Read Romans 5.1-11 and respond to the following:

What is the ‘therefore’ there for in Romans 5.1? In other words, what connection does Paul want us to draw with what he has already written?

Romans 5.1 says that we are justified ‘by faith’ (ek pisteos). To what does that refer, the faithfulness of Jesus or faith in Jesus? Can it be both (cf. Rom 1.17)? Does the last half of 5.1 help clarify (through our Lord Jesus Christ)? Similarly, what does ‘by faith’ refer to in 5.2?

What is the result of being justified, according to Romans 5.1-2?

What did it take for us to be reconciled to God? What might this passage teach us about how to reconcile with others?

Read Romans 5.12-21 and respond to the following:

In Romans 5.6-11, Paul introduced his ‘much more logic’ (lesser-to-greater): If x is true, how much more then is y true. How is this lesser-to-great/ ‘much more’ logic continued in 5.12-21? How is the work of Jesus ‘much more’ superior to that of Adam?

The word ‘reign’ is repeated three times in Romans 5.12-21. Who is described as reigning and how is the reign characterized?

Think of an area of your life or in your community in which there are broken relationships. What would it look like if grace reigned instead of death? What steps would need to be taken in order to bring about reconciliation?

Read Romans 6.1-23 and respond to the following:

What is Paul’s question in 6.1 and why does he raise it (Hint: Romans 5.20)?

How does Paul begin to answer the question in 6.2-5?

What is the change of status that Paul describes in 6.4-11? What is the basis (reason) for this change of status?

How does one benefit from the free gift of God? How does ‘in Christ Jesus’ (6.23) relate to 6.5?

Read Romans 7.1-25 and respond to the following:

How does Gorman explain the meaning of Romans 7.1-6?

People in the ancient world often wrote in the first-person singular (“I”) when they wanted to say something more general, or when they were speaking for an entire group of people. Many Romans scholars conclude that this is what Paul is doing in Romans 7.7-25; the result is that Paul is not describing his own struggles with the law, but instead is recounting the struggle of his people, Israel. How does this affect the interpretation of this passage?

How does Gorman interpret the “I” in Romans 7? In other words, do they think Paul is describing his own struggles as a Christian? Explain how he argues his position.

According to Gorman, what new information is Paul giving us with regard to sin?

What is the dilemma that Paul is highlighting in Romans 7.21-24?

How is Jesus the solution to the problem?

Read Romans 8.1-39 and respond to the following:

Romans 8.1 begins with a ‘therefore’, which indicates that Paul wishes to connect 8.1-4 with what he has written in Romans 7. In your view, how does Romans 8.1-4 connect with the main themes of Romans 7?

How are the Spirit and the Law contrasted in Romans 8.1-4?

How does Paul describe God’s Son in Romans 8.3-4? Why did God send his son, according to these verses?

According to Paul, what is the condition upon which we become co-heirs with Christ?

What is the (implied) basis for hope in Romans 8.25?

According to Gorman, life has a cruciform shape in two main senses. Explain.

What does Romans 8.26-39 affirm about God’s commitment to our spiritual well-being?

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