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Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Romans 9 אגרת פולוס השליח אל-הרומיים

1. Who are the “witnesses” to Paul’s sorrow and anguish?

2. What are the “advantages” of being Jewish, and how does Paul pick up again on this topic?

3. What Six things preceded the creation of the world according to the sages of Israel and how does it relate to Paul’s point about Israel’s election?

4. What does Paul really mean when he says for not all those who are descended from Israel “are Israel”? explain…

5. How does Paul use the theme of twins to illustrate a point about this “promise”?

6. How does Paul deal with the argument against Israel’s Election by God as being unfair and unjust?  Explain…

7. Who are the vessels of wrath designed for destruction, and who are the vessels of mercy referring to according to Paul?

8. What then is the basis for God’s calling of people for salvation?

9. What is the Talmudic formula that Paul uses that determines the understanding of the next two chapters?

10. Do the Gentiles replace Israel as God’s chosen people, if not, explain who then is the “Remnant of Israel”?


Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Romans 8 אגרת פולוס השליח אל-הרומיים


1. What exactly does Paul mean by saying in vs. 1 that there is no “condemnation”?

2. What was impossible for the Torah, and how does this statement disagree with rabbinic theology?  give an example, and explain…

3. Why is it critical and required that God send His own Son in the “likeness of sinful flesh”? explain why it must be this way according to Paul…

4. What is required for those who want to fulfill the requirements of the Torah and overcome the flesh?

5. What is the “hostility” that Paul describes that is against God and His Spirit, how is it described?

6. How is the Ruach described as “dwelling” and how does this correlate with the Hebrew Scriptures?

7. How is Paul’s concept of “sons of God” a “Jewish Concept”? and, describe the difference between the Spirit of Slavery and the Spirit of Adoption, what is the key to understanding the difference?

8. How is apokaradokía (ἀποκαραδοκία)  similar to ta’arog (תַּעֲרֹ֥ג) and how are they related to what Paul is saying in vs. 19?  Give the infamous Tanakh reference from the Psalms.

9. Explain, what does Paul mean by “groaning”, both by Creation and us; what is this a reference to?

10. Explain how the Ruach helps us in our weakness?

11. What does Paul mean by “Predestined”? Who is Paul really talking about?  explain…


Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Romans 7 אגרת פולוס השליח אל-הרומיים


1. Who is Paul now addressing in vs. 1 and what is the meaning of קא משמע לן  “ka mashma lan” and how does Paul use it?

2. How does Paul use the analogy of marriage to make a point regarding how observing Torah has no effect on the יֵצֶר הַרַע yatzer hara, the evil inclination, and how is his conclusion similar to that of Rabbi Simon & Rabbi Jonathan in the midrash?

3. Explain the Halacha (Jewish Law) of marriage, what does the Torah say about a woman who’s husband dies or one who divorces her and how does this apply in Romans 7?  Does this mean the Torah dies to us?

4. What therefore is the effect of the Torah according to Paul?

5. What is the meaning of חליצה‎‎ Chalitzah and Yibbum and how does it correspond to "dying to sin"?

6. What is the connection between “coveting” and the themes of divorce, and the “spirit of the flesh” in which Paul is describing?

7. Furthermore, what connection is there between coveting and idolatry and adultery; and how do we see this since the Creation?

8. How does Paul say that the Torah deceived and killed him, and is there any evidence that this is supported by Rabbinic literature?

9. What does Paul mean when he says, “for I do not understand what I am doing..” when we sin, what does this mean?

10. Paul describes the struggle between the Spirit and the Flesh that is in all of us, and also describes his “intentions” to do good but his/our inability to do it.  Is he making the point that what really matters is what a person “intends” to do or something else?  Explain…



Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Romans 6

1. What are the two masters that Paul addresses in chapter 6 and regarding the question of sinning in order to bestow God's grace, how does Paul handle this question?

2.  How does Paul answer the question that after we become believers" die to sin" some still live in it?  How is this same question addressed also in the midrash?

3. What does it mean to be immersed or "baptized" into his death?

4.  How does Paul developed the idea of "dying to sin"?

5. Explain the Jewish understanding of "the old self".

6.  How do we see the doctrine of the "two ways" in the Didache compared to the two spirits in the Qumran scrolls? Are they the same? Explain

7. What is the rabbinic principle of Hakesh, הקש and how does it apply here in chapter 6?

8.  Explain how the rabbinic midrash associating the number of Commandments negative and positive, with the number of man's limbs in the human body are applicable to theological points made in chapter 6.

9. How does Paul explain that the freedom from sin gives us the freedom to obey God? Explain

10. What is the principle of klal ufrat כלל ופרט ?  How does Paul use it in conclusion of chapt

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Romans 5 אגרת פולוס השליח אל-הרומיים


1. What is the direct result of “justification” before God? Explain…

2. Explain what Paul means by “this grace” what is he talking about?

3. How does Paul describe tribulations and how does his description agree with Rabbinic Jewish commentary?

4. How does Paul use the word “helpless” and how is this significant?

5. How was the Messiah’s death & resurrection “at the right time” as Paul says?  Explain…

6. Vs. 7-8 gives a description of a Suffering Messiah, where else in Scripture do we find this best described?

7. Paul now uses again another “Jewish” argument in logic, what is the argument and how does he use it in this chapter?

8. What are the implications given of Israel’s justification for the whole world, and what analogy between 2 individuals does Paul now use to make his point?

9. Why would the Torah be given, so that sin might increase, what does Paul mean by this?