BIBLE STUDY

Epistles of

St. PAUL

Why an Epistle !

1- Writing gives a precise explanation of ideas and teachings discussed when delivered to different churches. 2- It is also a way of conserving the teachings and bringing the whole church together under the authority of the Holy Spirit.3- The spread of faith over the Roman Empire which caused a great increase in number of believers and made verbal teachings impossible, this necessitated the writing of letter.

Epistles of St. Paul

• Epistle: a letter or a message being sent in a written or verbal format.

• Paul sent his epistles to some of the churches he founded (Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossi, Thessalonica) and the rest to people (Timothy, Titus, and Philemon).

• He wrote these epistles during his missionary trips or during his captivity (to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and to Philemon).

14• St. Paul wrote ___ epistles.

Epistles of St. Paul• St. Paul wrote his epistles over a period of 12 to 14 years (between A.D. 52-67)

• The Church has accepted these epistles that we still hold in our hands as books inspired by the Holy Spirit.

• FORMAT: St. Paul commonly used the same format:(1)Greeting a greeting that included two words “Peace and Grace”(2)Theoretical &Doctrinal(3)Practical

•It is mostly believed that Paul used the help of someone to write for him all his epistles Romans 16:22 due to his weak eyesight.

•On the other hand he signed a greeting in his handwriting (in large letters) at the end of each epistle; he spoke of this greeting saying it is a “distinguishing mark” 2 Thessalonians 3:17.

BIBLE STUDY

Epistle of St. Paul to the

ROMANS

Quick Facts . . . WHO?

Rome• Written to the Church in _______ in 58 AD.

• It is the ______ book among the books of the New Testament written by St. Paul in A.D. 58

Sixth

Church in RomeIt was NOT directly founded through the efforts of one of the apostles as it can be understoodgenerally from the epistle to the Romans and the Book of Acts.

Church in Rome was never visited by St. Paul. (1:13).

HOW DID THE CHURCH START:

• Visitors from Rome in the Day of Pentecost (see Acts 2:8-10)

• People who had travelled from Rome heard the good news about Jesus went home to Rome and they told the good news to people there.

Quick Facts . . . WHERE?• Gaius (see 1 Corinthians 1:14)

• City is: _______

Gaius’

Corinth

• Written from ______ house (see Romans 16:23)

Quick Facts . . . HELPERS?

• Words of St. Paul:

• Written by ____________ (see Romans 16:22)

PhEoebe

Express

Tertius

• Delivered by (see Romans 16:1,2).

Quick Facts . . . WHERE?• Gaius (see 1 Corinthians 1:14)

• City is: _______

Gaius’

Corinth

• Written from ______ house (see Romans 16:23)

Quick Facts . . . STRUCTURE

• St. Paul presented this epistle, as in most of his epistles, in two main parts:

• First Part: Theoretical or Doctrinal:Romans Chapters 1 to 11

• Second Part: Practical

Romans Chapters 12 to 16

Jews & Gentiles . . . Adam & Eve (No Jew or Gentile)

Jews Gentiles

Believing JewsSons of Abraham

After the Spirit

Believing JewsSons of Abraham

After the Flesh

Wrath of God Poured Out

Call of Abraham brought about two groups of people

Isaac

Jacob

Two kinds of JewsIn Jacob (Israel)

JESUS took the kingdom from the unbelieving Jews and gave it to the sons of

Abraham after the spirit (disciples)

Day of Pentecost (in Christ; no Jew or Gentile)

Problem . . . • Members of the Church in Rome

1- Christians who were Jews, and 2- Christians who were of the Gentiles

• Lost Gentiles:• “Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God” – God gave them up to uncleanness (1:21-27),

• Lost Jews:• Jews are judging them and feel they are higher than them, however they are doing the same things ! (2:1-3, 2:17-25).

• By the works of the law no flesh will be justified (2:20).

Conflict . . . The Law• God had given special rules THE LAW to Israel’s people by Moses. • God gave those rules to them because he wanted them to be his own special people. • He wanted them to obey Him. • God had not given those rules to the Gentiles. • But some Christian Jews thought that Christian Gentiles should still obey those rules THE LAW.

Solution . . . • Bottom Line - Key Verse:

• “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (2:23).

• Law cannot save from sin.

• Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Romans . . . in 1 Word • Righteousness

1- Needed

2- Provided

3- Justified

St. Paul first condemns all men of their sinfulness.

St. Paul points out God did not demand that men have their lives straightened out before coming to Christ. Because, while we were still sinners He, Christ died on a cross for our sins.

When we turn our lives over to Jesus Christ, we are no longer controlled by our sin nature, but we are controlled by the Spirit.

We need to live our lives offered to God as a living sacrifice to Him.

4- Practiced

Summary . . . 1- Everyone has done wrong things against God. 2- God is angry about our evil deeds. 3- God saves people who trust him.. 4- We cannot save ourselves by our own good works. 5- When Jesus died, he died for us. 6- God's Spirit helps us to do what is right. 7- God always loves us. 8- God shows us how to live.

Outline … First, the Doctrinal Part 1- An explanation of salvation, giving examples (Abraham and Adam) Romans 1 to 5

• The Gentiles sinned and couldn’t be justified through the works of Law according to nature Romans 1

• The Jews sinned and couldn’t be justified by the works of Mosaic Law Romans 2 and 3

• Hence salvation is based on being justified by the faith in Jesus Christ Romans 3:21 to 4

• Then St. Paul gives to examples from the Old Testament about justification by faith

• Abraham justified by faith Romans 4• Adam justified by faith Romans 5

Outline … First, the Doctrinal Part 2- Justification through faith provides us peace with God.

• “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”

The fruits of justification are “peace”, “access into grace”, and “rejoice in God” -- the justification,

(1) Frees us from sin.

(2) Frees us from the authority of the Law

(3) Gives us the Spirit of sonship to God

Outline … Second, the Practical Part Applying justification and sanctification to daily life, justification is not a doctrine but to be applied in everyday life and requires sanctification of the heart and the life to serve God.

In this practical part of the epistle Paul provided many teachings and directives that benefit all Christians as members of one Church and loyal citizens (addressing Submission to the Authorities)

THE END