Structural Relationships of Romans 8:1-17
Structural Relationships:
Recurrence: “Law” Language
Law of the Spirit of life in Christ (v 2)/ Law of sin and death (v 2)/ Law (v 3)/ Just requirement of the Law (v 4)/ God”s Law (v 7)
Paul makes it clear that the the good news is still supported by law; it is not an anarchical system where people can do whatever they want, and God acts arbitrarily. Once the Jew relied upon the written law of Moses, Paul shows here that there is still law, it just looks different than what was originally thought.
Recurrence: “Spirit” Language
Life in accord with the spirit (vv 4, 5, 10)/ Mind in accord with the spirit (v 6)/ Being in the spirit (v 9)/ Spirit in us (v 11)/ Actions we perform by the spirit/led …show more content…
Cause: God has set us free from the law of sin and death by sending his son to condemn sin.
This contrast makes justification clear and under what circumstances.
Causation (vv 3-4)
Cause: God sent his son.
Effect; So the righteous requirements of the law would be met.
This comparison shows the law to remain valid, yet to be satisfied in what God has done.
Causation (vv 11-12)
Cause: He will give life to our mortal bodies.
Effect: We are debtors.
This seems to indicate that we have not lost our position before God as debtors. We once owed a sin debt we could not pay, but God has paid our debt, and we remain debtors, yet in a positive sense.
Instrumentation (vv 3-4)
Purpose: So that the righteous requirements of the law would be met.
Means: God sent his son
This indicates that we have done nothing of ourselves to satisfy God.
Summarization (vv 12-17)
Paul writes “so then” which could indicate that everything written prior was a cause and now the effect could be stated. However, since Paul reiterates much of what was already said, this seems more like a summarization.
Keywords & Concepts for Further Research:
Words and concepts students might identify for further research
Structural Relationships:
Recurrence: “Law” Language
Law of the Spirit of life in Christ (v 2)/ Law of sin and death (v 2)/ Law (v 3)/ Just requirement of the Law (v 4)/ God”s Law (v 7)
Paul makes it clear that the the good news is still supported by law; it is not an anarchical system where people can do whatever they want, and God acts arbitrarily. Once the Jew relied upon the written law of Moses, Paul shows here that there is still law, it just looks different than what was originally thought.
Recurrence: “Spirit” Language
Life in accord with the spirit (vv 4, 5, 10)/ Mind in accord with the spirit (v 6)/ Being in the spirit (v 9)/ Spirit in us (v 11)/ Actions we perform by the spirit/led …show more content…
Cause: God has set us free from the law of sin and death by sending his son to condemn sin.
This contrast makes justification clear and under what circumstances.
Causation (vv 3-4)
Cause: God sent his son.
Effect; So the righteous requirements of the law would be met.
This comparison shows the law to remain valid, yet to be satisfied in what God has done.
Causation (vv 11-12)
Cause: He will give life to our mortal bodies.
Effect: We are debtors.
This seems to indicate that we have not lost our position before God as debtors. We once owed a sin debt we could not pay, but God has paid our debt, and we remain debtors, yet in a positive sense.
Instrumentation (vv 3-4)
Purpose: So that the righteous requirements of the law would be met.
Means: God sent his son
This indicates that we have done nothing of ourselves to satisfy God.
Summarization (vv 12-17)
Paul writes “so then” which could indicate that everything written prior was a cause and now the effect could be stated. However, since Paul reiterates much of what was already said, this seems more like a summarization.
Keywords & Concepts for Further Research:
Words and concepts students might identify for further research