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182 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What does the rich introduction to this discourse attempt to establish?
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Attempts to establish rapport with the audience and Paul's authority in relationship to them
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What does the term apostolos mean and what is the terms background
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A "called and set apart person" Its background was in "shaliah" a person who was a legal representative of the one who sent him.
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Why is there a sort of anti-imperialist theme to Paul's use of the word euangelion? What is his message?
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Euangelion was a term used for the birth of a new emperor which meant good news; Paul states that Christ is the real good news
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What inaugurated the eschaton
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The resurrection of Christ inaugurated the eschaton (last days)
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Why does Paul take a somewhat humble and irenic tone in this discourse
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Has no authority and few credentials for the Roman Church; trying to establish a good representation
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Why is it critical that Paul establish his ethos from the outset of his letter
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Needs to establish his authority in relation to the Roman people to give him the justification needed to press claims on Roman audience
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Why does Paul use terms usually found referring to Israel for his largely Gentile audience
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Jew and Gentile are united in Christ as the eschatological people of God
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Why is it wrong to argue that Paul is a supersessionist? If not a supersessionist what is he? Why is Romans a exercise in anti-supersessionist rhetoric?
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Paul does not want a split between Jew and Gentile and believes that non-Christian Jewish people still have a future in God if they recognize Christ when he returns. Both Jew and Gentile are part of God's plan.
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What is the profound truth underlying Paul's introduction of himself as a slave?
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He is an apostle (which means sent one) thus under the authority of another. He is (under the authority of/a slave) to Christ
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According to Aristotle, what is the subject of deliberative rhetoric? Briefly, how does Witherington show that Romans fits into that style?
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Private exhortation and legislative proposals to the assembly are subjects of deliberative rhetoric. Private exhortation found in ethics discussion in 12-15. Legislative proposal (in this case change in Jewish-Christian relations) found in 1-11.
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What is Paul's bind? According to Witherington what carries the greatest weight in deliberative speeches?
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Wants to give advice to the Romans but they are not his converts. Authority carries the greatest weight in deliberative speeches so Paul needs to establish sense of authority.
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In the exhortium how does Paul put the Romans "on notice?" What discussion does the exhortium set the stage for?
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Paul states that the Roman's actions are being reported throughout the world, both as praise and a reminder that their actions are on display throughout the world as example of Christian living because of their location at the center of the Roman empire.
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Why did Paul write the letter in AD 57 but not go to Rome until AD 60?
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Still busy with missionary work and strengthening the churches already made.
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What are two reasons for adding verse 12 to verse 11? Why the irenic tone as compared to Galatians 1?
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Paul is not writing to his own converts so he needs to establish a feeling of rapport; the statement that he is willing to learn from the Romans suggests that he is not trying to take over the church but is willing to learn from it.
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How does Paul's narratio subtly underline the subtle infighting and claims to superiority of one group over the other?
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Paul claims he is a debtor to both Greeks and barbarians. In Hellenistic mind this includes the entire world, since barbarians were anyone who was not Greek. No distinctions made.
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Paul recognizes that the Roman people have something they could share with him that could directly benefit his own Christian life. What concretely might Paul mean?
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Support in financing Paul's missionary journey to Spain.
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Why is it hard to overestimate the importance of a proposito in a rhetorical discourse?
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Proposito is thesis of the discourse
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Why is it “a major mistake to treat chs. 1-8 as what this discourse is mainly about and chs. 9-11 as a theological afterthought, followed by a potpourri of unrelated ethical exhortations”
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The proposito introduces all of the major topics discussed throughout the text, in Romans focused on faithfulness of God (2-11) and the faithfulness of those living within Christ (12-15). Other organization is Human's fallen nature and God's response (2-11) and what humans ought to be doing now that God responded (12-15)
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How is it possible that Paul improves his ethos in verse 16a?
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By suggesting he is following the will of Christ rather than his own will
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What is usually meant by Paul's use of use of salvation as a present experience? What are the "three stages of salvation" according to Witherington?
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Three stages of salvation: past, I have been saved; present: I am being saved; and future: I will be saved. "Never eternally secure until securely in eternity"
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Why might it be stressed that salvation is for the Jews first?
