26-0208sc - Detailed Summary

The class begins with the teacher leading a prayer, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to study God’s Word and for making it accessible to help achieve righteousness and become His children. The prayer asks for understanding and insight to grasp the important messages in the Scriptures, specifically blessing the study of Romans and those hearing it. The prayer concludes in Jesus Christ’s name, followed by an amen, and transitions into announcing the study of Romans.

As preparation for studying Romans, the teacher emphasizes applying hermeneutics, defined as the Greek word for the science of studying the Scriptures. Hermeneutics begins with answering four key questions: who, what, where, and why. The focus will delve into these for the book of Romans itself. The first question addresses who wrote Romans, identifying Paul as the author, as the book starts with his name. Although scholars may question this, the teacher is certain it is Paul.

The next question is who Paul is writing to, specifying the church in Rome, but delving deeper into its composition, primarily Gentiles but also Jews. Historical context includes the Roman Caesar exiling Jews around 53-54 AD, but within three years, a larger group returned because Rome benefited from their presence. Thus, the church comprises both Jews and Gentiles, with unknown exact percentages. Paul addresses problems arising from this mix. Gentiles are defined as anyone not Jewish, including Italians, Greeks, and others.

Hermeneutics involves drawing from other Scriptures and applying them without contradictions. Any understanding from Romans must be reinforced in books like Galatians, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, and writings by Peter or John. The Bible contains no contradictions, so conclusions from Romans must align with other books. No theology can stand if not confirmed elsewhere. Paul writes to a church with substantial Jewish population, comprised of Gentiles and Jews.

Paul writes about problems in the church due to friction between Jews and Gentiles. When converting people from other faiths, called proselytes, they bring their theology and background into the church, which must be addressed. Beliefs are held onto, and conflicts arise if they differ from church teachings, requiring study with Scripture to make adjustments. The church has issues, and Paul’s letter aims to bring harmony and homogenize beliefs. To achieve unity, Paul must get Jews to drop their concept of the Mosaic Law, as it is not carried into Christianity. Similarly, Gentiles must drop their prior faiths, whether Muslim, Hinduism, or others, since Christianity does not embrace them. Paul’s letter addresses these problems to help them become true Christians, appreciating God’s work through Jesus and the relationship with God.

Gentiles and Jews have different concepts of God, leading to conflicts. In public, agreeing on believing in God masks differences until Jesus is mentioned, causing resistance. Paul notes Gentiles are superstitious, referencing Acts 17 where he addresses their ignorance in worship. Gentiles bring their God concepts, while Jews bring theirs, into the Roman church.

The God believed in is the Jewish God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who made and is fulfilling promises to them and their descendants. This fulfillment is of promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, not the Mosaic law. The promise is that through His seed, the world will be blessed, not necessarily the Jewish faith. Though it should be the Jewish faith, Paul in Romans 11 notes Jews have advantages over others because God chose them as a special people, as seen in Genesis. Psalms 147’s last verse explains this.

In Romans, Paul mentions Gentiles becoming a law unto themselves. God’s specific dealing with Israel is to create a people who truly believe in Him. The teacher often asks what pleases God, directing to Hebrews 11 for the answer. Hebrews 11 defines faith, but specifically, verse 5 notes Enoch pleased God by faith before being taken without death. Verse 6 specifies pleasing God requires believing He exists and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. God aims to create such believers, as with Abraham.

God took Abraham from idolatry, making promises including blessing through his seed, blessing those who bless him, cursing those who curse him, and giving land as inheritance. Abraham’s faith starts weak, as he doesn’t fully leave family, stopping in Haran until his father dies, then taking Lot despite instructions. This shows lack of full trust in God, seeking assurance from Lot. God wants complete trust. It takes until Abraham is about 100, and the test of sacrificing his son, for God to count him righteous, succeeding in building Abraham’s faith that God exists, keeps promises, and doesn’t lie.

