Paul's Argument In Romans

Improved Essays
My reflection on Paul’s Argument in Romans:
A. The human situation (life without Christ) The Gentiles and Jews were “under the power of sin” or living in “the flesh” (Thibodaux, video). To the Gentiles, from chapter 1:18-32, Paul addressed idolatry (1:22-25) and sexual perversion (1:26-32). St. Paul said, "They are filled with every form of wickedness, evil, greed, and malice" and then lists a multitude of sins: envy, murder, rivalry, treachery, spite, gossips, and hate of God. According to St. Paul, the Gentiles are "insolent, haughty, boastful, ingenious in their wickedness, and rebellious toward their parents. They are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless." (1:29-32). Also to the Jews, he adamantly asserted, “Now if you call yourself a Jew and rely on Mosaic law and boast of God. …then you who teach another, are you failing to teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery?...Because of you the name of God is reviled among the Gentiles” (2:17-24).
…show more content…
How God freely justifies us in Christ Paul taught how God freely justifies us in Christ. In chapter 3:28, he stated, “For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” Abraham was justified by faith, for he believed in

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    The Roman church had not yet been visited and had no New Testament because the gospels were not yet being circulated in their final written form. Thus, this letter may well have been the first piece of Christian literature the Roman believers had seen. In Roman culture to choose to be a servant was unthinkable. Paul was a Roman citizen but chose to be entirely dependent on and abide in Christ Jesus (Romans 1:1). Paul’s impact was made known because of his citizenship and willingness to serve and obey Jesus…

    • 1432 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Timothy G. Gombis

    • 1134 Words
    • 5 Pages

    NT2200-Week Two-Perspectives on Paul Paper The “old perspective” or “traditional perspective” that Timothy G. Gombis presents in our textbook can be summed up as a human effort to make oneself righteous in the eyes of God through works of the law. According to Timothy G. Gombis (2010), “When Paul critiques “Law,” “works of the Law,” and “works,” he is opposing an implicit Jewish legalism; the assumption that one’s status before God is earned through merit gained through good deeds” (p. 83).…

    • 1134 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Martin Luther Summary Since Paul is personally not familiar with the Roman Catholic Church, he begins with writing a letter by introducing himself. He is called the “apostle” and he has a mission to “bring about the obedience of faith among the Gentiles” (1:1-5). Paul follows up his introduction with a greeting to the church and shares his desires to teach in Rome someday.…

    • 1229 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Paul and his Undisputed Letters In Paul’s Undisputed Letters, Paul is talking to a group of people that aren’t clearly identified. Through context clues and identifying the characteristics of each group that he could be talking to, it is easy to decipher whom he is referring to. The Gentiles are a group of people who worship many gods, are not descendants of Abraham, are not circumcised, and do not follow the Law of Moses. The Jews are a group of people who are monotheistic, descendants of Abraham, circumcised, follow the Law of Moses, and also do their worshipping in a temple.…

    • 1047 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Many people consider Paul to be the apostle to the Gentiles. What many people don’t know is that all the locations that Paul wrote letters to also contained high percentages of Jewish people as well. Paul is aware of the large number of jews in these communities due to his visits as depicted in Acts 18.2 ( Keener (184)). While Paul appears to mostly address Gentiles throughout his letters his messages are also to be read and listened to by Jews. In Romans 2:25-29 Paul address the idea of circumcision a total of ten times.…

    • 1713 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Symbolism In Paul's Case

    • 1131 Words
    • 5 Pages

    People always look for ways to fit in; they look for places where they belong. That is the struggle of Paul and his decision to find a place for which he can be himself. “Paul’s Case” written by Willa Cather is a story in how Paul struggles to fit in at his hometown but decides to go someplace else to be accepted. Paul is conflicted about reaching the expectations put on him by his father and being accepted by his classmates and teachers, he chooses the path of pursuing his own desires or complying with what people wants him to become.…