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Because the Jews are currently being ostracized from the Christian community because of their focus on the law. Paul is supporting them because a rift is forming between Jew and Gentile and Gentiles have control of Roman church because of Jewish exile.
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Since Paul's usage of dikaiosynē is not monolithic, students of Paul have to evaluate its usage and its cognates on what basis?
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On a case-by-case basis
Dikaiosynē means justice. |
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What supports Witherington's reading of "from faith to faith" in 1:17
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Romans 3:22 because it clearly states from Christ to those who believed.
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Although Paul refers to Abraham in chapter 4, explain why he does not polemicize against the law?
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No need because Roman Christians aren't in danger of circumcising themselves and following the Torah; rather they are in danger of opposite extreme of devaluing the law and the Jewish heritage.
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What is the subtext underlying Romans 5-7
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The story of Adam and of the fall
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What is the fundamental failure of both Luther and Augustine in regard to Romans 7?
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Chapter 7 is not an attempt to describe the life of a Christian
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How is the rhetorical structure of Galatians 4 similar to that of Romans 9-11?
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Both include a refutatio, a scriptural tale, as climax to theological arguments
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What does Witherington mean when he writes that God is an equal-opportunity savior?
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Whoever responds in faith will be saved regardless of ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic class etc.
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What does the author of Wisdom 11:16 mean when he writes "One is punished by the very thing in which one sins"?
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All sin is primarily a matter of idolatry which leads to immorality
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What does God's righteousness amount to for those who have 'exchanged the truth of God for a lie"?
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God's righteousness is equivalent to God's wrath.
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How can God be truly good and still wrathful? Why is God indignant against human sin?
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If you are truly good you view evil with a dispassionate eye. Child slavery/ prostitution etc are wrong and it should make everyone angry that such things exist.
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If people are not condemned for knowing Christ/God then what are they condemned for?
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Suppressing whatever knowledge of God they do have available to them
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In the Greek philosophical tradition who was the founder of natural theology?
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Aristotle, suggested that the order of the world necessitated some sort of 'unmoved mover'
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If Paul does not refer to inclinations, attitudes or genetics when he refers to homosexuality what does he refer to?
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Engaging in sexual intercourse with a member of your own gender is unnatural--contrary to the way that God created/intended for us to act
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What two rhetorical figures and techniques do we find in Romans 2?
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Prosopopoeia (impersonation) and dialogue with an imaginary interlocutor
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If Paul's diatribe is most like that of Epictetus, what does that make us aware of?
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Paul uses the dialogue in a pedagogical manner, not for polemics or to attack opponents
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How does a careful and competent use of rhetoric establish his authority and ethos?
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When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Rome was saturated with the use of rhetoric and so to prove himself among the Romans Paul utilized their tactics.
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What signals in the discourse indicate that Paul is addressing Gentiles in 2:1-16?
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Three reasons: (1)Those Paul is criticizing still doing some things in 1:18-32, (2) referred to as “apart from the Law, (3) The aside in 2:14-15 is about Gentiles
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What two types of Roman Gentiles might reflect such attitudes as we find critiqued in Rom. 2:1-16?
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God-fearers who had already imbibed the usual Jewish critique of pagan idolatry and immortality and Romans who had absorbed the philosophy of self-mastery in the letters of Seneca and Epictetus.
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How does Witherington understand the “same kind of things” in 2:1, 3?
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As hubris, arrogance, pretentiousness—as judgmentalism and hypocrisy
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What kinds of contrasts can we make between human judges and God?
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Human judges lack omniscience and purity of heart and character. Too often guilty of the same sins for which they condemn others.
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How should “human being” in vss. 1, 3 be understood? Who is Paul's target here?
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"Human being” refers to the entirety of humanity.
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Why have scholars often puzzled over the entire passage? In your own words what are the two viable explanations for this seeming contradiction?
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Seems to contradict Paul’s theology of justification by faith instead of works. (1) Paul could be focusing on the Gentiles outside of Christ (who he believes will be judged by works apart from faith, on the basis of what they have done with what they know of God) or (2) Christians after being saved, will still be judged based upon their work after conversion. Possibly like a minister—if a minister’s work prove worthless when tested by fire the man himself will still be saved but only just… as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3)
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If there is a tension between salvation by grace through faith and judgment of works, why is it a mistake to affirm one side of the conundrum over the other?
