Romans Recap               May 23, 2020

Paul penned this pistle (1:7) To all that be in Rome, .  .  .called to be saints. (See 10:8-9)

The epistle of Romans was written during the dawn of the church age. Paul seems to be building upon his statement in 1Timothy 3:15; how to behave in the house of God which is the church of the living God. Proper behavior in the church begins with 12:1 where Paul stated the reasonable service a Christians reasonable service is to present his body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.

Romans in a nutshell is 12:1 with 11:36: how to present our bodies as living sacrifices that give glory to God, through Jesus Christ.

Follow the Fors; 107 verses in Romans begin with the word For.

·        The verse beginning with For tells why or the because of a statement in the previous verse or portion of scripture is made.

Therefore is seen in 27verses

·        Therefore is the outcome of the previous verse or portion of scripture.

Key Phrases

·        Ro 1:16 . . .the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 2:9 . . .the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;  2:10 . . .the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

·        "O man" in Romans 2:1, 2:3, 9:20. These verses apply to all mankind or human beings. These verses are tied to Micah 6:8.

·        For there is no respect of persons with God. 2:11; 3:22; 10:12

Rome in Acts 18:2-3 with Romans 16:3-5a Aquilia was a tent make, as was Paul, who lived in Corinth with his wife Priscilla and they had a church in their house. They had been run out of Rome. By allowing Paul to stay with them they put their lives in danger. By protecting Paul all churches were cared for (2Corinthians 11:28)

    The Jews were run out of Rome by Claudius (Acts 18:2). Those who went to Jerusalem went as paupers. Other Jewish Christians in Jerusalem were outcast for the cause of Christ and had no means of support; this is the reason for the contribution for the poor saints in Jerusalem (15:26).  

     The Roman government did not want Paul in Rome and the Jewish leaders wanted to kill him. When Paul appealed to Caesar (Acts 25:11) as a Roman citizen he had to be restrained and given safe journey to Rome. This was the only way Paul could go to Rome and live.

16:19 wise to good and simple to evil

Wisdom: The right use or exercise of knowledge; the choice of laudable ends, and of the best means to accomplish them.

Being wise is using knowledge correctly.

Being simple is using knowledge wrongly.

In the garden of Eden was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). All mankind has gained this knowledge through the sin of Adam.

V16:17 We are to mark and avoid them which seek to cause division within the church. Why? Verse 18

V18 For they do not serve Christ but themselves and seek to deceive the simple. Why? Verse 19

V19a For the obedience to Jesus Christ in the churches in Rome was through the world. They want to destroy the testimony of the church in the world V20 makes it known this is the work of Satan.

V19b Paul warns that they are to use the knowledge of good and evil wisely.

·        Being wise to that which is good is using knowledge of what is good to know it personally and it becomes part of your being

·        Being simple to that which is evil is being wise enough to use knowledge of evil and not know it personally; recognizing evil when it comes to the church and not get involved in it.  

V20 if the church and Christians wisely use their knowledge of good and evil the God of peace (not division) will place Satan (the god of division)

under their feet for his bruising.

·        Remember 14:19, 15:5-6, 1Corinthians 1:10-1, 12:25-26

Notice in V18 is states it is the simple who will be taken in by the deceivers. The simple in this verse cannot discern between the cunning ways of those who seek to cause division in the church.

·        Notice how is verse 15:1 associated with 16:18?