Studying

the

Word

for

Life

Once these classes have already begun, if you want to join and catch up with the audio files, please let us know here.

There is one class time on Saturdays. Once you click to register, as you enter your time zone, scroll all the way to the top, and then enter it. Then you will see the times for your class. Please note that if a class time has fewer than five participants, it may be canceled or changed.

Friday: 4pm UK; 11am EST; 10am CST; 9am MST; 8am PST

Saturday: 4pm UK; 11am EST; 10am CST; 9am MST; 8am PST

Starting on January 29th and 30th. There is one class time on Saturdays for this course.

Course 3–ROMANS

Join us for ten weeks of engaging and information-rich explorations and discussions. We will start by exploring Old Testament backgrounds and First Century contexts for understanding this most-influential book, then we will devote the remaining weeks to a study of the text and the themes that occur throughout it, along with a variety of controversies along the way.

A book that begins by punching at presumption and prejudice, the theological and ethical reasoning of Romans is truly profound. Paul explores humanity’s enslavement by sin and the hope of divine rescue and cosmic renewal. Turning next to the quiz of why so many Jews do not follow the Messiah, Paul guides us into mysterious realms of glorious grace and the hazards of hardening of hearts. Then back he turns to the church, its calling and composition, concluding the letter with a collection of greetings, a final warning, and bookending with echoes from the first chapter. What a magnificent book this is, and among the most influential books in the history of western culture.

The goals of this course are several:

First, and foremost, our goal is increasingly to share God’s affections and aversions—to desire what he desires and despise what he despises.

Second, to pursue an understanding of the content of Romans, to become more familiar with broader biblical theology, and to delve deeply into struggles within the early church.

Third, to gain some familiarity with Old Testament precedents that shaped Paul’s convictions regarding the Christ Jesus and the newness of the new covenant.

Ultimately, though, the goal of this course is that we might share God’s affections and aversions, and embody in our lives the grace, truth, and mercy of God.

Special topics and issues addressed throughout the course include:

  • where did Paul get his gospel?

  • what exactly is Paul’s gospel?

  • who are the culprits of 1:18-32?

  • what are general revelation and natural theology?

  • and how about natural law?

  • are people judged by the light they’ve been given?

  • is Paul talking about same-sex relations or abusive practices?

  • are the doers of the law justified?

  • how do works of the law and good works relate?

  • what was the value of circumcision?

  • is Paul opposed to the Torah?

  • how can we make sense of original sin?

  • are Christians still slaves of sin?

  • how might we understand the ‘I’ of Romans 7?

  • are the Spirit’s ‘groanings’ the gift of tongues?

  • are chapters 9-11 about predestination?

  • can Christians lose their salvation?

  • will all Israel truly be saved?

  • how do we renew our minds?

  • Christians are called to fulfill the law?

  • who are the weaker brothers and stronger brothers?

  • why food laws in the first place?

  • shouldn’t Christians observe the Sabbath?

  • was Phoebe Paul’s emissary?

  • was Junia an apostle?

  • how will Satan be crushed under our feet?

  • what is the obedience of faith?

While the content of the course will be truly extensive, there will not be time for us to be fully comprehensive. As such, this will not be a verse-by-verse study of Romans, though many passages will be explored one verse at a time.

Registration

Registration is required in advance of the beginning of the course. There are 20 screen-seats for each class time. The fee for the course is £100. There also is an option to add another person, sharing the same screen, for £50 (a 50% discount).

Note: If classes have already begun and you want to join and catch up with the audio files, please let us know here.

Suggested Materials

(Please note that the links to Amazon below are affiliate links, meaning that if you purchase using them, at no additional cost to you, a small portion of the price is given to us, to help support our ministry.)

A Bible, and nearly any translation (NIV, ESV, NKJV, NRSV), just not those that are highly paraphrastic (The Message). I prefer a wide-margin Bible. I use this one, though here is another, and, of course, there are others. A digital version would not be suitable as your main text.

A notebook to write in, though digital note-taking would be suitable.

A set of colored pencils like these. I use this set all the time and very much appreciate the quality and the hard carrying case. And don’t forget a pencil sharpener, like this one; and perhaps a regular pencil, whether wood or mechanical.

Finally, here are suggested commentaries and resources for Romans. Note that a recommended resource does not imply a full endorsement or even agreement.

Start Here

Bird, Michael F. Romans The Story of God Bible Commentary (608)
Keener, Craig. Romans New Covenant Commentary (300)
Moo, Douglas J. Encountering the Book of Romans: A Theological Survey 2nd Ed. (240 pages)

A Bit More Detailed

Moo, Douglas J. Romans: The NIV Life Application Commentary (544 pages)

Intermediate, English with some Greek

Moo, Douglas J. The Letter to the Romans 2nd Edition (New International Commentary on the New Testament) (1184 pages)

Advanced Greek with English Explanations

Dunn, James D. G. Romans Word Biblical Commentary (2 volumes; 1096 pages)

Additional books that we believe are worth reading in conjunction with a study of Romans.

