Week 2: A Life of Love, Sacrifice, and Submission

Week 1:2: God'sA planLife forof IsraelLove, Sacrifice, and theSubmission. GentilesChapters 12-14

• Brief introduction about St. Paul
  
  

  • Roman Citizen: Born a Roman citizen, enabling safe travel and legal protection.
    
    

  • Greek education: Born in Tarsus, major center of Greek learning, exposure to Greek philosophy.
    
    

  • Jewish heritage: Adhering to Jewish law and traditions and studied under Rabbi Gamaliel in Jerusalem

  • 1st Journey (44 AD, 2 years):
    
    

  • Asia Minor (Turkey), with Barnabus and St. Mark.
    
    

  • After this journey, a council is held among the apostles and elders of the church in Jerusalem to determine that the gentile converts need not submit to the Law of Moses regarding circumcision.
    
    

  • 2nd Journey (51 AD, 3 years):
    
    

  • Mainly in Macedonia (Greece), with Silas and Luke.
    
    

  • 2 Epistles: 1 & 2 Thessalonians.
    
    

  • 3rd Journey (54 AD, 4 years):
    
    

  • Asia minor and Macedonia
    
    

  • 4 Epistles: Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians.
    
    

  • 4th Journey (Rome):
    
    

  • 8 Epistles: 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, Hebrews.
    
    

• The Lord said to him: "I will send you far from here to the Gentiles" (Acts 22:21)
  
  

• Unmarried: “For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that." 1 Corinth 7:7
  
  

• His early preparation for ministry

• Missionary trips
  
  

• St. Paul wrote 14 epistles out of the 27 books in the New Testament.
  
  

• Known as the Apostle of the Gentiles
  
  

• Received 4 crowns: martyrdom, purity, apostleship, and righteousness.
  
  
  
  

• Introduction:
  
  

  • Author: St. Paul
    
    

  • Written to: believers in Rome
    
    

  • Time of writing:
    
    

    • 58 AD in Corinth, before Paul’s visit to Rome in 62 AD
      
      

  • Purpose of the book
    
    

    • The need for all people, Jews or Gentiles, to be justified by Christ.
      
      

    • How a person can obtain justification and its blessings in life.
      
      

    • The rejection of faith by many Jews is temporary, but some will return to faith in Christ after the Gentiles accept the faith.
      
      

    • Basic teachings for practical Christian living.
      
      

    • Care for those weak in faith and encourage them
      
      

• Outline
  
  

  • The apostolic blessing and encouragement of the believers (Chapter 1).
    
    

  • The need for all humanity to be justified by Christ, how they can receive it, and its blessings (Chapters 2–8).
    
    

  • God chose the Gentiles just as He did to the Jews, who rejected Him but they will repent at the end of days (Chapters 9–11).
    
    

  • Practical commandments for Christian behavior (Chapters 12–15).
    
    

  • Paul’s fatherly care and his greetings to his beloved friends (Chapter 16).
    
    

• Reading:
  
  

  • Chapter 12-14
    
    

• Resources:
  
  

  • Bible Explanation of the Epistle to Romans - Fr. Daoud Lamei English

  • The Epistle to Romans by Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty- English

• Key verse:
  
  

  • “Oh,For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. for if we live to the depthLord; ofand if we die, we die to the richesLord. bothTherefore ofwe wisdomlive andor knowledgedie, of God! How unsearchablewe are Histhe judgements and His ways past finding out!Lord's." Romans 11:3314:7-7
    
    

• Comments: Chapter 912

1. • Paul's sorrow overSanctifying the unbeliefBody ofand theMind Jewsfor a Spiritual Life with God (Romans 9:12:1-5)2)

     • St.We Paulshould declaresoffer inour thisbodies chapterand hisminds sorrowto overGod and do everything for the Jewsglory whoof didn'tGod, believe.while sacrificing and rejecting every desire that contradicts God's commandments.