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Paul affirms both and we cannot affirm one over the other if we do not have full understanding of how he fits them together
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Why is “total depravity” an unhelpful phrase?
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Sin had affected and corrupted every part of nature but there is still Christ’s Law written on human hearts and a conscience so they can still do good or helpful actions. Humans are not as good as they could be but not as bad as they could be either.
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What two-fold rhetorical strategy does Paul employ in the section of 2:17-3:20? What is the basic message he wishes to convey?
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Both a diatribe and a catena (chain of connected passages or ideas) of scriptures organized to convey the message that everyone is guilty before Christ.
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Who is the imaginary interlocutor that Paul is dialoguing with in the section? What are the “ABC’s” of this teacher and Paul’s problem with his/her proclamation?
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The interlocutor is a Gentile who fancies himself to be a teacher who are in the dark, spiritually blind, foolish and infants. He bases his ABC’s off of the ten commandments. Paul’s problem is with the imaginary interlocutor’s hypocrisy.
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How does Paul use the term “sin”?
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Hamartia, umbrella word which covers things done in ignorance and things done purposefully. Collective noun which encompasses all types of sin
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What does the OT teach about deliberate sin?
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The OT contrasts with Paul’s Gospel because it teaches that some sins are unforgivable.
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What is Paul trying to do in the first two arguments of the letter?
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To put his entire audience on a single level, no ethnic or moral superiority
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How might the interlocutor dialogued with here relate back to the situation of Galatians?
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The second interlocutor is a Jew, not nominal or secular—he boasts in God, is instructed in the Law and relies upon the Law. He is reminiscent of the Agitators in Galatia who stated that one must follow the Torah to be justified in the eyes of God. Circumcision of the heart is of far more value than outward circumcision. Déjà vu?
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In general what version of the OT does Paul use?
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The Septuagint, Koine Greek version of Hebrew OT.
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Why is 3:6-8 somewhat personal for Paul?
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Paul has been charged with antinomianism. The idea that there is no obligation to follow any moral or ethical laws given by religious authorities.
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What is the primary advantage to being a Jew in this passage? What two reasons explain why Jews do not have a morally superior position?
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They have been entrusted with God’s word, but not morally superior because to those to whom more is given more is expected and because they are still “under sin”
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From a rhetorical point of view what is the value of an appeal to ancient authorities?
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If ones own authority is not firmly established with the audience it is good to appeal to a different authority which would be recognized by the Roman people.
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What is the net effect of the passage?
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Depicts how lost and wicked humanity can be
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What does “works of the law refer to according to Witherington?
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The entire OT Law, not just cultural icons such as circumcision and specific food types
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What is the trap in focusing on a law-free Gospel? What does Witherington mean?
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A trap of cheap grace. Not being under the Law of Moses is not equivalent to being under no law—instead one should be under the Law of Christ. One should have an attitude and approach to the Word of God as a gift from God and not as a possession with which we can do as we please.
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What two things is Paul trying to do in Romans?
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Trying to get the Romans to place more value on their Jewish heritage and also trying to undercut boasting and ethnic arrogance of both Jews and Gentiles
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According to Quintilian, what is the strongest kind of proof?
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The strongest kind of proof from analogy is proof from historical example
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If Paul’s dialogue partner presupposes the sort of view of Abraham found in the early Jewish discussion cited previously in Witherington, how does he counter with his own line of argumentation?
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Paul disagrees that Abraham was considered righteous because of his faithful covenantal actions but rather because of his belief in the claims of God. Points out that Abraham is reckoned righteous prior to circumcision
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Why is it a mistake to simply read Paul’s righteousness language through a forensic filter.
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God requires that once saved people still attempt to live righteous lives, he does not simply see Christ’s redeeming sacrifice and ignore the rest of our lives
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Following Fitzmyer, what did Abraham believe, what does faith mean?
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Acceptance of God’s word despite no perceptible evidence
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What is striking about Paul’s speaking of God setting right the ungodly? How does Paul hold to such a view?
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Stated elsewhere within the OT that God will not justify the wicked (Exodus 23:7) and that He despises those who do so (false judges etc).Only after Christ dies is God able to justify the Ungodly and remain righteous while doing so.
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What is gezerah shewah?
