Eph 2:1-3: What implication do the words “were” in Eph 2:1 and “formerly” in Eph 2:2 and 3 have for those who are in Christ Jesus? Does a true Christian continue in his former manner of life? See Acts 26:20, Rom 2:4. How would you describe “the course (lit. “age”) of this world”? Contrast 2 Cor…
Eph 1:15-17 In what way were the saints to whom Paul was writing faithful (Eph 1:1)? See Eph 1:15, Col 1:4, Phm 1:5, 1 Thess 4:9-10. For what did Paul pray in Eph 1:17 that God would give to the faithful saints in Asia? See also Col 1:9. Why is “a spirit of wisdom and of…
Eph 1:1-2 What does it mean to be a saint? See 1 Cor 1:2. What does it mean to be “faithful in Christ Jesus”? See also Col 1:2. How might one be unfaithful in Christ Jesus? Is one who walks, talks, and acts like the world and yet claims to follow Christ a faithful saint in…
At the end of Paul’s third missionary journey the Scripture records that he wintered in Corinth (Acts 20:2, 1 Cor 16:6). During this time he wrote his epistle to the Romans anticipating a campaign to evangelize the western regions of the Roman empire. The church in Rome would be a strategic base for this missionary endeavor,…
c. 4-6 BC Jesus is born c. 24-26 Jesus begins ministry at the age of about 30 (Luk 3:23) c. 27-29 Crucifixion, resurrection c. 27-30 Birth of Church on Pentecost, thousands of disciples from among the Jews are added (Acts 2:41,47, 4:4, 5:14) and increase daily so that even “a great many of the priests…
Paul’s conversion (Acts 9:1-7): c. 30 a.d. Paul in Damascus (Acts 9:8-25), Arabia (Gal 1:17), Jerusalem (Gal 1:18-19, Acts 9:26-29): c. 30-33 a.d., and Tarsus (Acts 9:30, Gal 1:21): c. 33-43 a.d. Barnabas to Antioch (Acts 11:19-24): c. 41 a.d. Paul to Antioch (Acts 11:25-26): c. 43 a.d. Agabus from Jerusalem to Antioch predicts famine…
Rom 16:1-2: Phoebe was likely the bearer of this letter to the Romans, and Paul commends her as a servant (Greek diakonon, also translated elsewhere as minister, and deacon) of the church in Cenchrea (a smaller city 9 miles from Corinth that served as its eastern harbor). What do these verses teach us about the…
Rom 15:14-16 What was Paul’s estimation of the believers in Rome? See Rom 15:14. Although he esteemed their faith, why did he yet feel compelled to write what has turned out to be his longest and most in-depth epistle? In what way did Paul view himself as a priest of the new covenant, and how…
Rom 15:1-6 Over what issues were there disputes among the Roman believers? See Rom 14:2,5. How has Paul already begun to address how to resolve those disputes? See Rom 14:13,19. Did the truth and Paul’s understanding of it favor one view over the other in the matters being disputed? See Rom 14:14,20. In spite of…
Rom 14:1-4 Recall that Paul had recently written to the Corinthians on a similar subject (1 Cor 8-10). Who were the “strong” and “weak” in Corinth? Who are the “strong” and “weak” in Rome to whom Paul refers in these verses? What is Paul’s command to each in regard to the other? Of what great Christian…