Study guide
The aim of this study guide is to help you get to the heart of what the author has written and to challenge you to apply what you learn to your own life. The questions have been designed for use by individuals or by small groups of Christians meeting, perhaps for an hour or two each week, to study, discuss and pray together.
The guide provides material for each of the sections in the book. When used by a group with limited time, the leader should decide beforehand which questions are most appropriate for the group to discuss during the meeting and which should perhaps be left for group members to work through by themselves or in smaller groups during the week.
In order to be able to contribute fully and learn from the group meetings, each member of the group needs to read through the section or sections under discussion, together with the passages in the letter to which they refer.
It is important not to let these studies become merely academic exercises. Guard against this by making time to think through and discuss how what you discover works out in practice for you. Make sure you begin and end each study by focusing on God in praise and prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through your discussion together.
Preliminary essay
(pp. 1–28)
1. The influence of the letter
1 John Stott quotes the impact of Romans on a number of church leaders. To what extent can you identify with the questions they faced? How did the letter help them? How might it help you? Spend some time praying that this will happen as you study.
‘There is no saying what may happen when people begin to study the letter to the Romans . . . !’ (p. 6, quoting F. F. Bruce)
2. New challenges to old traditions
2 What has ‘long been taken for granted’ as the ‘apostle’s chief emphasis in Romans’ (p. 6)?
3 John Stott draws our attention to the views of several scholars (pp. 6ff.). Can you try to sum up their assessments of what Romans is really all about? What do you think of their arguments?
4 What can we be ‘profoundly thankful for’ (p. 15) in these modern views of Romans? Why?
3. Paul’s purposes in writing
5 How do the three places which Paul intends to visit help us to assess why he writes as he does (pp. 16ff.)?
6 What is the controversy whose ‘echoes . . . may be heard rumbling throughout Romans’ (p. 19)? Are you aware of a similar tension in your own church? How does Paul answer it?
4. A brief overview of Romans
7 We shall come in more detail to the different points John Stott makes later on. For now, trace through his summary of this letter (pp. 21ff.). In what ways does this relate (a) to your past experience and (b) to your present questions?
Introduction: The gospel of God and Paul’s eagerness to share it
Romans 1:1–17
Romans 1:1–6
1. Paul and the gospel (pp. 30–38)
1 What is ‘particularly striking’ (p. 31) about Paul’s description of himself as ‘slave’ and ‘apostle’? What do the two terms tell us about Paul’s view of his calling (pp. 31f.)?
1. The origin of the gospel is God
2 What is ‘the first and most basic conviction which underlies all authentic evangelism’ (p. 32)? Why is this?
2. The attestation of the gospel is Scripture
3 According to what Paul says here, why is the Old Testament so important (pp. 33f.)? Does it have this significance for you?
3. The substance of the gospel is Jesus Christ
4 What do verses 3–4 say about the double identity of Jesus (pp. 34ff.)? How does what Paul says shed light on these two aspects? Why are they both so important?
4. The scope of the gospel is all the nations
5 As he states the purposes of his apostleship, what ‘further aspects of the gospel’ does Paul disclose here (pp. 36f.)? What implications does this have for you?
5. The purpose of the gospel is the obedience of faith
6 Paul’s gospel demands, literally, ‘the obedience of faith’ (verse 5). How would you answer the suggestion that this contradicts his emphasis elsewhere that justification is through faith alone (pp. 36f.)?
6. The goal of the gospel is the honour of Christ’s name
7 What is ‘the highest of all missionary motives’ (p. 37)? How does your experience of evangelism match up to this?
Romans 1:7–13
2. Paul and the Romans (pp. 39–41)
1 In what way does this passage underline Paul’s conviction that ‘all believers in Christ, Gentiles as well as Jews, now belong to the covenant people of God’ (p. 40)?
2 What can we learn from the way he describes his feelings for his Roman readers (pp. 40f.)?
Romans 1:14–17
3. Paul and evangelism (pp. 42–49)
1. The gospel is a debt to the world (1:14–15)
1 Why might we expect Paul to have been reluctant to preach the gospel in Rome (pp. 42ff.)? What was it that overcame these factors? How can this help us?
‘People nowadays tend to regard evangelism as an optional extra and consider (if they engage in it) that they are doing a favour for God; Paul spoke of it as a debt, an obligation.’ (p. 42)
2. The gospel is God’s power for salvation (1:16)
2 Are you at all ‘ashamed of the gospel’ (p. 44)? Why? What is the antidote to this?
3. The gospel reveals God’s righteousness (1:17)
3 What different answers have been given to the question of what Paul means by (a) ‘the righteousness of God’ and (b) ‘by faith from first to last’ in verse 17 (pp. 45ff.)? Which are more likely to be correct? Why?
