"Only Life Changes"

Question:
What is the gospel that Paul proclaims in Romans?
Answer:
For Paul, the gospel is more than words, it is the power of God for salvation. He emphasizes that this salvation is not for one group of people only but is intended to help anyone on earth to be among the people of God, by faith. Romans, then, is above all about God’s salvation. “Romans 1:3-5 NIV” Regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.

Question:
What is the nature of Romans Chapter 16?
Answer:
Chapter 16 contains Paul’s personal recommendation, personal greetings, final admonition, grace, greetings from companions, identification of writer/amanuensis and blessing. The chapter is divided into 27 verses. It seems to be a letter of introduction for Phoebe, a deaconess of the church Cenchreae, as she set out to visit the churches.

Question:
Is this letter of Paul’s a unity?
Answer:
In his letter Saint Paul urges respect and discernment for the holy eucharist as the central realization of the unity of the Church, coming from Christ, Himself. Romans 15:33 is a prayer for the Christians in Rome. The verse reads “Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Separate document, fastened on to the Roman letter to round out the papyrus roll, In some manuscripts. Appears after Romans 16:25-27. Now to him that is of power, that is able, to establish you according to my gospel — That is, in your belief of the great and important doctrines contained in it, particularly those that respect the gratuitous justification of Jews and Gentiles by faith. Romans 14:23 “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. “This shortened form of the letter appears to have been extant in the second century.

Question:
So, we looked at the purpose of Paul’s letter written, Now how is this purpose carried out?
Answer:
In the most systematic treatise, we have from the pen of Paul, he treats of God’s sovereign power, of the efficacy of faith, of God’s loving purpose embracing Jew and non-Jew.

Question:
What is the purpose which Paul’s letter was written?
Answer:

1. He wanted the church at Ephesus to understand that our salvation is something that God planned from eternity and that he planned it in such a way that it would show the glory of his grace.
2. To show the gospel as “the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also the Greek.”

Question:
There is a saying in many languages, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Did Paul agree with this?
Answer:
No! Paul says as it reads in:

Romans 12:1-2 NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Question:
Did Paul get to Rome?

Answer:
Yes, but later than he had hoped. In the spring of A.D. 58, he arrived at Jerusalem with the funds collected for the poor Christians of the Mother Church (2 Cor 8–9). He was arrested in the temple and spent two years in custody at Caesarea before appealing to Caesar as a Roman citizen. In the spring of the year A.D. 60, Paul, apostle and prisoner of Jesus Christ, entered Rome (Acts 28:16 NIV: When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.) and was welcomed by the Christian community there.

Question:
Did Paul carry out the proposed visit to Spain?

Answer:
The evidence strongly indicates St. Paul left Rome and travelled to Spain as he had planned. He spent up to four years there preaching and helping to establish churches. Spain was under Roman rule and at some point, Paul was arrested again and returned to Rome.

Question:
Did Paul visit the church in Rome?

Answer:
Indeed, Paul had no relationship to the Roman community prior to the drafting of his epistle. He neither established the church at Rome, nor, in fact, had he ever visited the illustrious city. Paul did long to see the Christians in the capital city of the empire.

Question:
The letter was eventually written while paul was en route; where was he going?
Answer:
So, it is likely that Romans was written while Paul was in Greece about to set sail for Jerusalem.