Game: An important principle for correct Biblical hermeneutics (the way you understand what a text is saying) is to ensure you understand the way each verse fits into the overall argument of a Biblical letter or book. Section 1 of the exam is compulsory. It examines your understanding of the context, meaning and significance of selected verses. You will get to choose 4 of 7 verses. You will be given a verse (NIV) with no reference. Your job is to identify the verse (as specifically as you can) and then write brief notes on the passage (approx. half a page). Your answer should explain the context the overall framework of Romans into which the verse falls; the meaning the actual message conveyed by the verse; and the significance the importance of the words to the argument of Romans. You should note that Question 1 as a whole is worth the same in marks as just one of the essay questions in Section 2 and so it is important that you give the section around a quarter of your time. In order to help one another to prepare we are going to play a game of Romans trivia. Break into two teams. First team who hits the buzzer answers the following for each verse offered: 1) What chapter of Romans it is taken from (bonus point for verse number); 2) One sentence on the context; 3) One sentence on meaning; and 4) One sentence of significance. No Bibles allowed (because you won t have them in the exam). Each verse is worth 2 points an extra point for the verse number. The winning team is the team with the most number of points at the end of the 15 questions. The judges decision is final no correspondence will be considered in other words, just cope it on the chin!! Questions: Note to Leader: - see the Unit 10 Leaders Appendix for Visual Aids. Answers 1 1) 'Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse' 2) We know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who do such things.' 3) 'As it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one' 4) 'For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law.' 5) He received circumcision as a sign or seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. 6) 'But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.' 7) 'What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?' 1 The answers to the intro game are as follows: 1) Rom 1:20; 2) 2:2; 3) 3:10; 4) 3:28; 5) 4:11; 6) 5:8; 7) 6:1; 8) 6:8; 9) 8:21; 10) 8:37; 11) 10:12; 12) 11:24; 13) 12:1; 14) 14:1; 15) 15:28. Ken D Noakes 1 of 5 23/05/07
8) 'But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.' 9) '... the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God.' 10) 'No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.' 11) 'For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him.' 12) 'For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.' 13) 'I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice' 14) 'As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions.' 15) 'When therefore I have completed this, and have delivered to them what has been raised, I shall go on by way of you to Spain' Romans 13 Chapter 13 continues the theme started in Chapter 12 Paul expands what it means for the Romans to live their earthly lives as living sacrifices. In this chapter Paul turns his attention first to the relationship Christians should have with earthly authorities (like governments) and second he returns to our obligations to love one another as we wait for Jesus return. Christians should submit to governing authorities because they are established by God s rule in the world (Rom 13:1). 2 The obvious objection to this rule is well voiced How should this teaching be applied under corrupt, malevolent or totalitarian regimes? A good question but one that might also distract us from the main issue. All governments are bound to be sinful because they are all made up of sinful human beings, yet we are called to submit to them. The exception comes only when they ask us to sin, in that case we have a duty to obey God as the higher authority. We see this happen in both the Old and New Testament. In the Old, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego lived under pagan Babylonian authority in the Book of Daniel. They accepted Babylonian authority when they accept the new names they were given (Dan 1:7), but when obedience meant disobeying God, or not being able to honour him, they refused (Daniel 3 & 6) even though it led to punishment. In the New, Peter and John refuse to obey the Sanhedrin because they we trying to stop them testifying about Jesus resurrection (Acts 4:18-20). 2 The word submit often carries very negative connotations, but the word literally means subordinate yourself to. It is a relational term concerning order and hierarchy that we logically fit into. Ken D Noakes 2 of 5 23/05/07
Overseeing Paul s whole argument is the fact that we, as are every government are called to submit to God or suffer punishment (Rom 3:5). Why has Paul included this instruction at this point in the letter? Where are we in Romans? How is this passage linked to what has come before? What implications does Paul s instructions give us concerning our attitude to the State? Verse 8-14 returns to the fundamental principal of love, a quality that should underlie all Christian relationships. Paul discusses the relationship between the law and the way we love. In Chapter 7 he has already told us that we are free from the law (7:4-6), but this does not mean that the Law is irrelevant, we can still delight in its goodness (7:22) because it expresses the character and will of God. Paul s point is that we are bound to what has always been the law s essential principles love of God and for our neighbor. 3 This perspective should be all the more urgent as Paul points to the imminent return of Christ (13:11-12). Love is the fulfillment of the law. Is this an adequate summary of Romans teaching concerning relationships between Christians? Chapter 14 Reading through Romans 14, list the characteristics of the man who is weak in faith Question: Why is his faith weak? List the desirable characteristics of those strong in faith. 3 C.f. Lev 19:18; Mt 22:37-40; Mk 12:28-31. Ken D Noakes 3 of 5 23/05/07
Paul exhorts the church in Romans to welcome and accept the weaker brother (those who lacked the assurance of faith). It appears that there were some in the church in Rome who were uncertain as to the freedoms they had to observe, or to ignore, certain customs and rituals and that this was giving rise in some believers to feelings of superiority over other believers (because they enjoyed certain freedoms). Conversely there were others who may have been feeling condemnation towards fellow believers (because they felt more strongly about certain customs). You can see Jew Gentile issue written all over this conflict. What is involved in the idea of liberty which forms the basis of Romans 14? Now that you have just about finished the course In a sentence, what is the Letter to the Romans about? Application: What are the first 4 things you will take the Letter to the Romans and apply in your life? What will have to change? When? For next Week: Seriously put in place your answers to the above Application questions! Revise and Study (for next week is the exam!). Ken D Noakes 4 of 5 23/05/07
Congratulations Well done. You have now completed another core unit of the Moore Theological College Romans course for the Certificate in Theology. By God s grace, we can hope that this course has helped to shape and change you to be more theological grounded and able to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ in your life. Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him - to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. (Romans 16:25-27) Ken D Noakes 5 of 5 23/05/07