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Jewish technique of exegesis involving setting two passages beside each other with a common key term and allowing one to aid in the interpretation of the other.
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In Paul’s view what was the point of Abraham being circumcised?
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As a seal or a sign to set him apart from those around him who did not know God. Confirms a pre-existing condition.
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Why is v. 15 important for understanding the logic of Paul’s argument and his view of the Law?
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The existence of the Law turns sin into transgression, a willful violation of the known Law. Even more accountability and thus even larger amount of wrath from God.
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What shows for Paul that Jews and Gentiles were in the plan of God from the time of Abraham?
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Genesis 17:5 and 15:5, Abraham is supposed to be a father of many nations from the beginning. So Jews and Gentiles both share salvation through Abraham.
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Why two stories from Abraham does Paul concentrate on and why does he not use the story of the sacrifice of Isaac?
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Faith in God’s original promise which has Abraham leave his homeland to travel to the land which God will show to him, and faith in God’s promise that Sarah’s womb will be fruitful and actually produce for him and heir despite his old age. Doesn’t use the story of the sacrifice of Isaac because Isaac story could be more easily read as about Abraham’s actions rather than his simple faith. Faith versus faithfulness.
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Why would the language of peace, reconciliation, and the pacification of enemies be familiar to those in Rome?
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Because they would be used to hearing about the accomplishments of the emperors or Rome which included the Pax Romana
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If the peace of which Paul speaks is not about inner tranquility, what is it about?
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A cessation of hostilities, a restored or fixed relationship between two parties
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Why is there a revolutionary dimension to what Paul is saying here?
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Paul states that Christ is what Roman emperors claimed to be: the reconciler and ruler of the world. In ch. 13 states that Nero etc. are servants of the God of the Bible.
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Why does the language of grace perhaps suggest more than access to unfettered or free grace?
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The grace seems to be a area/sphere into which one can enter and stand
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What are the two things in which Paul boasts in 5:2?
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The eschatological hope and in the present sufferings which produce good character
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. To what does the phrase “love of God” refer to in each case in the Pauline epistles?
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Occurs in Romans 5:5, 8:39 and 2 Cor 13:13. Always refers to God’s love for us not our love for God.
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Which OT text is being fulfilled in God’s love being poured into our hearts?
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Jeremiah 31:31-34. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.”
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What is the crescendo of terms used to describe those for whom Christ died?
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Weak, ungodly, sinners, and enemies.
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What exactly is a kal wayomer type of argument and where did many of the rhetorical techniques known in early Judaism derive from?
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Kal wayomer- from lesser to greater (if…then how much more…) derived from Greco-Roman rhetoric.
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More often than not, Paul speaks of salvation in which tense?
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The future tense. Being set right and reconciled are present but being saved is yet to come. No eternal security until securely in eternity again?
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. In Achtemeier’s summary of v. 10, “if Christ’s death means God made peace with us even though we were enemies, surely Christ’s resurrection means God will save us now that we are his________.”
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friends
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Who undergirds the entire story from 5:12 to the end of chapter 7 of Romans?
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The story of Adam
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What psychological dynamic creates the strong pull to grant the conclusion that Christ has affected humanity?
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“The Lesser to greater” technique that Paul using in his speech suggests that if one grants the original assumption—that the fall of Adam affected the whole human race, then Christ’s sacrifice must have a greater effect. (longer lasting or affecting more people)
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Why will the logic of 5:12-21 seem strange to many moderns?
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We are too individualistic. We don’t like to think that the actions of one can affect many. The logic of the passage not only states that it affected the others but actually changed their destiny spreading death even to those who did not trespass like Adam.
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Why does the modern concept of federal headship as an analogy not go far enough to explain Paul’s thinking about the relationship between humankind, Adam and death?
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Not just affected by the decision of those above them but considered equally at fault. All humanity inherited death through Adam, the full punishment.
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Who does Paul not blame for original sin?
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Eve
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Which story is not the generative narrative for Christians and which three are?
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story of Moses is not; Adam story, Abraham story and Christ story are.
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What does Witherington mean when he refers to the Moses story as a “glorious anachronism”?
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A respected and honored part of God’s law but only temporary, not one which Christians are still required to obey any more.