     • Verse 3: "For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ .." Paul’s wordsWe should not be taken literally; he certainly does not wishconfirm to bethe separatedways fromof Christ.the Heworld.

       said
       • before

         The world behaviors and habits are against God's commandments.

       • Know that while you live in the previousworld chapteryour "Whoprinciples shallare separate usdifferent from theit.
       love of Christ?". He demonstrates his deep love for the Jews, as he was deeply moved by the sacrificial love of Christ the Redeemer on the cross.
       • Contemplation: If Godyou hashave grantedbeen drawn into some improper actions, you circumstancesneed repentance and the renewal of your mind, so that supportyou yourmay spirituallive life,for takethe advantagelove of them and rejoice in your sonship to God, lest neglecting them stand as a witness against you on the last day. Use every opportunity and respond to the voice of God today to draw closer to Him.God.

     • God'sTypes Promiseof Isgifts forin the Chosen OnlyChurch (Romans 9:12: 6:13)3:8)
       

       • The work of service is fundamentally based on trust in God's promisework, isregardless onlyof forhuman the true spiritual Israelite, the one who will be united with Christ.limitations.
       • God is a God of order—He established the members of His Church like parts of one body, each with a distinct role and function, different yet complementary. The promisegifts isgiven to each member are meant for serving others, not for allpersonal the physical descendants of Abraham. The proof of this is that:pride.
         • IshmaelProphecy: wasSpeaking alsoGod's atruth sonwith of Abraham by the flesh, yet he did not receive the promise like Isaac, who remained steadfast in faith like his father.faith.
         • JacobService: Helping and Esau,serving twin brothers from the same parents, Isaac and Rebekah. God chose Jacob because he loved and sought to please Him.
       • The children of God doesn't refer to physical descent from Abraham, but faith and adherence to God's promises.others.
       • TheTeaching: choiceExplaining tothe be childrenword of God
       is
       • Exhortation: basedEncouraging onand God'sstrengthening grace,others.
       not
       • Leadership: ourAdministration
       renthouse
       • Mercy: deeds,Showing sincecompassion nowith oneJoy
       deserve that honor by work alone.

   • God'sVirtues choicein andthe humanChristian free willcommunity (Romans 9:14-29)12:9-21):
     

     • • GodSincere choicelove: ofGenuine onelove personwithout over another does not mean that God is unjust, but It is based on His foreknowledge.hypocrisy

       • Therefore,Rejecting Israelevil: hasHating nowhat rightis evil and cling to bewhat angryis about God’s choice to include the Gentiles, as His mercy and compassion are His alone, as God.good
       • VerseCaring 18for "Whomone He wills He harden" means that God used Pharaoh, who was already hard-hearted, and Pharaoh’s actions as an example to demonstrate His anger toward the wicked and His power in avenging them. another
       •  Just as God chose to have mercy on Jews, He also extended His mercy to Gentiles, making them His people—formingServing the NewLord Covenantwith Church alongside Christians of Jewish descent.enthusiasm
       • Joyful, patience, and prayer
       • Sharing with those in need and welcoming them
       • Blessing your enemies
       • Empathy: rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep
       • Humility
       • Avoiding retaliation: Not repaying evil with evil but overcoming it with good.
     • Contemplation: GodWe enduredare Pharaohcalled manyto timesacquire andall wasthese patientvirtues withto thetruly peoplebecome a children of Israel for about 2,000 years. In the same way, He is patient with us, giving us every opportunity for repentance. We should be ashamed of His love and quickly turn to Him in repentance.God.

