Romans

December 15, 2022

Romans 9-16

Journal

Please use one of the prompts below to get your journaling started.

  • Explore your fears and what’s behind them.
  • Write about a relational conflict you are experiencing.
  • List out all that you are grateful for.
  • Recall a significant reaction, conversation or event.

Romans 1-16 Commentary

Bible Text: Romans 9-16 (ESV)

Please spend time reading Romans 9-16, and in the space provided, write out any key themes, verses, or insights.

Prayer

By gracepoint
December 14, 2022

Romans 16:17-21

Journal

Please use one of the prompts below to get your journaling started.

  • Explore your fears and what’s behind them.
  • Write about a relational conflict you are experiencing.
  • List out all that you are grateful for.
  • Recall a significant reaction, conversation or event.

Romans 16 Commentary

Bible Text: Romans 16:17-27 (ESV)

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages     26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Reflection Questions

Romans 16:17-20

  • How does Apostle Paul exhort the church to deal with those who cause divisions in the church?
  • What can I learn from Apostle Paul’s directive about the nature of divisiveness within the church, and why is it such a serious issue?

Prayer

By gracepoint
December 13, 2022

Romans 16:1-16

Journal

Please use one of the prompts below to get your journaling started.

  • Explore your fears and what’s behind them.
  • Write about a relational conflict you are experiencing.
  • List out all that you are grateful for.
  • Recall a significant reaction, conversation or event.

Romans 16 Commentary

Romans 16:1-16 (ESV)

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

Reflection Questions: Romans 16:1-16

  • List the characteristics of those people Apostle Paul greets here. What picture of Christian discipleship and relationship do these qualities paint, especially given Apostle Paul had never been to the church at Rome?
  • Note the many names of women that appear in this list (e.g., Phoebe, Prisca, Mary, Junia, Tryphaena and Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus’ mother, Julia, Nereus’ sister.) What does the fact that Apostle Paul referred to so many women with deep personal appreciation, respect, and high commendation show about gender roles in the early church?
  • As Apostle Paul comes to the end of his dense and packed epistle, he lists people he loves—a couple who “risked their necks for my life,” three he calls “beloved,” many who “worked hard,” those who were “fellow prisoners,” and a woman who “has been a mother to me.” Reflect on the richness of Apostle Paul’s life. Who are the people I can recollect with a similar fondness, love, and shared history? Try writing your own Romans 16.

Prayer

By gracepoint
December 13, 2022

Romans 16 Commentary

ROMANS 1-15 COMMENTARY

Romans 16 Commentary

vv.1-16  “It’s interesting that Romans, a profound book of doctrine, ends with so many personal greetings. This illustrates the fact that true doctrine leads to loving fellowship among people. It also shows that no matter how admired and significant Paul was as an apostle, he saw himself as one of the believers – a fellow worker and friend of those in Christ.” [1]

“[W]hat is not typical about this section is the number of greetings. He asks the Romans to greet twenty-six individuals, two families, and three house churches. This number is all the more surprising when we remember that Paul had never visited Rome.” 

vv.1-2  “Letters of commendation were important in the ancient world. People who traveled in an age with few public facilities (such as hotels or restaurants) depended on the assistance of people they had sometimes never met for their needs. Phoebe is apparently going to be traveling to Rome, and so Paul commends to the church this ‘sister’ (adelphe, rare in the New Testament as a description of believer [1 Cor 7:15; 9:5; Philem 2; Jas 2:15]).