4 How should we translate Paul’s quotation from Habakkuk (pp. 48f.)? Why?
A. The wrath of God against all humankind
Romans 1:18 – 3:20 (pp. 50–52)
1 ‘Nothing keeps people away from Christ more than . . . ’ what (p. 50)? Can you give examples of this from your own experience? What is the answer?
Romans 1:18–32
4. Depraved Gentile society (pp. 53–64)
1 To what extent does talk of the wrath of God cause you ‘embarrassment and even incredulity’ (p. 55)? Why is this? How may such reactions be avoided?
1. What is the wrath of God?
2 How did C. H. Dodd and A. T. Hanson seek to overcome the ‘problem’ of God’s wrath (p. 56)? Does their solution work?
2. Against what is God’s wrath revealed?
3 What is the connection between revelation and God’s wrath (pp. 57ff.)?
3. How is God’s wrath revealed?
4 Can you identify the three ways in which God’s wrath is revealed (pp. 59f.)? In what ways have you experienced those that are active now?
5 For which ‘modern obsession’ (p. 61) are you most tempted to ‘exchange the worship of the living God’? How can this be avoided?
6 Do verses 26–27 ‘describe and condemn all homosexual behaviour’ (pp. 62f.)? How has this view been challenged? What do you think?
The ‘essence [of Paul’s portrayal of depraved Gentile society] lies in the contrast between what people know and what they do’. (p. 64)
Romans 2:1–16
5. Critical moralizers (pp. 65–74)
1 The common assumption is that Paul is addressing a Jew in these verses. Why might this not be the case (pp. 65f.)? How might we more accurately define his target?
1. God’s judgment is inescapable (2:1–4)
2 What ‘strange human characteristic’ does Paul uncover in these verses (p. 67)? Is it one you share?
2. God’s judgment is righteous (2:5–11)
3 If salvation is by faith alone, why is judgment according to works (pp. 69f.)?
‘The presence or absence of saving faith in our hearts will be disclosed by the presence or absence of good works of love in our lives.’ (p. 69)
4 Which two paths does Paul contrast in verses 7–10 (pp. 69f.)? Which are you on? How do you know?
3. God’s judgment is impartial (2:12–16)
5 By what criteria does God judge (a) Jews and (b) Gentiles (pp. 71ff.)?
6 In talking about Gentiles, what does Paul mean by saying that ‘the requirements of the law are written on their hearts’ (verse 15; pp. 73f.)?
7 What ‘three further truths about Judgment Day’ (p. 73) does Paul add in verse 16? How do you respond to these?
‘We cheapen the gospel if we represent it as a deliverance only from unhappiness, fear, guilt and other felt needs, instead of as a rescue from the coming wrath.’ (p. 73)
4. Conclusion: God’s judgment and God’s law
8 How would you answer the suggestion that verses 12–16 hold out the hope that some people might gain salvation by living good lives (p. 74)?
9 Do you ever feel that Christian involvement in society is a case of ‘Christians trying to force their standards on an unwilling public’ (p. 75)? How does what Paul says here help?
Romans 2:17 – 3:8
6. Self-confident Jews (pp. 76–85)
1. The law (2:17–24)
1 What ‘double relation’ (p. 77) do Jewish people have to the law? How does Paul ‘turn the tables on them’?
‘If we set ourselves up as either teachers or judges of others, we can have no excuse if we do not teach or judge ourselves.’ (p. 78)
2. Circumcision (2:25–29)
2 Can you think of any ‘magical ceremony or . . . charm’ (p. 78) that people rely on today in order to exempt them from God’s judgment, as some Jews in Paul’s day relied on their circumcision?
3 What ‘fourfold contrast’ does Paul draw as he redefines what it means to be a Jew (p. 80)?
3. Some Jewish objections (3:1–8)
4 If ‘being an ethnic Jew has no value in protecting from God’s judgment’ (p. 82), what value does it have?
5 What are the other three objections to what he has been saying that Paul deals with here (pp. 82ff.)?
6 What does ‘apologetics’ mean? How does what Paul writes here emphasize the importance of this aspect of evangelism (pp. 84f.)?
Romans 3:9–20
7. The whole human race (pp. 86–92)
1 What is the possible contradiction between verses 1 and 9 (p. 86)? How may it be resolved?
2 What are the ‘three features of this grim biblical picture’ which stand out in verses 10–18 (pp. 87ff.)?
3 Which expression has, according to James Dunn, ‘frequently been misunderstood’ (p. 89)? What is the difference between the traditional and modern interpretations of this phrase? Which do you think is right? Why does it matter?