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Like the author of 4 Ezra, Paul also possibly believed in what?
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The seminal transmission of a fallen identity passed from Adam to his offspring. That Adam, not Eve or the devil, was at fault for the fall of humanity
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What does Witherington mean when he argues that Christ’s “act of justice” wiped the slate clean?
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Christ’s sacrifice did not justify everyone; rather it placed humans in a position where they can again have a right relationship with God.
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What would argue against the notion that Christ’s death was only for the select few?
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The use of the term ‘all’ referring to both the sin through Adam and the righteousness gained through Christ would suggest that Christ’s death was not merely for a select few
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What does it mean to say that “sin reigned in death”?
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The reality and finality of death cause sin to reign in the human life because we will do almost anything to spit into the wind or distract ourselves from our own mortality.
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Which two stories continue to undergird the discussion leading up to chapter 8?
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Those in and of Adam and those in and of Christ
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How does Witherington explain chapter 6-7 and their relationship to chapter 5?
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Arguments in chapter 5 have possibly raised different questions which Paul vocalizes rhetorically and answers in chapters 6 and 7.
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What is the more extreme idea with which Paul needs to contend in 6:1-14?
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If sin is what prompts God’s outpouring of grace then why not continue on in sin for God’s grace is not finite
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Why is it not difficult to explain that Paul was thankful that he did not baptize more people than he did in Corinth?
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Because the Church of Corinth was being divided through baptism, and was placing too much importance in a sacrament which Paul believes merely mirrors the important ritual of baptism which is accomplished through the Holy Spirit. The spiritual baptism is of utmost importance.
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If those in Christ are freed from sin, what is the natural inference about those outside of Christ?
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Not freed from sin. Still bound.
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What three things are done away with in this section?
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The old self, the body of death and the slavery to sin
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Why is verse 6 exceedingly important for the understanding of 7:14-25?
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That which is no longer bothering the believer ‘old self, body of death and slavery to sin’ are affecting the ‘I’ referred to in chapter 7:14-25. Body of sin=body of death
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What is the weak chink in the Christians’ armor and why?
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The physical body is the weak chink in the Christian’s armor because the body is subject to certain physical weaknesses and temptations while the spirit has been renewed through Christ.
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. If Paul is not antinomian, why is it that Paul is opposed to believers submitting to the law of Moses?
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Because the Law of Moses is either obsolete or in the process of becoming obsolete in Paul’s viewpoint
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What is and is not at the heart of Paul’s critique of the Mosaic law?
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The Law does not have the power to change fallen human beings. It can inform but not transform us.
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To whom is Paul largely, if not almost exclusively addressing this letter?
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Gentiles
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If freedom in Paul is not just freedom from sin, what is it?
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Also freedom for particular lifestyle and tasks which God has called a person to. Freedom to serve God
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What has caused no end of misinterpretation of chs. 7-8?
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Failure to recognize the progression and nature of Paul’s rhetorical arguments
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What are the two very real problems Paul will take on chs. 9-11 and how does insinuatio fit in to this discussion?
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Ethnic prejudice and supersessionist theological thinking. Reserved for the end of the argument once he has fully established his pathos.
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Summarize Witherington’s discussion of sanctification
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If you submit your life to God and pursue his directives you will be sanctified end result will be eternal life. It will occur naturally if one has submitted ones life to Christ.
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How is it that Paul does not see eternal life as some quid pro quo for holy living in this present life?
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Salvation is through grace and faith not through actions (holy living). We do not and cannot deserve God’s free gift to us.
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How is the believer like the woman in the analogy?
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Death has freed them from the authority of the old Law and allowed them to find a new master, in this case Chrsit.
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Who is the historical person impersonated in Rom. 7:7-13?
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Adam
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How did John Chrysostom understand Rom 7?
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Not about Christians but about Jews and Gentiles who lived before or outside of Christ
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How does Witherington understand the “I” of 7:7-13 and then again the “I” of 7:14-25?
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The “I” of 7:7-13 is Adam, the “I” of 7:14-25 refers to those currently “in Adam”
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How does Paul understand the original sin of coveting the fruit of the prohibited tree?
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Violation of the 10th commandment, to not covet
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What is one of the functions of this subsection of Romans 7:7-13?
