Rom 15:14-16:27: Paul's Missionary Strategy

Romans 15:14-16:27

Paul's Missionary Strategy

By Dr. Hal Harless

Foundation Fellowship of Greenville, TX

May 10, 2009

I. Introduction

Please turn to Rom 15:14. While you are turning ...

The closings of letters, partings of lovers, and the last words said before death all have special importance. We chose them very carefully. These words are what we leave behind; they must convey our heart. We go away, but our words remain behind us bearing witness to what was truly important to us.

II. Exposition

A. Context

1. Today, by the grace of God, we are finishing the letter of Paul to the church at Rome.

a. Romans is so large that it is easy to forget that it is a letter.

b. Like other ancient letters, Paul began with a salutation and praise, and, like other ancient letters, he will end with greetings.

c. Nonetheless, mixed in with these personal details, we can feel the heartbeat of the Apostle Paul, what was important to him as he finished this letter.

2. Paul's final thoughts centered on two things:

a. Missionary plans

b. The care of the church

B. Text: Personal messages and benediction (Rom 15:14-16:27)

1. Paul's missionary plans (Rom 15:14-33)

a. Confidence in body ministry (Rom 15:14-16)

And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:14-16).

1) "And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another."

a) The Gk. word translated "goodness" means a "positive moral quality characterized especially by interest in the welfare of others" and along with "knowledge" refers to the content of the Roman believers' lives.

b) The Gk. word translated "admonish" means "to counsel about avoidance or cessation of an improper course of conduct, admonish, warn, instruct."

i) "Competent to counsel one another" (CCNT).

ii) "Capable of correcting each other" (NJB).

iii) "Able to give direction to one another" (BBE).

c) The prerequisites for counseling are that they have an interest in the welfare of others and knowledge of God's word. The counseling consists of helping them avoid problems and cease bad behavior by means of admonition, warning, and instruction.

2) "But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles."

a) Paul is being tactful in that he is not implying any deficiencies in the Roman Christians.

b) Paul is writing them because "of the grace that was given me from God," i.e. his ministry (Rom 15:16).

c) Paul speaks of his ministry as a holy spiritual service to God. This verse is full of priestly terms.

d) The Gk. word translated "a minister" means "one engaged in administrative or cultic service, servant, minister, the formal sense ... of priests."

e) "Of Jesus Christ" means that Paul serves Jesus and that Paul is Jesus' servant.

3) "Ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit."

a) The Gk. word translated "ministering as a priest" means "minister in sacred service, serve as priest."

b) "The gospel of God"--"With the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God" (NIV).

c) "Offering of the Gentiles" means "the offering that consists of the gentiles."

d) The Gk. word translated "sanctified," whose root meaning is "set apart for sacred purposes," means to "include a person in the inner circle of what is holy, ... consecrate, dedicate, sanctify." Only the Holy Spirit accomplishes this.

4) As he considers his missionary plans, Paul is confident in the Holy Spirit working through the body of Christ.HHGH

b. Confidence in Christ (Rom 15:17-19)

Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ (Rom 15:17-19).

1) "Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God."

a) Paul is not boasting about himself; he is boasting about what God has done.

b) Paul writes to the Corinthians:

But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ; not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men's labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you, so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another. But HE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends (2 Cor 10:13-18).

2) "For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed."

a) "I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done" (NIV).

b) Solomon says, "Like clouds and wind without rain Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely" (Prov 25:14).

c) Paul is boasting about "what Christ has accomplished through me." Thus, he gives the glory to Christ.

d) "Obedience"--This involves both the justification and the sanctification of the Gentiles.

e) "Word and deed"--John says, "Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth" (1 John 3:18).

3) "In the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ."

a) "Power" (dynamis) means "able to produce a strong effect power, might, strength."

b) The Gk. word translated "signs" means "basically, as what serves as a pointer to aid perception or insight sign ... a miraculous event contrary to the usual course of nature and intended as a pointer or means of confirmation."

i) Some silliness has resulted from seeking the signs.

ii) The value is not in the sign itself, but to whom it points.

c) The Gk. word translated "wonders" means "something so unusual it arouses close observation."

d) The author of Hebrews writes that God was "also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will" (Heb 2:4).

e) "In the power of the Spirit"--Paul knew where his power came from (1 Cor 2:4; 1 Thess 1:5).

f) "Illyricum" is a district across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, in official usage Dalmatia (Illyris Superior) and Pannonia (Illyris Inferior). This area included Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, and Yugoslavia.