4 How does John Stott suggest we should respond to Paul’s charge of universal sin and guilt (pp. 92f.)?
B. The grace of God in the gospel
Romans 3:21 – 8:39
Romans 3:21 – 4:25
8. God’s righteousness revealed and illustrated (pp. 93–124)
1. God’s righteousness revealed in Christ’s cross (3:21–26)
1 What do these verses teach about righteousness from God (pp. 94f.)?
2 Can you define (a) justification and (b) sanctification? Why is the distinction between them important (pp. 95ff.)?
‘No formulation of the gospel is biblical which removes the initiative from God and attributes it either to us or even to Christ.’ (p. 97)
3 Why is the statement that ‘God . . . justifies the ungodly’ (4:5; p. 98) so ‘startling’? How then can God do it?
4 What parallels can you identify between the picture of ‘redemption’ and our situation as sinners (p. 99)?
5 What does ‘propitiation’ mean (pp. 99ff.)? Why do some people react against this as a translation of the Greek word hilastērion? What alternatives are suggested? Why are these unsatisfactory?
‘God himself gave himself to save us from himself.’ (p. 101)
6 Apart from redeeming sinners and propitiating God, what else does Paul identify here as achieved by the cross (pp. 102f.)?
7 Why is it ‘vital to affirm that there is nothing especially admirable about faith’ (p. 103)?
8 How does John Stott defend his statement that ‘Justification . . . is the heart of the gospel and unique to Christianity’ (p. 104)? Where does this leave other religions?
2. God’s righteousness defended against criticism (3:27–31)
9 What effect does justification by faith have on boasting (pp. 105f.)? Why? What do you take pride in?
10 In what ways does the doctrine of justification by faith ‘uphold the law’ (verse 31, pp. 107f.)?
3. God’s righteousness illustrated in Abraham (4:1–25)
11 ‘Paul wants Jewish Christians to grasp that his gospel of justification by faith is no novelty . . . and he wants Gentile Christians to appreciate the rich spiritual heritage they have entered by faith in Jesus’ (p. 109). Why does Paul choose Abraham as his main example of justification (pp. 109f.)?
12 How does Paul show that Abraham was justified by faith rather than works (pp. 109ff.)?
13 ‘Justification involves a double counting, crediting, or reckoning’ (p. 114). To what is John Stott referring? How is this relevant to you?
14 What does Paul draw from the fact that Abraham was justified long before he was circumcised (pp. 116f.)? Why would this have embarrassed his Jewish opponents?
15 On what three points does Paul base his assertion that God’s promise to Abraham was ‘received and inherited by faith, not law’ (pp. 118f.)?
‘The law . . . divides. Only the gospel of grace and faith can unite, by . . . levelling everybody at the foot of Christ’s cross.’ (pp. 120–121)
16 What then was it that enabled Abraham to believe God (pp. 121ff.)? What enables you to believe in God? How does faith grow?
17 In what ways is verse 25 ‘a comprehensive statement of the gospel’ (Hodge, quoted on p. 123)?
‘Faith is not burying our heads in the sand, or screwing ourselves up to believe what we know is not true, or even whistling in the dark to keep our spirits up. On the contrary, faith is a reasoning trust. There can be no believing without thinking.’ (p. 124)
Romans 5:1 – 6:23
9. God’s people united in Christ (pp. 125–178)
1. The results of justification (5:1–11)
1 What ‘six bold assertions’ are true of all whom God has justified (pp. 126ff.)? What does each one of them mean for you?
2 ‘Justified believers enjoy a blessing far greater than . . . an occasional audience with the king’ (p. 127). In what way?
3 What do you hope for in the future? Does it include what Paul has in mind here (pp. 127f.)?
4 What is your attitude to suffering? According to Paul, what should it be? Why (pp. 128f.)?
5 What ‘important lessons’ (p. 130) does verse 5 teach us about the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian? Does this refer to ‘unusual and overpowering experiences which are given only to some’ (p. 131) or is it more general? Why?
6 What are the ‘two major means by which we come to be sure that God loves us’ (p. 130) which Paul mentions here? How important is each of them to you?
7 How does Paul portray those for whom Christ died (pp. 132f.)? In what ways do you qualify?
‘The integration of the historical ministry of God’s Son (on the cross) with the contemporary ministry of his Spirit (in our hearts) is one of the most wholesome and satisfying features of the gospel.’ (pp. 133–134)
8 Why is the ‘correct answer’ (p. 134) to the question ‘Have you been saved?’ both ‘Yes’ and ‘No’? What does this mean?
9 What is the difference between Jewish boasting in God which Paul mentions in 2:17 and the Christian boasting in God he writes about in 5:11 (pp. 135f.)? Which more characterizes you?
10 What is ‘the major hallmark of justified believers’ (p. 136)? Is it in your case? Why?
2. The two humanities, in Adam and in Christ (5:12–21)
11 What ‘two particular links’ (pp. 136–137) are there between verses 1–11 and verses 12–21?
12 What are the two possible answers (pp. 139f.) to the question arising from verse 12: ‘In what sense have all sinned so that all die?’ Which is more likely to be correct? Why? Why is this important?