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To provide an apologia for the Law
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Who is Paul not critiquing in 7:7-13 if the section is about Adam
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Jews and Judaism, George W. Bush, Sarah Palin (though it seems everyone else is)
[sorry its been a long day] |
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How is it that the exceeding sinfulness of sin is revealed?
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In that it will use even a good thing to produce an evil end such as death
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How did most of the church Fathers understand Rom. 7:14-25?
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They understood Paul as adopting the persona of a unregenerate man- doesn’t describe his own spiritual struggles
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In his introductory remarks to the chapter (before his translation of the text), how does Witherington explain the awkward structure of 7:25a and 7:25b?
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Verse 25a introduces the following argument about life in Christ and verse 25b concludes the previous argument. Rhetorical style used as an ‘overlap’ technique
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What does Witherington (following Llewelyn) believe to be the controlling metaphor here?
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Slavery: slave’s mind may be free to think, but his body is enslaved to his master
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According to Witherington, if the tension in the Christian life is not between the old person and the new person, what is it between?
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Inner person who is now being renewed and the outer person or body which is not, between flesh/sinful inclination and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
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Following the rhetorical rules about arranging ones arguments, how does Paul proceed?
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Organizes his first argument from the common (humanity outside of Christ) to the particular (first Gentiles then Jews), then organizes from particular (Abraham) to the general Christian experience. Finally climaxes with a contrast between life in Adam and life in the Spirit and Christ, which fulfills the rhetorical strategy of stating last what occurs to us first. Narratives about specific individuals of the faith undergird Paul’s line of argumentation
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In what chapter in Romans does the word Spirit most frequently occur?
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The word Spirit, pneuma, occurs twenty times in chapter 8; more than any other chapter
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Why is it surprising that Paul refers to “you” in the singular in 8:2 and what is the simplest explanation?
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Surprising since Paul is referring to a group of Christians, probably done because Paul wants to emphasize what he says is true for each individual—also serves to make audience identify with the earlier “I” in chapter 7
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What is one of the major problems with the Law?
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That while it can tell a person what they ought to do it cannot empower them to do it
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What is the “newness of life” to which Paul refers in 8:11?
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Believer’s future bodily(physical) resurrection.
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What is Witherington getting at when he writes, “Paul knows of no reception of the Spirit subsequent to conversion” (217)?
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You get the Spirit of God indwelling within you at the time of your conversion. No later.
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Why would the language of adoption be especially appropriate in Rome?
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Because legal adoption was a means to a brighter future, very common even within the imperial family.
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What OT text perhaps stands behind Romans 8:16 and what is the implication of the referent?
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Deuteronomy 19:15 (One witness is not enough to convict a man… need at least 2; the Holy Spirit and our own spirit serve as two witnesses to testify we are God’s children fulfilling legal requirements.
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What point rules out treating the Spirit as a mere force or power one could acquire in installments
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The personal nature of the Spirit rules it out as a mere force or power which one could acquire. We are fully empowered by the spirit from the time of conversion.
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What three types of renovation does resurrection entail?
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Internal, external, eternal
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What are the two ways that Paul uses the expression “first fruits” (Rom 8, 1 Cor 15)?
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Holy Spirit given by God and the initial work of the Spirit in the life of the believer, also the resurrection of Christ is the first fruit of the resurrection of all believers
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How does Witherington understand Rom 8:28 with respect to God using all things for the good?
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Not for the earthly comfort or convenience of the individual believer but for the overall good end—the redemption of the believer’s bodies.
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In the final analysis, how does Witherington suggest the expression, “those called according to purpose/choice,” should be translated?
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Those called according to (their own) purpose/choice. The individual believer’s free will.
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Following the quote by Achtemeier on pg 229, how does he understand the terms “foreknow” and “predestine”?
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Foreknew and predestined simply point out the fact that God knows the end to which He will bring His creation—redemption.
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What does Witherington mean when he writes, “Love for God can be commanded, but it cannot be coerced, compelled, or engineered in advance, or else it loses its character as love”?
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God can tell us to love him but if he made us love him we would be like robots and it would not really be love because loving requires a free act of will.
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What is the final act in the process of conforming believers to Christ?
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The resurrection
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With reference to Rom 8:30, why does Paul not mention the human response, whether positive or negative?
