Romans 4:1-8
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- Last Updated: Friday, 12 May 2017 13:59
- Published: Friday, 12 May 2017 13:59
- Written by Wilma Zalabak
1. What elements in this reading have you met before in Romans? Which elements are new here?
2. Read John 8:31-32, 56-59, to learn how the Jewish leaders viewed Abraham, and their carefully protected pedigree.
3. This is the chapter of righteousness imputed (logizomai, to calculate, to deliberate, to devise) Impute, Imputed (seven times in Romans 4:6, 8, 11, 22, 23-24; 5:13, also in LXX: Genesis 15:6; Psalm 32:2). Counted, Reckoned, Reckon, Think, Conclude, Account, Esteem (Romans 2:3; 3:28; 4:3-5, 9-10; 6:11; 8:18, 36; 9:8; 14:14). Why do you think Paul was so enthralled with that word?
4. We can tell the chapter will be about Abraham. What purpose or value do you see in Paul’s bringing back David in verses 6-8?
5. Where else is works versus faith or grace handled in the New Testament? Can you think of other places besides these: Galatians 3:6-11; Ephesians 2:8-9; James 2:14-24.
6. What joy or excitement comes to you from this text? What questions arise for you out of the reading of this text? What did you learn that was new to you, or a new way of looking at something? What does this text tell you about God and about yourself? About humans in general?