be “acceptable to the saints” there (v.31)?  What does it say about his relationship with the disciples of Jerusalem? (Refer to Acts 21:20-22.)

7. Reflect on the donations by the church in Macedonia and Achaia:

a. Why do they feel the urge to send money to the saints in Jerusalem?

b. Why is it only for the poor among them?

c. Do you agree with Paul’s reasoning in v. 27?  Why or why not?

d. What can you learn from the above?

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

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 16:1–16(I)

Paul sends a list of greetings to the brothers and sister in Rome.  It shows that many who left by the Emperor’s decree have returned to Rome.  But his personal greetings also give us a glimpse into the life of the early church.  We shall be reflecting on this passage today and tomorrow:

1. Can you list the greetings to the house churches within the church in Rome?

2. Can you count how many individual names and names of family are within this list of greetings?

3. How does the fact that Paul chooses to greet so many of them personally speak to you?

4. Do you know how many of these being greeted are women?* What does this tell you about the ministry and status of sisters within the early church?

5. Who are those commended by Paul for being hard working?  Is there anyone in your church that you can commend for their hard work?

6. Who are those whom Paul call beloved or dear?  Why does Paul call them beloved instead of commending them for other virtues?

7. Two names stand out as famous households:  Aristobulus and Narcissus.  The former is believed to be the brother of King Herod Agrippa I and he died in ad 48 or 49, and the latter is believed to have served the Emperor Claudius but committed suicide just before Paul wrote the letter to the Roman Church.  They were probably non-believers and their families had come to Christ. Why would Paul greet these households?

8. It is worth noting that many noted scholars believe that Rufus is the son of Simon of Cyrene who was forced to carry the cross for Jesus (Mk. 15:21).  For Mark to have made mention of Rufus  indicates that he was known in the early church community.  What then can you make of Paul’s special greeting in v. 13?

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

*Note:

While some of names could not really be identified historically, these are presumably names of women: Priscilla, Junia, Tryphena, Tryphosa and Persis (and of course, Mary).

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 16:1–16(II)

Phoebe, Priscilla, Aquila, Andronicus and Junias are mentioned by Paul in more detail (vv. 1-2; 3-5 and 7).  We shall be reflecting on them in greater details today:

1. Phoebe: She is the first deaconess mentioned by name in the church (Lenski), and her church in Cenchreae is about 8 miles from Corinth where Paul writes this letter. She is probably the bearer of this letter (on her business trip to Rome, it is believed):

a. How special is she as a believer?

b. How special is she to Paul?

c. What is her contribution to the early church?

2. Priscilla and Aquila: Read Acts 18 to reacquaint yourself with this missionary couple:

a. How special are they as believers?

b. How special are they to Paul and even to Apollo?

c. What is their contribution to the early church and the Great Commission as a lay-couple?

d. Why would Paul mention Priscilla before Aquila?

e. How should you emulate them?

3. Andronicus and Junia: As Paul’s relatives, they are Jewish with Greek and Latin names, respectively.  

a. How special are they as believers?

b. How special are they to Paul?

c. What is their contribution to the early church and the Great Commission?

Note:

We do not exactly know when and where they were in prison with Paul.  In this verse, Paul uses the term “apostles” in a more general sense.

4. What can you learn about the early church from this list of greetings, especially from these five individuals above?

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

Scriptural Reflection
Romans 16:17–27

1. Now we come to the very end of this long letter:

a. Spend some time to reflect on the main issues addressed by Paul in this letter.

b. Can you tell why he has to write this letter?

2. Now, what kind of warning does he end with and why?

3. Judging from the main contents of this letter, who are these people he is warning against?

a. What effect do they have on the church of God?

b. Why are they apparently quite effective?

c. What is their motive according to Paul?

d. How should the believers treat them?  Why?

4. Paul has some choice words to admonish the believers in v. 19.  What do these phrases mean?

a. Wise about what is good

b. Innocent about what is evil

5. Do you find v. 20 odd?  Why or why not?

a. Whose feet is Paul referring to in v. 20?

b. Why does he refer to God as the God of peace in this context?

6. The final benediction is rather “loaded”:

a. To Whom does Paul give glory?

b. What is God able to do concerning the believers?

c. Why does Paul refer to Him as the only wise God?

d. According to you, how is God’s wisdom revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ?

7. Use this doxology to give praise to God as you come to the end of the study of this letter.

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