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Because Paul’s emphasis is on God’s involvement in the process of resurrection, not the human response.
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What protects us from reading Rom 8:29-30 as though Paul was like the most deterministic of early Jews?
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God’s involvement, not the believers faith is being stressed within Rom 8:29-30; to get a clearer idea of Paul’s viewpoint need a broader context of Paul’s thinking about Grace and Faith.
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Following Cranfield, what theme is the concise summary of Rom 1:16b-8:30?
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“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
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What are the “all things” God gives to believers in 8:32?
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Not a promise of material wealth but all things which are necessary for salvation.
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In Witherington’s view, how does the concept of “the elect” not take away from individual freedom?
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The elect have no advance guarantee of salvation—applies to the group and individuals within the group can and often do commit apostasy. Not because they were not part of the elect but because they became unfaithful and wandered away.
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What is the one item that Paul does not include in the list of things that cannot separate the believer from God’s love?
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The believer himself is the only thing which can separate the believer from God’s love. However no outside forces can separate the believer from the love of God.
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On what does Paul center his answers to a series of rhetorical questions in this section and what other issue will also be addressed at some length?
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Whether God will keep His word to Israel or abandon His chosen people. Issue of the status and standing of Gentiles is also discussed at some length
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What would be a serious error with respect to our understanding of chapters 9-11 as they relate to chapters 1-8?
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To treat chapters 9-11 as a afterthought, unrelated discussion or appendix to chapters 1-8.
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Which section of Romans is the most Scripture-saturated?
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Romans 9 through 11 hold 28 scripture citations or partial citations making it the most saturated
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What does the probatio and refutatio do in rhetorical discourse?
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Probatio is an argument for a case and the refutio is the argument against the opponent’sb case
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What two things do the Scriptural references prove?
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That God is faithful to His Word and that God has historical purposes that have always taken into account Israel’s faith and unfaithfulness and promises made to Israel.
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If Paul’s views on predestination, election, the remnant, etc. do not fall within the parameters of later Augustinian, Lutheran, and Calvinist discussions, where do they fall?
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They fall within the discussions of early Judaism which make full allowance for both corporate election and meaningful choices of individuals who may commit apostasy and opt out of the people of God.
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Which group, according to Josephus, held the middle ground in discussions of determinism or predestination in early Judaism?
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Pharisees held the middle ground of belief about predestination: That some things but not all were the work of divine destining. Some things are left to the control of human beings.
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If Paul does not talk about a natural impulse toward good in humans what does he talk about?
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The work of the Spirit which leads us to do good
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What three notions must Paul rebut?
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That God has forsaken His chosen people, that the Word of God has failed, & that Israel has stumbled so badly as to be permanently lost
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Whose plea does Paul echo in Romans 9:2?
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Moses’ plea for the people of Israel
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. In Romans 9:1-5, which verse is one of the most debated in all of Pauline literature and what is the issue?
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Verse 5b is one of the most debated verses in all of Pauline literature. Is Paul calling Christ God? Probably yes, Christ is God and God is Christ
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When Paul refers to the hardening of some, if he is not talking about eternal damnation, what is he talking about?
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A process which is both temporal and temporary. Not currently positively related to God
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What is the Old Testament context of the saying, “Jacob I loved, and Esau I hated,” in Romans 9:13? How does the verse speak of God’s elective purposes?
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In context God is probably referring to the nations that derived from Jacob and Esau rather than the individuals. God elected Jacob to be His, even though Esau was the firstborn and usual inheritor of the birthright etc.
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Summarize the quotation from Achtemeier in footnote 37 on page 255.
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Specific reference is for the extension of grace to the Gentiles, not a eternal truth about how God deals with individuals. God deals with Israel with continuous outpouring of love and mercy and now that same care is extended to all people..
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What could be said to be the theme of Romans 9-11 occurring as it does 7 times?
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“Mercy” Only 5 other appearances in the rest of Paul’s works
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What is proof-texting and what does it lead to?
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Taking certain verses out of the context of a rhetorical argument leads to bad theology
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What is the concessive understanding of verses Romans 9:22-23?
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If God although he willed to show forth His wrath,… nevertheless he had patience with them for an extended period of time.
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In the section Romans 10:1-4, which verse is one of the most debated in the Pauline corpus?