The teacher continues explaining Abraham’s journey, noting that incidents like passing his wife off as his sister occurred because Abraham lacked full belief in God’s promises of protection and blessing. God is developing faith in people through testing, similar to how tests in driver’s licenses, schools, or classes help individuals understand their current level of knowledge and identify areas needing improvement. Testing allows comparison with others, revealing the need for more study or effort. It also informs the teacher whether the material is being effectively conveyed and helps adjust to bring the student to the required level.

Jesus warned His disciples they would face hatred as He did, indicating much ground to cover in faith development. God’s primary purpose in dealing with Israel is to create a group of people who believe He exists and rewards those who diligently seek Him, as stated in Hebrews 11:6. The prophets and judges period shows this effort. Even after entering the promised land, Israelites failed to fully drive out the Canaanites as commanded, leaving remnants that influenced them negatively.

God explicitly tests the Israelites during the judges era to determine if they will rely on Him for protection and solutions to problems, such as threats from neighboring peoples like the Phoenicians. The teacher references a verse (likely Judges 2:20-22 or similar) where God uses remaining nations to test Israel, checking whether they would obey His commands or follow other ways.

Paul will address testing in Romans chapter 5, showing its benefits. James 1 teaches to consider trials joy because they produce patience, leading to maturity and completeness, lacking nothing. In the Roman church context, with friction between Jews and Gentiles, Paul urges setting aside old baggage to become true Christians, believing in Jesus as High Priest, sacrifice, and atonement for sins.

Paul writes Romans around 57 A.D., before visiting Rome in about 60 A.D. This dating comes from the letter’s closing mention of still needing to deliver collected funds to Jerusalem for famine relief, as described in 1 and 2 Corinthians where Paul gathered contributions from Gentile churches. The church in Rome was not established by any apostle like Thomas or Peter. Paul has not yet visited Rome.

Hermeneutics encourages consulting commentators for historical background on the church, though the teacher cautions against them due to non-Christian perspectives and differing doctrines, particularly on baptism. Commentators like Barnes provide useful historical insights despite not fully aligning with the teacher’s beliefs. Paul addresses reconciling Jews and Gentiles through baptism, which represents death to former life and baggage, as discussed in Romans chapters 6 and 7, where death separates from prior attachments.

Paul emphasizes understanding the law, sin’s role in problems for Christians and the world, sin’s nature and source, and faith versus works. The law referenced often means either the law from the Garden of Eden or the Mosaic Law at Sinai, with primary focus on the original law from Eden. In Romans (likely chapters 3 or 4), Paul asks if faith nullifies the law and answers no, it upholds it, as the law of sin and death must be addressed through Christ’s death.

God upholds the Edenic law of sin and death while forgiving individuals like David and Abraham, with death ultimately dealt with through Jesus on the cross. Before diving deeply into Romans, the teacher recommends reviewing Ephesians chapter 1 for God’s overarching plan from creation. This plan forms the foundation of Christianity.

Paul preaches God’s gospel, not merely Jesus' gospel, centered on God’s provision of righteousness through grace and Jesus' sacrifice. In Romans chapter 1, Paul highlights God’s righteousness offered to mankind via grace. God actively provides this righteousness, as Abraham learned blessings come through God’s work, not his own, exemplified by the miraculous birth of Isaac.

The teacher reads Ephesians 1:3-14 (NIV), praising God for blessing believers with every spiritual blessing in Christ. God chose believers in Christ before creation to be holy and blameless, predestined adoption through Jesus according to His pleasure and will, lavishing grace and revealing the mystery of His will to unite all things under Christ. Believers are chosen and sealed with the Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing inheritance, all to the praise of God’s glory.

The passage emphasizes glorifying God by doing His will and living reflectively of Him. Resolving pronouns in Paul’s writings is crucial, as demonstrated in the Ephesians reading where subjects shift carefully between God, Jesus, and believers. This exercise clarifies God’s plan and agency.

Proper reading requires understanding punctuation, subject consistency, and pronoun references to avoid misinterpretation. The teacher recalls noticing poor reading skills even in childhood Bible classes. The class time ends, with appreciation for attention, and a promise to begin Romans in the next session.