13 ‘The concept of our having sinned in Adam is certainly foreign to the mindset of Western individualism’ (p. 141). How does it strike you? What problems does it solve? And how do you answer those it creates?
14 What differences does Paul draw out between Adam and Christ (pp. 143ff.)?
15 What parallels does Paul draw out between the effects of Adam and Christ (pp. 144ff.)?
16 What is meant by ‘universalism’? Why might it be thought that Paul is teaching it here? How do we know that this is not the case (pp. 147ff.)?
‘Christ will raise to life many more than Adam will drag to death.’ (p. 149)
17 What is it about Paul’s teaching here that ‘should be a great encouragement to world evangelization’ (p. 150)? Does it have this effect on you?
18 Given the probability that there are ‘symbolical elements in the Bible’s first three chapters’ (p. 151), why does John Stott believe we should regard Adam and Eve as historical characters? To what problems does this give rise? How might they be solved?
19 Paul says in verse 12 that death entered the world through sin. How can the difficulties this statement raises be dealt with?
3. United to Christ and enslaved to God (6:1–23)
20 How might Paul’s gospel seem ‘to encourage people to sin more than ever’ (p. 156)? What is Paul’s answer to this objection?
‘Have we never caught ourselves making light of our failures on the ground that God will excuse and forgive them?’ (pp. 156–157)
21 What popular view does John Stott set out of what it means to ‘die to sin’ (pp. 159ff.)? Why should this view be rejected? What does it mean, then?
‘It is not the literal impossibility of sin in believers which Paul is declaring, but the moral incongruity of it.’ (p. 159)
22 ‘The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are not only historical facts and significant doctrines, but also personal experiences’ (p. 164). In what ways is this true for you?
23 What is the relationship between our freedom from the tyranny of sin on the one hand and the crucifixion of Jesus on the other (pp. 165ff.)?
24 What are the ‘two quite distinct ways in which the New Testament speaks of crucifixion in relation to holiness’ (p. 166)? Why is this distinction important?
25 What does it mean for you to ‘live with’ Christ (verse 8, p. 168)?
26 What differences does John Stott draw out between the death and resurrection of Jesus (pp. 168f.)? How do these differences relate to our understanding of what it means to live as a Christian?
27 What is ‘the major secret of holy living’ (p. 170)? Have you discovered it?
28 What does John Stott describe as ‘the ultimate secret of freedom from sin’ (p. 172)? How does it work out in practice?
29 In verses 15–23 Paul deals again with the question whether grace encourages sin. What ‘two significant shifts of emphasis’ (p. 172) are there compared with his answer in verses 1–14?
30 How does the picture of slavery help us to understand life before and after someone becomes a Christian (pp. 173ff.)? In what ways is it unhelpful? Why then does Paul use it (p. 175)?
31 In what four stages does Paul sum up his readers’ experience (pp. 174f.)? How have these been true of you?
32 What contrasts does Paul draw out between slavery to sin and slavery to righteousness (p. 177)?
Romans 7:1–25
10. God’s law and Christian discipleship (pp. 179–207)
1 For what reason is Romans 7 ‘well known to most Christian people’ (p. 179)? Why is this potentially misleading? What is Paul’s real focus in this chapter?
2 In what sense are Christians ‘not under the law’ (pp. 180f.)? And in what sense do we still have obligations to it?
3 What are the ‘three possible attitudes to the law’ (pp. 181f.) outlined by John Stott? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each?
1. Release from the law: a marriage metaphor (7:1–6)
4 What truths about a Christian’s relationship to God’s law are illuminated by Paul’s discussion of marriage here (pp. 183f.)?
5 Some commentators suggest that Paul’s mention of ‘fruit’ in verse 4 continues the marriage metaphor and refers to the birth of children. Is this ‘unmistakably’ so or is the idea ‘grotesque’ (pp. 185f.)? Why?
2. A defence of the law: a past experience (7:7–13)
6 Why would what Paul has just said about the law ‘have sounded to some like full-blown antinomianism’ (p. 188)? How does Paul defend himself?
7 What suggestions have been made about the identity of the ‘I’ in verses 7–13 (pp. 189ff.)? Which do you think is correct? Why?
8 Paul denies that the law is sinful (verse 7). What then is the relationship between the two (pp. 193ff.)? What experience have you had of the different aspects John Stott draws out?
9 How does this passage reveal ‘the extreme sinfulness of sin’ (p. 196)?
3. The weakness of the law: an inner conflict (7:14–25)
10 What ‘important truth lies behind the whole final section of Romans 7’ (pp. 196f.)?
11 What suggestions have been made about the identity of the ‘wretched man’ Paul writes about? What are their strengths and weaknesses (pp. 197ff.)?