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Verse 4 because it states that Christ is the termination/end/purpose/goal of the law.
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How does Witherington understand ultimately Romans 10:4?
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Christ has put an end to the Law as a means of pursuing righteousness
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Since the confession in Romans 10:9-10 is parallel to the one in 1 Corinthians 12:3, what does that suggest?
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That Paul is using a set formula that his audience will recognize.
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If Paul’s problem is not with obedience, or good works, or laws per se, what is his problem?
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Anachronism in a fallen world where the Mosaic Law cannot empower fallen persons to keep it and where Christ has brought it to an end as a way of righteousness, especially when Christ and the Spirit can empower obedient living.
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What does Paul mean by the term “mystery?”
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Something a person knows only because Christ has revealed it to them
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How does Paul invert the typical Jewish understanding of the eschatological salvation of Israel?
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He has the Gentiles all saved before the Jews all become saved
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In what light does Paul see the conversion of the Jews?
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Conversion of the Jews seen in an eschatological light. At the end of human history.
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To what does the root refer to most likely in Romans 11:16?
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The root probably refers to the patriarchs, Abraham in particular
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In what two ways does Paul put the Gentile Christians in their place?
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Jewish Christians and the patriarchs are a natural part of the tree—precedence in the union of God; and as wild olive branches the Gentiles bear no fruit and are useless, only grafted on through sheer grace.
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In the section Romans 11:25-32 which is one of the most controversial verses of these chapters?
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Verse 26 is one of the most controversial verses in these chapters. Who does “all Israel” refer to. 4 options: 1-Jews and Gentiles in Christ, 2-The elect of Israel, 3-the whole nation of Israel, or 4-The nation of Israel with a few exceptions.
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What leads Paul into an outburst of doxological praise in Romans 11:33-36?
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Contemplation of the mercy of God.
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What percent of Paul’s Old Testament quotations in this section are from Isaiah?
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40% of the quotations from this section and the entirety of Romans are from Isaiah
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What has been the aim broadly speaking of chs. 1-11? And the aim of refutatio of chs. 9-11 more specifically?
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Produce a situation in where the audience understands that Jews and Gentiles are on equal footing in grace and disgrace, salvation and sin
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In light of the preceding question, what then is the purpose of chs. 12-15?
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Paul is attempting to heal the manifestations of the discord caused by the mistaken belief that either Jew or Gentile is superior to the other. To accomplish this he sketches an ethic of community based on the principle of faithfulness as adaptability to others.
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Generally speaking, what authoritative tradition stands behind much of chs. 9-11 and what authoritative tradition stands behind much of chs. 12-15?
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Chapters 9-11 are based upon OT teachings, 12-15 are based upon Jesus’ teachings
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Paul’s call to obedience is fundamentally grounded in whose teaching?
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The teachings of Jesus
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In Romans 12:1 what is the basis of Paul’s appeal? Referring to Paul’s dictum, if all theology is grace then all ethics is a matter of what?
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Appeal is based on the compassion of God. All Ethics is a matter of gratitude.
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In Romans 12:1 Paul tells believers to present themselves in a pleasing manner. Why is this counterintuitive for many Christians?
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Common thought was that nothing we can do would make us pleasing to God. Paul says nothing we do in the flesh pleases God but we can do works through His Spirit which are pleasing to Him.
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How does Paul hold forth a different view of spirituality and a different view of ethics for his Roman congregations?
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Different spirituality in that it is not cult focused and different view of ethics in that it is not law determined.
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What three things must one have and/or do to determine what is indeed good and pleasing and perfect in God’s sight?
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Have a renewed mind, moral vision, and develop competency in moral discernment
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With respect to spiritual gifts, what is a major hedge against inflated thinking?
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Remembering that whatever abilities you have are gifts from God not of yourself.
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In Romans 12:13, to whom does Paul likely refer when he speaks about the needy among the saints?
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Providing lodging and food for travelers, especially Christian travelers
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What famous sermon does Paul appear to know well?
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The sermon on the mount.
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Why is it not merely prudential in Romans 12:21 when Paul speaks of not succumbing to evil but overcoming it with good?
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It is the way that God Himself has acted against His enemies. The mercy of God will triumph over the rebellion and disobedience of mankind.
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