“But Phoebe is more than a sister; she is also a ‘servant [diakonos] of the church in Cenchrea.’ Diakonos can be applied to any Christian, called to ‘serve’ God and his people. This may be its sense here. But the addition ‘of the church in Cenchrea’ makes it more likely that Phoebe holds an official position in the church there. Phoebe is probably a ‘deacon,’ serving the church by ministering to the financial and material needs of the believers (see esp. 1 Tim 3:8–12; cf. also Phil 1:1).” [2]

v.3  “Priscilla and Aquila were a married couple who had become Paul’s close friends. They, along with all the other Jews, had been expelled from Rome by the emperor (Acts 18:2,3) and had moved to Corinth. There they met Paul and invited him to live with them. They were Christians before they met Paul, and probably told him much about the Roman church. Like Paul, Priscilla and Aquila were missionaries. They helped believers in Ephesus (Acts 18:18-28), in Rome when they were allowed to return, and again at Ephesus (2 Tim 4:19).” [3]

v.7  “The fact that Andronicus and Junias were ‘outstanding among the apostles’ could mean they had distinguished themselves as apostles. They may have been a husband and wife team. Paul’s references to them as relatives (see also 16:21) could mean that they were from the same tribe as Paul.” [4]

v.13  “It is not certain that this is the same Rufus as is mentioned in Mark 15:21, but it is possible that he is the son of Simon of Cyrene. Apparently Rufus’ mother ministered significantly to Paul.” [5]

v.22  “Tertius functioned as Paul’s scribe or secretary for the letter. It was common for those writing letters in the first century to dictate to a secretary, but the content of the letter is clearly Paul’s.” [6]

[1] Quest Study Bible, study notes (Grand Rapids, MI:  Zondervan, 1994) 1570.

[2] Douglas J. Moo, Romans, Life Application Bible Commentary CD (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2000).

[3] Life Application Study Bible, study notes (co-published by Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1991) 2056.

[4] Life Application Study Bible, study notes (co-published by Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1991) 2057.

[5] English Standard Version Study Bible, study notes (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008) 2184.

[6] English Standard Version Study Bible, study notes (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008) 2185.

By gracepoint
December 8, 2022

Romans 15:22-23

Journal

Please use one of the prompts below to get your journaling started.

  • Explore your fears and what’s behind them.
  • Write about a relational conflict you are experiencing.
  • List out all that you are grateful for.
  • Recall a significant reaction, conversation or event.

Romans 15 Commentary

Bible Text: Romans 15:22-33 (ESV)

22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.  27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,         32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.          33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Reflection Questions

Romans 15:22-33

  • What hindered Apostle Paul from seeing the Romans although he had “longed for many years to come” to them?

Romans 15:30

  • Apostle Paul says that the Romans, who were hundreds of miles away, can join him by praying for him.  What are some ways and who are some people whose “struggles” for the Lord I can join through prayer?

Prayer

By gracepoint
December 7, 2022

Romans 15:14-21

Journal

Please use one of the prompts below to get your journaling started.

  • Explore your fears and what’s behind them.
  • Write about a relational conflict you are experiencing.
  • List out all that you are grateful for.
  • Recall a significant reaction, conversation or event.

Romans 15 Commentary

Bible Text: Romans 15:14-21 (ESV)

14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written,

“Those who have never been told of him will see,

    and those who have never heard will understand.”

Reflection Questions

Romans 15:14-21

  • What was Apostle Paul’s attitude towards being a minister in the “priestly service of the gospel of God?”
  • What was Apostle Paul’s ambition?
  • “From Jerusalem all the way around to to Illyricum” is a vast territory covering Palestine all the way to Greece. Think about the impact of one person wholly obedient to God’s call.  In what ways can I share in Apostle Paul’s spirit?

Prayer

By gracepoint
December 6, 2022

Romans 15 Commentary

ROMANS 1-14 COMMENTARY

Romans 15 Commentary

v.2  “If we merely set out to please our neighbors, we will be people-pleasers. Paul was opposed to that (see Gal 1:10). But we are to set aside willfulness and self-pleasing action for the sake of building others up for good. Our Christian convictions must not be a disguise for coldhearted treatment of our brothers and sisters.”