12 What is John Stott’s solution (pp. 200ff.)? What evidence does he give to support it? If he is right, how is what Paul says relevant for us today?
13 What lies behind the conflict Paul describes here (pp. 202ff.)?
14 Can you trace out the ‘double reality’ which Paul depicts ‘four times in four different ways’ (pp. 205f.)?
15 ‘When we are seeking a reasonable application of Romans 7 to ourselves today, we are likely to find verses 4–6 to be crucial’ (p. 207). Why? How do these verses help?
Romans 8:1–39
11. God’s Spirit in God’s children (pp. 208–256)
1. The ministry of God’s Spirit (8:1–17)
1 What are the two privileges of salvation that Paul sets out here (pp. 209f.)? How do these apply to you?
2 Can you list the five expressions Paul uses to describe what God did to bring us salvation (pp. 211ff.)? What else does the way he puts this tell us?
3 What is ‘the ultimate purpose of God’s action through Christ’ (p. 213)? Need this contradict what Paul has already said? Why?
‘[Our obedience to the law] is so important to God that he sent his Son to die for us and his Spirit to live in us, in order to secure it.’ (p. 215)
4 What differences are there between those whose mindset is characterized by the flesh and those whose mindset is characterized by the Spirit (pp. 215ff.)?
5 Why is verse 9 ‘of great importance in relation to our doctrine of the Holy Spirit’ (p. 217)?
6 What ‘two major consequences’ of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling does Paul focus on here (pp. 218ff.)?
7 How does verse 13 clarify the meaning, means and motive of ‘mortification’ (pp. 221ff.)? In what ways do you need to ‘put to death the misdeeds of the body’?
8 What four pieces of evidence does Paul assemble to demonstrate that we are God’s children (pp. 223ff.)?
9 How does the Holy Spirit lead us into holiness (pp. 223f.)? In particular, is he violent or gentle? How does this fit in with your experience?
10 What does the cry ‘Abba, Father’ tell us about the nature of our relationship to God (pp. 226f.)? How deeply do you experience this?
2. The glory of God’s children (8:18–27)
11 What contrasts does Paul draw out between the sufferings and glory of God’s children (pp. 231f.)?
12 What does Paul mean by ‘the creation’ and its destiny (p. 232)?
13 What five ‘aspects of our half-saved condition’ does Paul go on to highlight (pp. 236f.)?
‘We are to wait neither so eagerly that we lose our patience, nor so patiently that we lose our expectation, but eagerly and patiently together.’ (p. 238)
14 How does the Holy Spirit help us in our weakness (pp. 239f.)? How can we help him to help us more effectively?
3. The steadfastness of God’s love (8:28–39)
15 What are the ‘five truths about God’s providence’ (pp. 241f.) which Paul lists in verse 28? How do we know them to be true?
16 What does it mean to suggest that God’s ‘foreknowledge is the basis of his predestination’ (p. 243)? Why can’t this be right? What could foreknowledge mean, then?
‘Clearly . . . a decision is involved in the process of becoming a Christian, but it is God’s decision before it can be ours.’ (p. 244)
17 What might ‘predestination’ mean? What are some of the objections to this doctrine (pp. 244ff.)? How may they be answered?
18 ‘Evangelism (the preaching of the gospel), far from being rendered superfluous by God’s predestination, is indispensable’ (p. 247). Why? Is this how you see it?
19 List some of the things you would set out in response to the question ‘Who is against you?’ How does the way Paul asks the question render it unanswerable (pp. 249f.)?
20 What needs do you have? How can you be sure that God will meet them (p. 250)?
21 Why does every accusation and condemnation aimed at the Christian ultimately fail (pp. 251f.)?
22 What experience do you have of the things Paul sets out as candidates for separating us from Christ’s love (pp. 253ff.)? Why can’t they do so?
‘Christian people are not guaranteed immunity from temptation, tribulation or tragedy, but we are promised victory over them. God’s promise is not that suffering will never afflict us, but that it will never separate us from his love.’ (p. 255)
C. The plan of God for Jews and Gentiles
Romans 9 – 11
Romans 9:1–33
12. Israel’s fall: God’s purpose of election (pp. 259–276)
1 What is it that Paul affirms so strongly at the beginning of this chapter (pp. 260f.)? Why?
2 Can you identify the eight unique privileges enjoyed by Israel (pp. 259ff.)? What privileges have you had which would make your rejection of God all ‘the more poignant’ (p. 260)?
3 One explanation of widespread Jewish rejection of Christ is that God’s promises have failed. How does Paul rebut this (pp. 262ff.)? What evidence does he give?