4) As he considers his missionary plans, Paul is confident in Jesus Christ that He will grow His Church.

c. Seek out the unreached (Rom 15:20-21).

And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man's foundation; but as it is written, "THEY WHO HAD NO NEWS OF HIM SHALL SEE, AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND" (Rom 15:20-21).

1) "I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named"--In fulfilling the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20), Paul wanted to keep expanding into new areas. His strategy was to seek out the unreached.

2) "So that I would not build on another man's foundation"--Paul has used this image of discipling as laying a foundation for others to build on before in writing to the Corinthians (1 Cor 3:10).

3) "But as it is written, 'THEY WHO HAD NO NEWS OF HIM SHALL SEE, AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND'"--This is a quote from Isa 52:15 in the great suffering-servant prophecy of Messiah (Isa 52:12-53:12).

4) Paul is not engaged in sheep rustling.

d. Mutual support (Rom 15:22-29)

For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you; but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you whenever I go to Spain--for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while--but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints.

For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ (Rom 15:22-29).

1) "For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you."

a) Because the Roman church was already established.

b) Paul has come full circle, to where he began this letter, the desire to come to Rome (Rom 1:11-15).

2) "But now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you."

a) Paul and others had preached to the Eastern part of the Roman Empire.

b) "A longing to come to you"--Luke records that "after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, 'After I have been there, I must also see Rome'" (Acts 19:21). However, it did not happen the way that he thought it would. Man proposes, but God disposes (Jas 4:13-15).

3) "Whenever I go to Spain--for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while--"

a) It is uncertain whether Paul ever traveled to Spain.

b) "I hope to see you in passing"--Paul viewed Rome as a way station on his trip to Spain.

c) "To be helped on my way there by you"--Paul expected that the Romans would aid him on his trip to Spain.

4) "But now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things."

a) Paul was coming with a gift from the Gentile churches to aid the believers in Jerusalem (2 Cor 9:1-15).

b) "Macedonia and Achaia" gave sacrificially to relieve Jerusalem (2 Cor 8:1; 9:2).

c) "They are indebted to them"--For the gospel, the Scriptures, and the Messiah.

d) "If"--This is a first class condition and should be taken as "if and it is the case."

e) "Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things"--Paul writes the Ephesians that God "has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Eph 1:3) and God told Abraham that "in you all the families of the earth will be blessed" (Gen 12:3). Through union with Christ, Gentiles share the spiritual blessings of the Abrahamic covenant through the new covenant.

5) "Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain."

a) The Gk. word translated "put my seal" means "to seal something for delivery, seal ... is ... to be understood from the practice of sealing sacks of grain."

b) This has been translated, "have made sure that they have received this fruit" (NIV).

6) "I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ""--Paul wanted to minister from the overflow of Christ's blessing in his own life (Rom 1:11).

7) Paul was assured of the Romans' support for his mission.

e. Confidence in prayer (Rom 15:30-33)

Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen (Rom 15:30-33).

1) "Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me."

a) "Strive together" (synagōnizomai) means "helping someone with great effort join in a struggle, fight along with, help."

b) "Prayers"--Prayer enables us to join in the fight.

2) "That I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints."

a) Paul had two specific prayer requests:

i) "That I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea."

(a) This concerns the Jewish unbelievers (Acts 21-23).

(b) The Gk. word translated "disobedient" is translated infidelibus in the Vulgate.

ii) "My service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints."

(a) Paul wanted prayer that the Jewish believers in Jerusalem would respond correctly to the Gentile aid.

(b) They did (Acts 21:17).

3) "So that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company"--Paul shows that he has a handle on the principle of Jas 4:15, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that" (cf. 1 Cor 4:19).

4) "Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen."

a) Paul gives a closing benediction.

b) "God of peace"--Not of Jew vs. Gentile strife.

c) "Be with you all"--Jew and Gentile together.

d) "Amen" (Gk. amēn, Heb. 'āmēn) means a "strong affirmation of what is stated ... as expression of faith let it be so, truly."

5) Paul is confident that, with the prayers of the saints, God's will for his mission will be fulfilled.

2. Paul’s greetings to those in Rome (Rom 16:1-16)

a. Phoebe (Rom 16:1-2)

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well (Rom 16:1-2).