    • 1131 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Hence he believes, that righteousness is by faith in Jesus Christ and not by works of law whether one is Jewish or Gentile; one is a true descendant of Abraham who belongs to Christ, not…

    • 1511 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    In chapter 2 of the books of Romans, verses 9-11, Paul continues the theme of the good news salvation to all that believes by including both the Jews and the Gentiles. He does not separate the Jews and Gentiles when talking about doing evil as well as doing good. Paul always mentions the Jews first and then Gentiles I believe because Jesus was born Jewish and the Jewish people were God's chosen people even though they were main contributors in having him crucified. In chapter 3, verse 9, Paul talks about how Jews and Gentiles are under sin as the theme continues. In chapter 4, verse 7, Paul talks about those that are blessed who transgressions are forgiven.…

    • 155 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. " His selfless heart is seen in allowing his nephew Lot first choice of land in which to pasture his flocks and feed his people (Genesis13:9). The kindness he shows to three men, who are angels of God, in Genesis 18: 1-8 also shows his concern for others. Despite the fact that he does not know these individuals, he generously provides for their needs. Since children of God are to be "given to hospitality” (Romans 12:13), the author of the book of Hebrews uses this event in the life of Abraham to highlight this duty: "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels" (Hebrews13:2).…

    • 627 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Colossians Your paper was very interesting reading. Paul’s letters were often circulate to other churches as state in this letter, After this letter has been read to you, see that is it also read in the church of the Ladiceans, such an interesting fact that you could have included. It would have be invaluable for you to expound on the Judaist Gnosticism false teachings the effect on the church and why it was so detrimental in opposing the teachings of the Apostle Paul.…

    • 308 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Paul begins his argument by asking the people of Galatia who they are trying to impress and who they are living for. Paul wants them to seek God’s approval and no one else’s (Gal 1:10). He makes a strong argument stating that if justification comes through law, then our Lord died for…

    • 609 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In addition to the vices and the immoral sexual relations being shown, not only during Paul’s time, but in today’s society as well, there is also tolerance at the cultural level of this behavior. The church in Rome, which Paul was addressing in his letter, was dealing with these issues of sin. Eventually, as Paul and the other apostles spread the gospel message, believers turned away from the standard of living being demonstrated by the culture around them and began living the way God wanted them to live in response to righteousness imparted by God. For “believers must now not live according to the flesh, but through the Spirit put aside the sins they have been committing”.…

    • 906 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Throughout the years, Christianity has spread and it’s estimated that there’s 2.2 billion Christians in the world today. A religion that many thought would never grow to be so prominent, yet it has affected and has been part of society for so long. But how did this all began and who were the main responsible for this. The answer is in Israel, with a man called Paul of Tarsus. Paul was born in Tarsus, both his parents were Jews and Roman citizens and due to them Paul inherited a Roman Citizenship.…

    • 883 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A11602683 Below you will find three passages, discuss what the context is and what major issue in Jewish history they illustrate: The passages below describe the impact of Hellenism on Jewish history and tell the story of the emergence of Christianity. The Hellenistic period began following Alexander the Great’s conquest in 334 BCE and continued culturally till almost the seventh century CE. During this period, the Jews incorporated Hellenistic thoughts with their Judaic traditions; this is made evident in the passage on Philo of Alexandria. Philo–a Hellenized Jew–has no problem incorporating his religion with elements of Greek philosophy.…

    • 1362 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The book of Romans begins with a greeting from Paul the apostle to the church in Rome and specifically to his fellow believers. He is grateful that they proclaim their faith and has wanted to see them, but has been unable to because of extraneous circumstances. Paul is not ashamed of his faith and knows that salvation will come first to the Jews and then the Gentiles. He goes on to say in chapter 2 and 3 how God is against unrighteousness and suppressing of the truth. God gave up people to their desires because they had traded truth for lies and they have given in to all sins.…

    • 885 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays