Author: Clark Brown

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…

Rom 13:1-2     Note: while “governing” authorities refers primarily to the civil authorities in the context of Rom 13:3-7, the word means more broadly “higher” authorities so that these verses have application to authority in general.  What do these verses teach us about the importance God places upon submission to authority for those who would obey…

Rom 12:1-2     Note: “spiritual” in Rom 12:1 is from the Greek word logiko,j from which we get our English word “logical”; the KJV translates it as “reasonable” and the NASB text note offers “rational”.  In light of God’s marvelous plan of redemption that offers deliverance from sin and death to all men and which Paul…

Rom 11:1-5     Recall the argument being made against the gospel by those Jews who had rejected it: it can’t be true as that would mean God’s promises to Israel had failed and He had rejected His people, contrary to the clear promises of Scripture.  In chapter 9 Paul began answering this charge, emphasizing that it…

Rom 10:1-4     Is it enough for a person to just be zealous for God in order to find salvation?  I.e., many believe that so long as people are sincere in what they believe, God will accept them; how does the example of the Jews refute this notion?  What is necessary?  See Rom 10:2, 1 Tim 2:4,…

Recall from our introduction that Paul has been articulating for the Romans a systematic understanding of the great truths of the gospel he had acquired over the course of his ministry in the eastern part of the Roman empire.  As the result of the continual opposition to the gospel by both Jews and Judaizers who…