4 Concerning election, ‘we need to remember two truths’ (p. 264). What does John Stott have in mind? How do they help?
5 How does Paul refute the charge that for God to choose some and not others is unjust (pp. 265f.)?
‘The wonder is not that some are saved and others not, but that anybody is saved at all.’ (p. 266)
6 What further question concerning election does Paul go on to deal with in verses 19–29 (pp. 266ff.)? What are his three responses?
7 Paul goes on to quote from Hosea and Isaiah. Why? What do we need to remember ‘in order to understand Paul’s handling of these texts’ (pp. 271ff.)?
8 What is ‘completely topsy-turvy’ about the situation Paul has been describing (pp. 273ff.)? How has this come about? How does Paul provide biblical support for what he has written?
9 ‘This chapter about Israel’s unbelief begins with God’s purpose of election (6–29) and concludes by attributing Israel’s fall to her own pride (30–33)’ (pp. 275f.). How would you answer someone who suggested that Paul is contradicting himself?
Romans 10:1–21
13. Israel’s fault: God’s dismay over her disobedience (pp. 277–289)
1. Israel’s ignorance of the righteousness of God (10:1–4)
1 What can all too easily be wrong with religious sincerity (pp. 278f.)? What examples of this can you think of?
2 What do you think Paul means in verse 3 when he writes about Israel’s ignorance of ‘the righteousness of God’ and her search to ‘establish’ her ‘own’ righteousness (pp. 278ff.)?
2. Alternative ways of righteousness (10:5–13)
3 What is the problem with trying to achieve the righteousness that is by the law (verse 5; p. 281)? What is the alternative?
4 How do verses 6–8 fit in to Paul’s argument (pp. 281f.)? Is Paul’s use of this text legitimate? Why?
5 How do verses 11–13 ‘build on this’ (pp. 283f.)?
3. The necessity of evangelism (10:14–15)
6 How does Paul ‘demonstrate the crucial necessity of evangelism’ (p. 284)?
4. The reason for Israel’s unbelief (10:16–21)
7 In spite of evangelism, many of Paul’s fellow Israelites do not believe. What reasons does Paul suggest and then reject (pp. 286ff.)? Why?
8 What then is the reason for Israel’s unbelief (p. 289)? How does Paul back up his conclusion?
Romans 11:1–32
14. Israel’s future: God’s long-term design (pp. 290–309)
1 What basic theme of this chapter is revealed by Paul’s questions in verses 1 and 11 (p. 290)?
1. The present situation (11:1–10)
2 Can you identify the four strands of evidence which Paul gives in order to show that God has not turned his back on his people Israel (pp. 291f.)?
3 What do you understand by ‘The others were hardened’ in verse 7 (pp. 292f.)? How would you answer the suggestion that it is unreasonable of God to harden people’s hearts?
2. The future prospect (11:11–32)
4 What is ‘Paul’s sequence of thought in this paragraph’ (p. 294)? How is this evident from his own ministry?
5 Why is Paul’s statement in verse 14 ‘remarkable’ and ‘surprising’ (pp. 296f.)? How can it be explained?
6 What might Paul’s reference to ‘life from the dead’ in verse 15 mean (pp. 297ff.)? Which do you think is more likely? Why?
7 What ‘two complementary lessons’ (p. 300) does Paul draw from the allegory of the olive tree? How is what he says relevant for you?
‘It is when we have false or fantasy images of ourselves that we grow proud. Conversely, knowledge leads to humility, for humility is honesty, not hypocrisy. The complete antidote to pride is truth.’ (pp. 302–303)
8 What does Paul mean by ‘this mystery’ in verse 25 (pp. 302f.)? Can you trace out the three truths he mentions?
9 What does the statement ‘all Israel will be saved’ (verse 26) mean (pp. 303f.)? How does what follows help our understanding?
10 Why are some Christians reluctant to engage in missionary activity among Jews (pp. 305f.)? What theological basis does such a stance have? How do you think Paul would respond?
11 How do verses 28–32 give us ‘confidence that God has neither rejected his people (1–2) nor allowed them to fall beyond recovery (11)’ (p. 306)?
12 Some suggest that verse 32 supports universalism, the idea that, in the end, everyone will be saved. Do you think this is right (pp. 308f.)? Why?
Romans 11:33–36
15. Doxology (pp. 310–313)
1 What do you notice about Paul’s worship here (pp. 310ff.)? Does it differ from yours? In what ways? Why?
2 How can we ensure that our belief about God and our worship of God are never separated (pp. 313f.)? Why is this so important? Which do you tend to focus on more? Why?