Dunn, James. The Parting of the Ways: Between Christianity and Judaism and their Significance for the Character of Christianity. (365 pages)

Neusner, Jacob. First-Century Judaism in Crisis: Yohanan ben Zakkai and the Renaissance of Torah. (227 pages)

Neusner, Jacob. Judaism in the Beginning of Christianity (101 pages)

Equipment Needed

A computer or smartphone with internet access.

We will use Zoom for our meetings.

Your Time Commitment

60 minutes for the weekly live classes, though some classes may run up to 15 minutes overtime. Classes will be recorded and the audio available on the resources page following each class.

It is suggested that you read through Romans three times a week for the first two weeks. As the study progresses, it is suggested that you invest in a commentary and work through it for the weeks we work through various parts and themes of Romans.

Dates and Content

The content listed below is tentative and could expand or contract as the course unfolds. Based on participant feedback, new material may be included. Just remember that this is not a chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse study of Romans. (The first four chapters will be verse-by-verse.) That would take much longer. Even so, the entirety of Romans will be discussed, with more time devoted to some texts or themes or debates.

January 30

  • Zoom, introductions, materials

  • backgrounds and precedents

  • of covenants and testaments

  • changes in the covenants and laws

  • considering Israel’s history

  • some features of the letter to the Romans

  • Paul’s use of the Old Testament

  • Abraham and the gospel

  • why Paul wrote Romans

  • the church in Rome

  • considering contemporary controversies

February 6 and 13

Romans 1-2

  • Paul’s gospel

  • the obedience of faith

  • faith of the Romans

  • gospel obligations to the wise and the foolish

  • in the interest of intertextuality

  • the culprits of 1:18-32

  • privileges and the practices of the nations

  • general revelation and natural theology

  • same-sex relations and abuse

  • and yet they knew better

  • privileges, presumption, prejudice

  • judgment according to deeds

  • natural law and the knowledge of God

  • the value of circumcision

  • circumcision, calendar, kosher

  • works of the law and good works

February 27 and March 6

Romans 3-5:11

  • the value of being a Jew, the value of circumcision

  • God’s faithfulness and human unfaithfulness

  • under the power of sin

  • under the law

  • on not justified by the works of the law

  • justification through faith in Christ

  • God of Jews and gentiles

  • Abraham’s justification

  • Abraham as father of Jews and gentiles alike

  • God’s promises and provisions

  • being reconciled with God

March 13 and 20

Romans 5:12-8

  • Adam and Adam 2.0

  • sin and the law

  • no longer slaves of sin

  • slaves of righteousness

  • I don’t do what I want

  • no condemnation in Christ

  • on pleasing God

  • our obligation to God

  • Abba, Father

  • resurrection and cosmic redemption

  • oh the depths

March 27 and April 3

Romans 9-11

  • the problem of unbelief

  • grieving for our countrymen

  • on being privileged

  • Israel and Israel

  • hazards and hardened hearts

  • when Israel is like Pharaoh

  • predestination and knowledge

  • a righteousness of their own

  • Christ is the end of the law

  • the remnant

  • branches out and grafting in

  • all Israel will be saved

April 10

Romans 12-16

  • living sacrifices and suitable worship

  • renewed minds and knowing God’s will

  • gifts of the Spirit for the community of Christ

  • counter-cultural living

  • honoring our leaders

  • fulfilling the law

  • weaker and stronger

  • menus and calendars

  • what orients us

  • Jew and gentiles in the body of Christ

  • God’s intentions and the foreshadows

  • kingdom ethics

  • on to Spain

  • commendations, greetings, and a warning

  • the obedience of faith

Stipulations

• Fees paid are non-refundable.

• If a participant cannot attend the weekly live class for whatever reason, a recorded version of the session will be made available.

• The fee paid is for one participant in the course. If other household members desire to participate, using the same computer and video feed, a 50% discount is available for each additional participant sharing the same screen.

• Participants are expected to complete the assignments. If not completed, the value of the course will be diminished. While content learned is of some value, the ability to discover and discern for oneself is of enduring value well beyond the course.

• During the live classes, participants should mute their mics unless called on or unless, with their hands up, they are acknowledged. This will enable a smoother experience for all participating.

• One final note: while there may be a maximum number of screen-seats, there also may be exceptions. The minimum number of participants is 5. If fewer than 5 people sign up for any particular class time, the class may be canceled or rescheduled.