v.12  “The Root of Jesse refers to Christ as the heir from the family line of Jesse, David’s father (1 Sam 16:1).” [1]

v.19  “Paul has fulfilled his mandate to preach the gospel among the Gentiles from Jerusalem to Illyricum (roughly comprising what is now Albania and also what was formerly Yugoslavia). How can Paul say that his work has been complete when many still have not heard the gospel in this area? It can be seen from the following verses that churches have been planted in key centers, and from there Paul’s coworkers will bring the gospel to outlying areas (e.g., Epaphras in Colossae, Col 1:7).” [2]

vv.20-22  “Paul wanted to visit the church at Rome, but he delayed his visit because he had heard many good reports about the believers there and he knew they were doing well on their own. It was more important for him to preach in areas that had not yet heard the Good News.” [3] vv.23-24  “No visit of Paul to Spain is recorded in the NT, but it is possible that he went there after his release from prison in Rome (after Acts 28:30–31). There is some historical evidence after the NT suggesting that Paul did preach in Spain, but it falls short of clear proof.”

[1] Life Application Study Bible, study notes (co-published by Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1991) 2054.

[2] English Standard Version Study Bible, study notes (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008) 2183.

[3] Life Application Study Bible, study notes (co-published by Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1991) 2055.

By gracepoint
December 6, 2022

Romans 15:1-13

Journal

Please use one of the prompts below to get your journaling started.

  • Explore your fears and what’s behind them.
  • Write about a relational conflict you are experiencing.
  • List out all that you are grateful for.
  • Recall a significant reaction, conversation or event.

Romans 15 Commentary

Romans 15:1-13 (ESV)

1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,

    and sing to your name.”

10 And again it is said,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”

11 And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,

    and let all the peoples extol him.”

12 And again Isaiah says,

“The root of Jesse will come,

    even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;

in him will the Gentiles hope.”

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Reflection Questions

Romans 15:1-3

“The way Christ acted, the Christ who although he was strong yet for our sake became weak, is the way that the strong must also act toward those whose own faith is weak.  The self-limitation of Christ for the sake of others thus shows the way the strong are to exercise the freedom they have in the faith: Its exercise is to be limited for the good of others, in this case, the weak.” [1] 

  • Reflect on the fact that Christ “did not please himself.”  To what extent is “pleasing myself” the criterion by which I choose between options, and the motivating goal of my life? 
  • What can I do to “please [my] neighbor for his good, to build him up?”

Romans 15:4-11

  • In what way does a deep desire to “with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 6) push out the attitude of wanting to assert the rightness of my opinions, or engage in disputes over nonessential matters?

[1] Achtemeier, Paul J., Romans (John Knox Press, 1985) at p.223-4

Prayer

By gracepoint
December 1, 2022

Romans 14:19-23

Journal

Please use one of the prompts below to get your journaling started.

  • Explore your fears and what’s behind them.
  • Write about a relational conflict you are experiencing.
  • List out all that you are grateful for.
  • Recall a significant reaction, conversation or event.

Romans 14 Commentary

Bible Text: Romans 14:19-23 (ESV)

19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Reflection Questions: Romans 14:19-21

  • Reflect on v.19 as a general rule of life. in what specific way can I increase my effort to “pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” with people in my life?

Prayer

By gracepoint
November 30, 2022

Romans 14:13-18

Journal

Please use one of the prompts below to get your journaling started.

  • Explore your fears and what’s behind them.
  • Write about a relational conflict you are experiencing.
  • List out all that you are grateful for.
  • Recall a significant reaction, conversation or event.

Romans 14 Commentary

Bible Text: Romans 14:13-18 (ESV)

13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Reflection Questions

Romans 14:13-18

“The strong are not wrong to think they have freedom to eat whatever they want. Rather, they are wrong for using that freedom without regard to the effect it may have on their weaker brothers and sisters – people for whom Christ died. The strong need a reordering of priorities, in which kingdom values take precedence over selfish interest and pleasure.” [1]

•       What lesson is here about a life of voluntary self-limitation as a basic duty of Christian love?

•       What are some permissible things which, given the call to be mindful of other believers, I need to personally limit or eliminate?

[1] Douglas J. Moo. “Romans,” The NIV Application Commentary. (Zondervan, 2000) 460.

Prayer

By gracepoint
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