211-6 Romans Part 2
Understanding Paul requires an understanding of his terminology; 1)salvation refers to exaltation, 2) justification is simply forgiveness of sins through Christ, 3) the law is the Law of Moses and 4) Grace is spiritual generosity. (paraphrased from Anderson, "Understanding Paul" p. 177-8)
There are at least 67 Old Testament quotations in the Book of Romans
Chapter 7 - Note the significant # of changes made it the JST.
Paul uses the analogy that a wife is only bound to her husband while he lives and the Jews were only bound to the Law of Moses while it was in force.
"Paul's presentation here is obscure and difficult. From the King James record alone, it is almost impossible to comprehend it. The Inspired Version clarifies and improves the account immeasurably. In effect Paul is saying that the law of Moses was good in its day, that God gave it for a purpose, but that now it is dead, and in place thereof God has given a higher law to which all men must now turn for salvation." (DNTC 2:256-7)
"though there may be a great lesson to learn from ch. 7 as we have received it, it is hard to believe that Paul nearly 20 years after his conversion, is still struggling with carnality and finding no good in himself. The JST alters our view of Romans 7 dramatically, as it draws a distinction between Paul's old life under the Mosaic law and his new life under the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was carnal while under the yoke of the law, but now he is spiritual under the yoke of the gospel-now he is able to overcome and find good through the merits of Christ. Romans 7 in the KJV does not really represent the Paul we read about in the rest of his writings; it does not reflect the great and valiant changes made in his life after his conversion. Romans 7 in the JST gives a more proper impression of the apostle's character.
Chapter 8
Vs. 6 - Spiritually minded vs. carnally minded. See 2 Nephi 9:39
1. Vs. 7 - Mosiah 3:19 - enmity The state of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.
Vs. 14 - See Galatians 4:1-7
Vs. 16- See "Topical Guide" p. 485 - Sons and Daughters of God
Vs. 19 - The NIV say "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed."
Vs. 24 - There is no hope except in the Hope of Israel. Hope is the desire of faithful people to gain eternal salvation the kingdom of God hereafter. It is not a flimsy, ethereal desire, one without assurance that the desired consummation will be received, but a desire coupled with full expectation of receiving the coveted reward. (DNTC 2:263)
Vs. 26 - Joseph Smith changed "groanings which cannot be uttered" to "striving which cannot be expressed" (TPJS , 278)
Vs. 28 - D&C 90:24
Vs. 29 - "Predestinate" appears 4 times in the bible (though the word predestination does not occur at all). There is nothing in the Greek implying loss of agency; the word literally means "to determine {our potential destiny}beforehand." the word foreordain more aptly describes the concept. Indeed, the Lord has foreordained, or called and elected, each of us to membership in his kingdom. Confirming that ordination, or making that calling and election sure, is now up to us.
The reformer John Calvin misunderstood the doctrine. He wrote: "by predestination we mean the eternal decree of God, by which he determined with himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to every man. All are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation. And accordingly, as each has been created for one or other of these ends, we say that he has been predestined to life or to death: (Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 3:21.5). quoted in Ogden p. 178-9.
Vs. 36 - A sheep is one of the few animals that does not protest at its time of slaughter but actually remains hushed, pacific, and submissive to the end. (Ogden p. 179)
Chapter 9
"The whole of the chapter had reference to the Priesthood and the house of Israel; and unconditional election of individuals to eternal life was not taught by the Apostles. God did elect or predestinate, that all those who would be saved, should be saved in Christ Jesus, and through obedience to the Gospel, but He passes over no man's sins, but visits them with correction, and if His children will not repent of their sins He will discard them" (TPJS p. 189)
Vs. 1-6 - Though Christ was born of the chosen Israelite lineage and even though great promises were made to Israel in the pre-earth life, if Israel does not accept the atonement, they will not be saved by Jesus.
Vs. 18 - God leaves us to our own stubbornness or hardness.
Vs. 30-33 - What ultimately matters is not your pre-earthly appointment of your genealogy, but if you are willing to not trip on the stumblingstone who is Jesus.
Chapter 10
Vs. 3 - This was the problem of the Jews and the problem of Christianity before the restoration.
Vs. 12 & 13
Vs. 18-21 - A series of Old Testament verses which say the gospel was proclaimed from heaven, but the gentiles, who were not a united nation like the Jews, understood the message better than the Jews and the Jews are responsible for their not accepting the word.
Chapter 11
Vs. 6-10 - "Israel, by God's grace, was elected to receive the blessings and glories of true religion, not by any works done in this life, but by grace alone (as far as this life is concerned)--all because of pre-existence and the law of foreordination. but, unhappily, only a few, those with especial spiritual talents, were in fact receiving the blessings in Paul's day. And now, as though the point has not been driven home to the full, Paul calls upon Isaiah and David (paraphrasing their prophecies, as his custom was) to testify that Israel should sleep and slumber spiritually, with that which should have been for their welfare becoming a trap unto them. (Isa. 29:10; Ps. 69:22-23) DNTC 2:285
Vs. 11-24 - Gentiles are ingrafted or adopted branches into the House of Israel. In a manner contrary to nature, these wild branches are making the natural tree (Israel)
Chapter 12-15
The Sermon on the Mount of the Epistles with at least 50 commandments. Choose your favorites;
Chapter 16
Paul's love note
Robert Millet selected 7 doctrinal subjects from Romans;
1. Justification by Faith in Christ (ch. 3-4)
He stressed that salvation is through Christ and the works of the Mosaic Law and the works of the world are insufficient to justify man. All persons must come to the knowledge of the necessity but insufficiency of their own righteous actions. See JST Rom 4:16.
2. Christ as the 2nd Adam. (ch. 5)
A descriptive comparison between Adam and Jesus.
Adam father of Mortality - Jesus father of immortality
Adam brings death - Jesus the Resurrection
Adam brought universal condemnation - Jesus justification
3. Walking in Newness of Life (ch. 6)
Through baptism we accept of the atoning sacrifice; through going into the “watery grave,” we participate in the Lord’s burial and his rise from the tomb. Baptism is the channel by which one is both legally initiated into the church and also spiritually initiated into the blessings of the atonement.
4. The Power of Christ to change lives (ch. 7)
Paul - Before and after.
The JST is especially helpful
5. Heirs of God, Joint Heirs with Christ (ch. 8)
6. Christ and True Israel (ch. 9-11)
True Israel are those who accept the true Promised Messiah
7. Newness of Life: A process
There are few instant Christians or sudden disciples.
(Studies in Scripture 6:45-46)
7. Rome in the first century was the third largest city in the Roman empire behind Alexandria, Egypt and Antioch of Syria. It had a population of about 1 million people, mostly very rich or very poor.
