Question 1

What is a diatribe? How did Paul use this rhetorical style to explain, defend, and justify his views?

Accepted Answer

A diatribe is a rhetorical style involving advancing an argument by stating a thesis, having an imaginary opponent raise objections to it, and then providing answers to these objections. Paul was effective in using the diatribe method to counter arguments that others had made against his teaching. He not only showed awareness of the issues but also validated the positions on all sides. By being able to counter all the objections, he showed that he knew what he was talking about.

Question 2

What does Paul dread about his upcoming mission to deliver funds to poor Christians in Judea? Which groups of people make him feel uneasy? Why?

Accepted Answer

Paul was apprehensive about dealing with unbelieving Jews in Judea. The Jews did not believe that Jesus was the long-awaited messiah and considered the Christians' belief that Jesus was the messiah to be blasphemy. Paul was also apprehensive about the Jewish converts to Christianity. Although they did accept Jesus as the messiah, they were still too steeped in Hebrew Law to accept Paul's "Law-free gospel." As Jewish Christians, they thought that Gentiles ought to convert to Judaism to be true Christians. Paul thought otherwise. He taught that the Gentiles were under no obligation to be circumcised, eat according to kosher directives, or adhere to other restrictions of the Hebrew Law.

Question 3

How is the letter to the Romans unique among Paul's undisputed letters?

Accepted Answer

Romans is distinctive among Paul's letters in the following ways: it is written to a church that was not established by Paul; Paul had never met his recipients, the Roman Christians; Paul is not addressing problems in the recipients' community; and Paul focuses on expounding his own theology in a relatively thorough manner.

Question 4

Paul claims God has replaced Israel with the church as his people.

Accepted Answer

Paul argues in Romans 11 that God has not rejected his people Israel and that they still have a place in God's plan alongside the church.

Question 5

Paul says Christ came so that no one would have to keep the Law anymore.

Accepted Answer

Paul's teachings emphasize that faith in Christ is important, but he also stresses that the Law should still be followed in terms of moral behavior and justice. He argues that the Law is no longer necessary for salvation but that it still has value in guiding people towards righteous living (Romans 3:31, 7:12).

Question 6

Paul wrote Romans in the hopes that Christians in Rome would financially support his trip to Spain.

Accepted Answer

Paul expressed his hope in Romans 15:24 that the Christians in Rome would support him on his journey to Spain after he had enjoyed their company for a while.

Question 7

Paul argues that Gentiles should be circumcised to follow Abraham's example.

Accepted Answer

Paul actually argues against circumcision for Gentiles in his letters, stating that circumcision is not necessary for salvation and that Gentiles are justified by faith in Christ alone. He also rebukes those who insist on Gentile circumcision and refers to it as a form of legalism.

Question 8

Paul argues that Gentiles have first access to salvation, followed by Jews.

Accepted Answer

Paul argues that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Gentile). This is outlined in Romans 1:16, indicating that Jews have priority in the offer of salvation, followed by Gentiles.

Question 9

According to tradition, who founded the church at Rome?

Accepted Answer

According to tradition, Peter founded the church at Rome.

Question 10

According to Paul, faith is all of the following things except:

Accepted Answer

While faith is certainly important in Jesus' teachings, it is not explicitly identified as the centerpiece. Rather, Jesus places great emphasis on other aspects such as love, forgiveness, and compassion.

Question 11

Why did Paul write a letter to the Romans?

Accepted Answer

While there is no definitive answer as to why Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, scholars generally agree that it was to establish his authority and convince them of the authenticity of his message. The letter contains a detailed exposition of his theology, which emphasizes salvation through faith in Jesus Christ rather than adherence to the Jewish law. It also addressed some specific issues, such as how Jewish and Gentile believers should relate to one another in the church.

Question 12

Which book of the New Testament was the most influential, was the most quoted, and stood at the center of debate between the Protestants and Catholics during the sixteenth-century Reformation?

Accepted Answer

Romans was the most influential book of the New Testament. It was the most quoted during the Reformation and stood at the center of debate between the Protestants and Catholics.

Question 13

Romans states that a person is not justified by:

Accepted Answer

Romans 3:20 says, "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." This verse clearly states that justification does not come from works of the law, meaning following a set of rules or commandments. It does not discount obedience, good works, or loving others, but rather highlights the importance of faith and grace in receiving justification.

Question 14

By the end of the first century CE, most Christians were probably:

Accepted Answer

By the end of the first century CE, Christianity had begun to spread beyond Jewish communities and was increasingly attracting converts from pagan backgrounds. This shift marked the beginning of Christianity's transformation into a predominantly Gentile (non-Jewish) movement.

Question 15

What two words in the English language are translations of the same Greek root, pist-?

Accepted Answer

Both "faith" and "believe" come from the Greek root pist-, which means "to trust, to have faith in."

Question 16

The power of sin, according to Romans, is related to the power of:

Accepted Answer

According to Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Sin leads to death, both physical and spiritual, and this is the power of sin.

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the difference between the judicial model of salvation in Romans and the participationist model of salvation in Romans?

Accepted Answer

CB) The judicial model of salvation in Romans often frames sin and its consequences in legal terms, emphasizing guilt, judgment, and the need for justification before God. The participationist model, on the other hand, views sin and salvation through the lens of cosmic powers, with death being a principal force that humans need liberation from, not just legally but existentially and ontologically.C) While both models deal with sin and death, their emphases differ. The judicial model focuses on sin as a legal issue—breaking God's law and needing forgiveness—whereas the participationist model emphasizes the power of death and the need to be liberated from its dominion, highlighting a more existential participation in Christ's death and resurrection as the means of overcoming death's power.

Question 18

Paul believed all people were enslaved to sin because of:

Accepted Answer

Paul believed that sin entered the world through Adam's disobedience in the Garden of Eden which caused all people to be enslaved to sin.

Quiz 21: The Gospel According to Paul: the Letter to the Romans