   • The CauseDuties of justificationa ofChristian theToward Gentiles and stumbling of the Jews.Society (Romans 9:30-33)13:1-7)
     

     • The Gentiles, who lived in darkness have reached justification through faith, but the Jews who spent their livesSubmission to fulfillauthority: theWe laware failedcalled to submit to authority because they reliedare onestablished theirby workGod. onlyThose notwho theirresist faith.authority, resist God
     • TheRespect Israelitesfor stumbledrulers: overWe aare "stone,"called whichto wasrespect our leaders
     • Obey the Lordlaw: JesusWe Christ,are whocalled exposedto theirobey hypocrisythe laws unless they contradict God's commands.
     • Living peacefully: We are called to live peacefully and rejectedresponsibly
       
     their
   self-righteousness
   • Loving everyone (Romans 13:8-10)
     • Universal Love – Christian love is not limited to friends or fellow believers but extends to all people, reflecting God’s love for the world.
     • If you have fallen into many sins and pride.struggled Into resist sin, know that the end,easiest theypath crucifiedis Him,to killedlove Him, and denied His resurrection.everyone.
   • TheRepent Jewsnow lackbefore spiritualtime understandingruns out (Romans 10:1-5)13: 11-14)
     • TheWe Jewsmust havereject strongsinful attachment to Godbehaviors and zealwalk forin Histhe name,light howeverof this strong zeal lacks spiritual understanding. Christ.
     • St.Put Paulon recallsthe hisArmor ownof pastGod when
       • Ask heyourself: wasWould zealousI forcommit this sin if people could see me now? And the more important question: Can I commit this sin while God andis persecutedwatching Christians.me now?"
   • Accepting the weak in faith (Romans 14:1-12)
     • We should welcome those who are weak in faith without judgment
     • TheAvoid Jewsargument wereover unawarepersonal thatand non essential matters
     • We Live for the purposeLord – "For none of theus Law,lives sacrifices,to himself, and theno Oldone Covenant wasdies to preparehimself. humanityFor if we live, we live to receivethe Christ.Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord" (Romans 14:7-8)
   • TheDo Righteousnessnot ofcause Christ is availableothers to everyonestumble (Romans 10: 6-13)14:13-23)
     • SalvationAs has become accessible through Christ Jesus. We should take advantagechildren of thisGod, opportunitywe by repentance and receiving the Holy Sacraments, which leadneed to abe deeper relationshipcareful with Godour through prayer and daily reading of His Word in the Bible.actions.
     • OurFor example, (If your father of confession ofgave Christyou shouldabsolution notto beeat justspecific verbal,food Butduring byfasting) ourdon't goodeat behaviornon andfasting outwardfood actions,in showing that we are childrenfront of God.
   • The rejection of the Gospel by the Jews (Romans 10:14-21)
     • It was expected that the Jews would be the first to believe the good news and even participate in proclaiming Christ, just as the apostles did. However, instead of accepting the gospel message, they rejected it and resisted it.
   • The future of the Jews in terms of salvation (Romans 10:1-10)
     • God, who chose Israel as His people, wouldn't reject them even after they crucified and rejected Him. He will always keep His arms open to anyone believes in Him.others
     • InAvoid versegossiping 4:and 7,000making men who have not bowedothers to Baal.fall Theinto number seven symbolizes perfection, and 1,000 represents heavenly life—meaning that these 7,000 live in the fullness of heavenly life.sin
     • SalvationAvoid requirescursing bothor graceusing andhurtful works. Salvation is a gift from God, granted by His grace, but that this grace requires cooperation from the individual through faith, repentance, and good works.
   • God's call to the Jews to believe in Christ (Romans 11:32)
     • St. Paul compares Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to the firstfruits, symbolizing how their holiness sanctifies the Jewish people. words
     • HeDon't alsolie comparesor themencouraging others to the root of a good tree, with the Jewish people being the branches. Those Jews who rejected the faith are like the broken-off branches.
     • The Gentiles are compared to a wild olive tree, which does not bear fruit. However, in His mercy, God grafted them into the cultivated olive tree, making them part of it.
     • Verse 24: Paul declares that the faith and return of the rejecting Jews is not impossible. He explains that if God, in His mercy, was able to graft a wild olive tree (the Gentiles) into the cultivated olive tree, how much easier would it be for God to graft the branches that share the same nature as the original olive tree, meaning the Jews, when they repent.lie

2. Review/recap questions
   
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8. Homework
   
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