16. A manifesto of evangelism (pp. 314–317)
1 How do your own beliefs about evangelism, and your practice of it, measure up to the eight points set out here?
D. The will of God for changed relationships
Romans 12:1 – 15:13
Romans 12:1–2
17. Our relationship to God: consecrated bodies and renewed minds (pp. 321–325)
1 Paul makes his appeal on the grounds of God’s mercy (verse 1). How would you define and describe God’s mercy to you (pp. 321f.)?
‘There is no greater incentive to holy living than a contemplation of the mercies of God.’ (p. 322)
2 Why would the idea of worship as ‘the presentation of our bodies’ to God (p. 322) have come as a shock to Paul’s Greek readers? What does it mean in practice for you?
3 In what ways do you tend to ‘be conformed to the prevailing culture’ (p. 324)? How in practice can you overcome this tendency?
Romans 12:3–8
18. Our relationship to ourselves: thinking soberly about our gifts (pp. 326–330)
1 Why is it so important for us to have a sober judgment of ourselves (pp. 326ff.)? What two criteria are we to use? What do you conclude about yourself in the light of these?
2 What does Paul mean by requiring someone with a prophetic gift to use it ‘in accordance with [his or her] faith’ (verse 6; p. 328)?
3 What is ‘arguably the most urgently needed gift in the worldwide church today’ (p. 329)? Why?
4 In the light of these verses, in what ways do you ‘need to broaden [your] understanding of spiritual gifts’ (p. 330)?
Romans 12:9–16
19. Our relationship to one another: love in the family of God (pp. 331–334)
1 What are the ingredients in Paul’s ‘recipe for love’ (pp. 331ff.)? Which are especially relevant for you?
Romans 12:17–21
20. Our relationship to our enemies: not retaliation but service (pp. 335–339)
1 ‘Retaliation and revenge are absolutely forbidden to the followers of Jesus’ (p. 335). Why? Do you find this easy to accept?
2 What can we learn from the four positive counterparts that accompany Paul’s four negative instructions (pp. 336ff.)?
3 In the light of what Paul has said about revenge, what does the reference to ‘burning coals’ in verse 20 mean (pp. 337f.)?
Romans 13:1–7
21. Our relationship to the state: conscientious citizenship (pp. 340–349)
1 What do scholars like Oscar Cullmann suggest Paul means by ‘authorities’ in verse 1 (pp. 340f.)? Are they correct? Why?
2 Why is what Paul writes here ‘especially remarkable’ (p. 342)? How is this observation relevant to us?
1. The authority of the state (13:1–3)
3 In what way do we ‘need to be cautious’ (p. 343) in the way we interpret what Paul says about the state as a divine institution with divine authority? What are the limits of the state’s authority?
4 ‘Whenever laws are passed which contradict God’s law, civil disobedience becomes a Christian duty’ (p. 344). What examples of this, ancient and modern, can you think of?
2. The ministry of the state (13:4–7)
5 What jobs has God entrusted to the state (pp. 346f.)?
‘Those who serve the state as legislators, civil servants, magistrates, police, social workers or tax collectors are just as much “ministers of God” as those who serve the church as pastors, teachers, evangelists or administrators.’ (p. 346)
6 What does Paul say which has a bearing on the issue of capital punishment (pp. 347f.)? What do you think? Why?
7 What ‘positive function of the state is much neglected today’ (p. 348)? Why is this? How can it be encouraged?
Romans 13:8–10
22. Our relationship to the law: neighbour-love as its fulfilment (pp. 350–353)
1. Love is an unpaid debt
1 Why can we ‘never stop loving somebody and say, “I have loved enough”’ (pp. 350f.)?
2. Love is the fulfilment of the law
2 Why are law and love ‘often thought to be incompatible’ (pp. 351f.)? Why is it, on the contrary, that each needs the other?
3. Love does no harm to its neighbour
3 Why is love ‘the fulfilment of the law’ (verse 10; p. 352)?
4 In order to love my neighbour, do I need to love myself (p. 352)? In what sense?
Romans 13:11–14
23. Our relationship to the day: living in the ‘already’ and the ‘not yet’ (pp. 354–357)
1. Understanding the time (13:11–12a)
1 How would you answer someone who claimed that subsequent history shows Paul to have been mistaken in stating that the night is nearly over (verse 11; p. 355)?
2. Understanding what is appropriate to the time (13:12b–14)
2 What are we to put on or clothe ourselves with, and what are we to avoid (verses 12b–13; pp. 356f.)? Why?
3 How is it possible to avoid gratifying ‘the desires of the flesh’ (verse 14; pp. 356f.)?
Romans 14:1 – 15:13
24. Our relationship to the weak: welcoming, and not despising, judging or offending them (pp. 358–380)
1 What sort of weak people is Paul referring to here (pp. 358ff.)? What different suggestions have been made as to their identity? Which is most likely?
2 How do we distinguish essentials and non-essentials (p. 361)? What non-essentials are you aware of which threaten to disrupt Christian unity in your circle?
