Editor's note: these notes were developed for my own use during the Bible study that I teach, and are intended to accompany the text in Chapter one of The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans. Any other use than that which was intended could result in catastrophic comprehension failure on your part, and should not be undertaken.
a) Written from Corinth within a year or so of Paul’s writing 2 Corinthians (between 57-58)
b) Paul wintered in Corinth for 3 Months (v. Acts 20) to wait for safe sailing weather-also good business ( paul was a sail-maker/leather-worker/tent-maker)
c) Jews (including Jewish Christians) had been expelled from Rome in 49 CE by the emperor Claudius over unrest concerning “one Chrestus” (according to Suetonius)-likely refers to Christ.
d) It is likely that the Christian population in Rome consisted largely of gentile Christians (see 1:13), however there are hints of a culture clash that may have resulted as Jewish Christians began to trickle back into Rome.
V1 Servant The Greek for this word means: 1) a “slave” who completely belongs to his owner and has no freedom to leave, and (2) a “servant” who willingly chooses to serve his master.
[In OT] can refer to one who holds the status of a high official in the Lord’s kingly administration. As in Ex. 14:31
1 Cor 7:20-21
V2 Acts 10:43
Jer 31:31-33
V4 Acts 10:38-40
Hebrews 5:5,8…2:9-10…5:9
V13 NIV I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
V17 “Theme and Thesis”
1 John 2:1-3
1 Peter 2:21-24
Hebrews 4:14-16
V18 *JST
Beginning of 3-part summary: ch 1: Sin of gentiles, Ch 2: Sin of Jews, Ch 3: Sin of all-Intended to demonstrate need for atonement, and the fact that righteousness comes only through God.
V20 Acts 14:15-17
Alma 30:44
V21 D&C 59:21
V27 Leviticus18:22
Let it therefore be clearly stated that the seriousness of
the sin of homosexuality is equal to or greater than
that of fornication or adultery; and that the Lord’s
Church will as readily take action to disfellowship or
excommunicate the unrepentant practicing
homosexual as it will the unrepentant fornicator or
adulterer. . . . The Lord has promised that all sins can be
forgiven except certain ones enumerated, and this evil
was not among those named. Thus it is forgivable if
totally abandoned and if the repentance is sincere and
absolute. (Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 80–86.)
The First Presidency has declared that “there is a distinction between [1] immoral thoughts and feelings and [2] participating in either immoral heterosexual or any homosexual behavior.” Although immoral thoughts are less serious than immoral behavior, such thoughts also need to be resisted and repented of because we know that “our thoughts will also condemn us” (Alma 12:14). Immoral thoughts (and the less serious feelings that lead to them) can bring about behavior that is sinful…Applying the First Presidency’s distinction to the question of same-sex relationships, we should distinguish between (1) homosexual (or lesbian) “thoughts and feelings” (which should be resisted and redirected), and (2) “homosexual behavior” (which is a serious sin).
We should note that the words homosexual, lesbian, and gay are adjectives to describe particular thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. We should refrain from using these words as nouns to identify particular conditions or specific persons. Our religious doctrine dictates this usage. It is wrong to use these words to denote a condition, because this implies that a person is consigned by birth to a circumstance in which he or she has no choice in respect to the critically important matter of sexual behavior. Feelings are another matter. Some kinds of feelings seem to be inborn. Others are traceable to mortal experiences. Still other feelings seem to be acquired from a complex interaction of “nature and nurture.” All of us have some feelings we did not choose, but the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us that we still have the power to resist and reform our feelings (as needed) and to assure that they do not lead us to entertain inappropriate thoughts or to engage in sinful behavior.
Our doctrines obviously condemn those who engage in so-called “gay bashing”—physical or verbal attacks on persons thought to be involved in homosexual or lesbian behavior…Kindness, compassion, and love are powerful instruments in strengthening us to carry heavy burdens imposed without any fault of our own and to do what we know to be right. (Dallin H. Oaks, “Same-Gender Attraction,” Liahona, Mar 1996, 14)
V28 WEBSTER’S Reprobate ( Archaic): 1) rejected as worthless or not standing a test (condemned) 2) foreordained to damnation 3) morally abandoned DEPRAVED.
NIV Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
“Convenient” KJV rendition of greek “fittin” or “proper”
Psalms 81:11-12
Alma 12:11
“A man may rationalize and excuse himself till the
groove is so deep he cannot get out without great
difficulty. But temptations come to all people. The
difference between the reprobate and the worthy
person is generally that one yielded and the other
resisted. And if the yielding person continues to give
way he may finally reach the point of ‘no return.’ The
Spirit will ‘not always strive with man.’ (D&C
1:33.)” (Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 80–86.)
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