How might Paul’s hopes for the visit to Jerusalem and to Spain affect the claims and hopes he brings to the Roman churches?
Note Paul’s extensive use of other scriptures to make his points. Paul using his interpretation of these texts to support his claims only, or might he have other objectives?
Genealogies and greetings are often skipped or overlooked when studying the Bible. How does the list of greetings in Romans 16 help us to better understand the Roman community and Paul’s ministry?
Applying the Text:
What might being a “strong Christian” as Paul defines it look like today? How can we avoid creating distinctions among fellow Christians following Paul’s guidance?
Paul names Junia, an apostle, in his closing greetings. What does this teach us about leadership in the early church? How have interpretations of this woman’s function impacted Christian teaching over the course of history?
The letter to the Romans allegedly caused St. Augustine to convert to Christianity. How has spending time with this letter affected your own faith and understanding of Jesus Christ?