1) "Our sister Phoebe, who is a servant (diakonos)"

a) Translated "deacon" (GWN, NLT, NRSV) or "deaconess" (NJB, RSV).

b) Women may be deacons, but not elders (1 Tim 3:8-12).

2) Cenchrea was the seaport of Corinth on the eastern side of the isthmus the port on the western side was Lechaeum.

3) Phoebe was the likely bearer of the letter.

b. Prisca and Aquila (Rom 16:3-5a)

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; also greet the church that is in their house (Rom 16:3-5).

1) They had been forced to leave Rome under Claudius' edict (Acts 18:2).

2) Paul had worked with them in Corinth (Acts 18:3) and they had gone to Ephesus with him (Acts 18:18-19).

3) The couple had ministered to Apollos (Acts 18:26).

4) They were still in Ephesus on Paul's 3^rd journey (1 Cor 16:19), but had apparently gone back to Rome at this time.

5) They are back in Ephesus later (2 Tim 4:19).

6) "Who for my life risked their own necks"--This probably refers to the riot in Ephesus of Acts 19:23-41.

7) "The church that is in their house"--House churches were the norm.

c. Others (Rom 16:5b-16)

Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you (Rom 16:5b-16).

1) "Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia"--Better "Achaia" (KJV, NKJV) as it makes more sense and does have the support of the majority of manuscripts.

2) "Mary" some manuscripts have Mariam which would indicate that she was Jewish. However, this cannot be the mother of our Lord, who was probably with John in Ephesus.

3) "Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen"--They were Jewish. This may be a couple. However, that is not necessarily so since Junias may be a male name.

4) "My fellow prisoners"--We do not know which of Paul's imprisonments is referred to.

5) "Outstanding among the apostles"--This does not mean that they were apostles in the same sense as the twelve.

a) Apostles of Jesus Christ had to be eyewitnesses of the resurrection (Acts 1:22; 1 Cor 9:1).

b) There were only twelve of these men (Matt 10:2; Rev 21:14).

c) Others called apostles in the NT were sent by churches not the Lord (2 Cor 8:23 [literally "apostles of churches"]; Acts 14:14; Gal 1:1 [Paul was emphatically not sent from men]).

d) It is also possible that they were well known to the apostles.

6) "Who also were in Christ before me"--They were converted before Paul.

7) Paul greets Amplias, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, and the households of Aristobulus, and Narcissus.

8) "Herodion, my kinsman"--Herodion was also Jewish.

9) "Tryphaena and Tryphosa"--Perhaps twins or at least sisters.

10) "Persis" (Gk. Persis) is "feminine of Gk. Persikos, Persian."

11) "Rufus"--Possibly the son of Simon of Cyrene who helped Jesus carry the cross (Mark 15:21; Matt 27:32). The July/August 2003 Biblical Archaeology Review ran a story about a tomb in Jerusalem with the ossuaries of Simon and Alexander, but not Rufus. Perhaps this was because he died in Rome.

12) "Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them"--Hermas may be Hermas, the author of a non-canonical prophecy (Shepherd of Hermas).

13) "Philologus and Julia"--Another couple. "Nereus and his sister"--A brother and sister. "Olympas, and all the saints who are with them"--Another house church.

14) "Greet one another with a holy kiss"--This was the customary greeting in the Middle East at that time.

15) "All the churches of Christ greet you"--Paul wants them to see themselves as part of a larger whole, the universal body of Christ.

3. Paul’s final admonition (Rom 16:17-20)

a. Warning about false teachers (Rom 16:17-18)

Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting (Rom 16:17-18).

1) "Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them."

a) As a parting admonition, Paul warns of false teachers.

b) "Keep your eye on" (skopeō) means "keep a watchful eye on, notice carefully, watch out."

c) The Gk. word translated "dissensions" means "standing apart; hence disunity, dissension, division within a community."

d) "Hindrances" (skandalon) means "metaphorically trap, i.e. what causes a person to sin, cause of ruin, occasion of falling."

e) The Romans are to "turn away from them." The Gk. word translated "turn away" means "to keep away from, steer clear of."