1. The positive principle (14:1)
3 Does accepting ‘the weak’ mean accepting everyone without question (pp. 363f.)? Why not?
4 Does your church tend to be ‘a debating chamber’ (p. 364)? How can this be overcome?
2. The negative consequences (14:2 – 15:13)
5 What is ‘the best way to determine what our attitude to other people should be’ (p. 364)? As you reflect on some of the people with whom you differ, how does this change your way of thinking?
6 What principles does Paul advise us to use in determining whether or not a particular course of action is right (pp. 364f.)?
7 What other reasons does Paul give for welcoming the weaker brother or sister (pp. 365ff.)?
8 As the argument moves from the attitudes of the strong to their actions, what further reasons does Paul set out for welcoming the weak (pp. 367ff.)?
9 What is ‘the dilemma which faces the strong’ (pp. 368f.)? Can you think of any circumstances in which a similar dilemma faces you? How is it to be resolved?
10 What does Paul mean by his warning that the strong might ‘destroy’ the weak if they exercise their freedom insensitively (pp. 369f.)?
11 What is the Christian responsibility of the strong to the weak (pp. 373ff.)? How does Paul back up his instructions on this point?
12 What five important truths emerge from Paul’s ‘brief digression about the nature and purpose of Old Testament Scripture’ (p. 375)?
13 How does Paul support the rightness of including the Gentiles together with the Jews as God’s people (pp. 376ff.)?
14 What specific ‘hope’ does Paul seem to have in mind as he concludes this section (p. 378)? Is it one you share?
15 What ‘two particular principles’ set out by Paul in chapters 14–15 ‘are applicable to all churches in all places at all times’ (p. 379)?
Conclusion: The providence of God in the ministry of Paul
Romans 15:14 – 16:27
Romans 15:14–22
25. His apostolic service (pp. 382–388)
1 What gives Paul the right to write as he does (p. 382)? To what extent do Christian leaders today have the same responsibility?
1. Paul’s ministry was a priestly ministry (15:16–17)
2 What truth is it that ‘more than any other . . . effectively unites the church’s two major roles of worship and witness’ (p. 384)? How does this happen?
2. Paul’s ministry was a powerful ministry (15:18–19a)
3 In what ways are these verses ‘a very valuable statement of Paul’s own understanding of his ministry’ (pp. 384ff.)? What do they have to teach us today?
3. Paul’s ministry was a pioneer ministry (15:19b–22)
4 What was the ‘consistent pioneer policy’ (p. 387) behind Paul’s ministry?
Romans 15:23–33
26. His travel plans (pp. 389–397)
1. He plans to visit Rome (15:23–24)
1 How is it that Paul is now able to visit Rome (pp. 389f.)?
2. He plans to visit Jerusalem (15:25–27)
2 Why is Paul so keen to go out of his way to Jerusalem (pp. 390f.)? What does this tell us about his major concerns?
3. He plans to visit Spain (15:28–29)
3 What do we know about Paul’s intended destination, and the fulfilment of his plans (pp. 392f.)?
4. He requests prayer for his visits (15:30–32)
4 What does Paul specifically request prayer for (pp. 394f.)? What does this tell us about his priorities? How do yours compare?
5 What does his addition of the qualifying clause ‘by God’s will’ (verse 32) tell us about the purpose and character of prayer (p. 395)?
‘The struggle involved in prayer lies in the process of coming to discern God’s will and to desire it above everything else.’ (p. 396)
Romans 16:1–16
27. His commendation and greetings (pp. 398–405)
1. A commendation (16:1–2)
1 What made Phoebe worthy of commendation by Paul (pp. 398f.)?
2. Many greetings (16:3–16)
2 How have scholars sought to explain how Paul knew ‘so many people so well in a church he had never visited’ (p. 400)? What do you think?
3 What is ‘the most interesting and instructive aspect of church diversity in Rome’ (p. 401)? What does this have to teach us today?
Romans 16:17–27
28. His warnings, messages and doxology (pp. 406–413)
1. Paul’s warnings (16:17–20)
1 Do you think Paul would issue the same warnings today? Why (pp. 406f.)?
2 What are the ‘three valuable tests’ which we are urged to apply to teaching we come across (p. 407)? How do they derive from what Paul has said?
3 ‘Enjoying peace and crushing Satan do not sound altogether compatible with each other’ (p. 408). Why, though, is it important to hold them together?
2. Paul’s messages (16:21–24)
4 What do we know about the quality of some of the relationships that underline these greetings (pp. 408ff.)?
3. Paul’s doxology (16:25–27)
5 What is the ‘fourfold scheme of the making known of the gospel’ (p. 413) that this doxology contains? How does it tie in with the opening of the letter?