Romans 1

So here is my attempt at analyzing Romans a bit. It's sort of a homiletics format (at least, how I've been taught to do homiletics. I may be doing this all wrong - this may not be "homiletics" after all, but w/e). But instead of simply summarizing (as I've been taught by 2 people), I'd like to explore different possible ways one may be able to interpret the text, as far as I can tell. I'm no Biblical scholar... just a layperson. So if anyone reads this, please take it with a grain of salt. I also didn't comment on some verses because I see them as straight-forward (though it may be true that I'm seeing those verses through a philosophical grid that I'm not aware of... but who doesn't?).

Romans

1:1-2 Paul was "set apart for the gospel"

• This doesn't say "set apart by the gospel" or "because of the gospel" but "for the gospel"
• One interpretation: could be set apart for the purpose of preaching the gospel (as opposed to a Jane-shmo like me (vs. "Joe-shmo")). Some people will take this text and apply it to all believers. While that could be a possibility, that conclusion doesn't necessarily follow. Minimally, Paul is asserting his authority and calling given by God.
• Another interpretation: Could be set apart because he's already one of the pre-chosen elect... but this interpretation is a stretch I think.

1:3 The gospel was promised earlier through the prophets.

1:5-6 "among all the nations" ; the Romans are also called to belong to Jesus Christ

• Is this a universal "all" or a particular "all"? At first people will say "universal", but when you delve deeper into their theologies strong Calvinists who assert "limited atonement" would tend to say "particular". Why? Christ only died for the elect, thus the gospel is only for the elect.
• What is the etymology behind "called"? Does this mean appointed or invited?

1:7 To all God's beloved in Rome who are called to be saints

• Is everyone who lives in Rome God's beloved, or is there a particular group who live in Rome who are God's beloved while those not of that group who live in Rome are not God's beloved? Universal or particular? It's still a bit vague.

1:8 "your faith is proclaimed throughout the world"

• Based on the history and the text, one can say this means the Christian world within the Roman Empire.

1:16 Salvation is only for everyone who believes

• The question behind the text: how is this belief acquired? By God's effect or our choice or a combination or something else I missed?

1:17 Faith brings righteousness ; "the righteous shall live by faith"

• Here's a common argument I've heard (albeit, a vicious circular one): "There is no one righteous, no not one" (Rom 3:10) and "the righteous shall live by faith"
• If we're not righteous, how can we live by faith? If we don't have faith, how can that bring righteousness? Ooh, we're getting dizzy. How do we settle this? People will give this Jonathan Edwards-ish answer: We follow only our desires, so God must put that desire in us to have faith, which in turn leads to righteousness. Though I think there's a better way to solve this. Please do tell, you say?
• I think Romans 3:10 is taken out of it's original context... we need to go back to the first occurence of this in the Old Testament and we'd see that the Romans 3:10 verse is only talking about a particular group: the wicked. Within that group, there is no one righteous, not even one. Additionally, this quote could be interpreted hyperbolically. Is it true that the wicked can't turn around? I think David was talking in extremes in the Psalms passage.
• One other point regarding "faith": Does this mean "wishful thinking & hoping without good reason"? I don't think so. Faith and reason are not mutually exclusive. They overlap.

1:18 "The wicked & godless suppress truth by their wickedness"

• Does the "wicked" and "righteous" groups mean "non-believers" and "believers"? The opposite of "wicked" isn't "righteous". The opposite of "wicked" is "good". You can have non-believers who genuinely try to be good people, though the definition of "good" within the non-theistic worldview is rather vague.

1:19 God has made the truth plain everyone / available & accessible to all

• How would this square with irresistable grace? The truth is even more plain to the elect than the non-elect?

1:26 What are "natural relations" as opposed to "unnatural relations"?

• Verse 27 seems to show that "natural relations" are that between a man and a woman

1:28-32 "Gave them over to a depraved mind," they have become filled with every kind of evil

• Again, universal or particular... that is, everyone individually was given over to a depraved mind, and every person has become filled with every kind of evil? I don't think so. Take person "non-believing, evil Jane" for example. Does Jane do every kind of evil? No. Only some things. Does the group Jane hangs out with do every kind of evil? That's more plausible. We know individuals don't do every kind of evil nor do they condone every kind either. This is talking about a group, which supports my hypothesis that you can gather throughout this chapter: Paul is talking about groups, not individuals. Many people will interpret verses on a "personal" or "individual" level. I default to a "corporate view" when interpreting these passages.

My general summary of this chapter:

verses 1-17: Paul was assigned one job: to share the good news of Jesus, which is the fulfillment of prophecy. Being raised from the dead by the Holy Spirit validated who Jesus was: the Son of God. This message is for all. Paul wishes to visit the Romans sometime; they have been growing strong in faith. The righteous attain life through faith.

verses 18-32: God is angry regarding those who follow a life of sin because they ignored the truth which God had made plain for them to see. Yet they didn't turn, but instead re-invented and re-defined God in their minds, which led them to worship images of man & beasts. God tried the tough-love approach (allowing them to go deeper into sin & shame) but they still wouldn't turn, though they knew through their actions they could only attain death.

Notes: Interesting parallels here - the first section has to do with those (the group) who follow righteousness. The second are those (the group) who follow evil. The end of the first section (1-17) is regarding life; the second (18-32) is regarding death.

Also, for some reason, many bloggers, pastors, and laypeople will view these as pre-grace (verses 18-32) and post-grace (verses 1-17): "Before God pulled me in, I belonged to the verses 18-32 and was completely evil with no good in me (again referring to Rom 3:10 ad nauseum) and then God pulled me into the verses 1-17 camp." I see that as adding to the text.

But all Paul is really doing is decribing two groups of people. That's all. He's not saying we're limited to those groups nor that we can jump back and forth nor is he saying we are completely lost on our own. That is an open question at this point in the text.