2) "For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting."

a) Paul does not tell us clearly whether he is referring to believers or unbelievers, perhaps because both are possible (Acts 20:29; 1 Cor 5:5-13; 2 Thess 3:6; 2 Tim 2:16; Titus 3:10).

b) What is certain is that "such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites."

c) They employ "smooth and flattering speech" to deceive.

d) "Unsuspecting"--This has been translated as "naïve" (ESV), NET, NIV).

3) Deception is a very real danger for which we must be on the watch.

b. Encouragement about victory over evil (Rom 16:19-20)

For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you (Rom 16:19-20).

1) "For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil."

a) "Your obedience"--Since Paul has heard that the Romans are obedient to God, he is not particularly worried about them. He just wants to guard against error creeping in.

b) "Wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil"--Jesus says, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves" (Matt 10:16).

2) "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."

a) This points all the way back to Gen 3:15. Satan's doom is certain (Rev 20:1-3).

b) "Under your feet"--This refers to our authority in Christ (Luke 10:19).

c) "The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you"--As always, grace is exactly what we need.

3) We should be encouraged because evil will be defeated.

4. Greetings from Corinth (Rom 16:21-24)

Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord.

Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you.

Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen (Rom 16:21-24).

a. "Timothy" is, of course, the Timothy of the letters (1 Tim; 2 Tim) and is well known in the NT (Acts 16:1; 17:14; 18:5; 20:4; 1 Cor 16:10; 2 Cor 1:1; Phil 1:1; Col 1:1; 1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1; Phlm 1:1).

b. "Lucius" may be the same as Luke of the gospel and Acts or Lucius of Cyrene from Antioch (Acts 13:1).

c. "Kinsmen"--If Lucius is Luke, then Luke was a Hellenistic Jew.

d. Tertius is Latin for "third." He may have been the brother of Quartus ("fourth"). "I, Tertius, who write this letter"--Tertius was Paul's amanuensis for Romans.

e. "Gaius"--He is a Corinthian Christian whom Paul baptized (1 Cor 1:14).

f. "Erastus, the city treasurer"--See Acts 19:22; 2 Tim 4:20. The NIV has "Erastus, who is the city's director of public works."

g. "Quartus, the brother"--Possibly, of Tertius?

h. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."--This verse is not in the oldest manuscripts and may be borrowed from Rom 16:20.

5. Paul’s benediction (16:25-27)

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen (Rom 16:25-27).

a. "Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past.

1) "To Him who is able to establish you"--God causes us to stand. There is security in no other!

2) "The preaching of Jesus Christ" means the "preaching about Jesus Christ."

3) "Revelation" (apokalypsis) means "uncovering, disclosing, revealing" (see Rom 1:17-18; 2:5; 8:18-19).

4) "Mystery" (mystērion) was used "as a religious technical term in the cults of the Greco-Roman world, a religious secret confided only to the initiated, secret rite, not used in the NT; ... in the NT; ... as what can be known only through revelation mediated from God what was not known before."

b. "But now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith."

1) "Now manifested"--Paul writes to the Ephesians:

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles--if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power (Eph 3:1-7).

2) "Nations" or "Gentiles."

3) "Obedience of faith" is obeying God's command to believe.

c. "To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen."

1) Paul praises God's wise plan.

2) The goal is the glory of God through Jesus forever.

3) "Amen"--Amen!

III. Application:

A. In our plans for ministry:

1. We can be confident that the Holy Spirit is working in the body of Christ, the Church.

2. We can be confident that Jesus Christ will grow His Church.

3. There are plenty of people to be reached; we should not raid other ministries.

4. We must support others' ministry for Christ.

5. We must pray.

B. In our church:

1. Deception is a very real danger for which we must be on the watch.

2. We should be encouraged because evil will be defeated.

IV. Summary of the book of Romans

A. Doctrinal section (Rom 1-11)

1. In the first three chapters, Paul establishes the guilt of the entire world before God.

2. Then, in chapters three to five, Paul explains the good news of salvation through faith alone and the benefits that come with it (Rom 4-5).

3. In chapters six to eight, Paul explains the way to live the Christian life in the power of the Holy Spirit and the wonderful destiny that we have in Christ.

4. In chapters nine to eleven, Paul answers the questions raised by Israel's unbelief.

B. Application section (Rom 12-16).

1. In chapters twelve to thirteen, Paul teaches about the believer's relationships with God, himself, other believers, outsiders, and the state.

2. In chapters fourteen to fifteen, Paul explains how to handle doubtful things.