Paul’s First Letter to Corinth
The letters of Paul were not arranged in the order of the time they were written; they were arranged in the amount of their content. Romans, the largest of Paul’s letters which have been preserved for us in the New Testament, is the first that appears although it was the sixth of his thirteen letters. […]
Priscilla and Aquila
Romans 16, the last chapter of the book, is largely comprised of greetings to brethren (almost 30) at Rome with whom Paul was acquainted, as well as from brethren in Corinth who sent greetings to Roman brethren. In vv. 3-5 Paul wrote, “Salute Prisca and Aquila, my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus who for my life […]
“Be of the Same Mind to One Another”
In Romans 14 Paul urged that those who were weak in faith (conscience) were to be received by those who were stronger in conscience. He showed that those who had no scruples about either eating meats sacrificed to idols or could, with good conscience, eat things the Law had forbidden them to eat, receive those […]
“Him That Is Weak in Faith, Receive Ye”
Paul wrote, “But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for doubtful disputations. One man hath faith to eat all things; but he that is weak eateth herbs” (Romans 14:1-2). The preaching of the gospel to all nations and the blending of those nations into one, harmonious body brought varying customs and […]
“Put on Christ”
Romans 13 contains the responsibilities Christians have to their government (vv. 1-6). The apostle concludes his exhortations with these words: “Render to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor” (v. 7). The final exhortation follows our responsibility in various relationships with […]
Subjection to Higher Powers
Romans 13:1 reads, “Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers; for there is no power but of God, and the powers that be are ordained of God.” God is mindful of all His creation. He is particularly mindful of man whom He made in His image and to whom the rest of […]
The Tithe
Abraham had won the battle. He had taken the 318 men of his house and gone up against the rebel kings lead by Chedorlaomer and had pursued him around the region until he had defeated him at a place called Dan and had his nephew, Lot, safely back. With these kings defeated, the region was […]
Present Your Bodies a Living Sacrifice
When we read the first verse of Romans 12, we are opening the final section of this wonderful letter from Paul. This section will be spent outlining the responsibilities of Christians to government, to mankind in general, to brethren, and to brethren who are “weak in faith.” This section opens with a fervent plea from […]
The Riches of God’s Wisdom and Knowledge
In Romans 11:33-36 is found one of the most moving statements of God’s wisdom and knowledge to be found in the Scriptures. The apostle wrote, “O, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past tracing out! For who hath known the […]
The Wild and Tame Olive Branches
In Romans 11:17-24 Paul records an illustration of a wild and tame olive branch. In this illustration Paul not only concludes his explanation of the state of his nation (why they rejected the gospel and what the consequence of that decision was), he also issued a stern warning to the Gentiles: “Be not high-minded, for […]