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…

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…

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

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?

Romans 4 אגרת פולוס השליח אל-הרומיים

1. What does Paul mean by describing Abraham as our father “according to the flesh”, what is that symbolic of?

2. How does this also make Him the father of others?

3. What is the definition of יֵחָשֵׁב yachshav; or it’s root “chashav” how does Paul use it here in it’s relation to Gen. 15:6 and Psalm 119:123?

4. What verbal analogy from another character in Scripture does Paul now use and what kind of rabbinical form of argument is Paul now employing?

5. How does the blessing in Gen. 15:6 apply universally and what is it depended upon according to Paul?

6. Paul asks an important question in vs. 10, why is the question important and what are the implications of the correct answer?

7. Vs. 12 Paul says, he is the father of the circumcised, who are these, and who else is he the father of and on what basis?

8. What does “heir of the world” mean? Define this phrase…
Pgs. 166-167

9. What does the text mean when it says, “those who are of the Torah are heirs, trust has become empty”… what does it really mean to be B’nei Avraham? Explain…

10. What is the next “purpose of the Torah” that Paul now introduces, and how does this explain why Torah cannot be used to merit righteousness?

11. How important was Paul’s example of Abraham’s faith, how it was strengthened and how it gave glory to God?  Explain the statement in vs. 20…

Romans 3 אגרת פולוס השליח אל-הרומיים

Romans 3  Tree of Life Version (TLV)

1. Last week, Paul made the point that both Jew and Gentile are equally guilty for breaking the Torah and sinning against God – he now begins ch. 3 with two questions.  Is there any advantage then in having the Jewish people anymore as being a distinct nation?  If yes, what are those advantages according to this chapter and the rest of the Bible?  Give references…

2. If human disobedience to God does not nullifies God’s plan to have an “elected nation” (i.e. Israel), how exactly then does this demonstrate God’s righteousness and His innocence in punishment?  Give Biblical references?

3. What is the Biblical and Jewish premise of God’s judgment in wrath?  Give examples

4. How does Paul deal with the argument that our sin proves God’s righteousness?  Explain…

5. Paul now gives his own Biblical evidence for the argument that both Jew and non-Jew are both bound up in sin, how is this same argument also supported by Jewish literature?

6. What is one of the main purposes of the Torah, and what is the Torah powerless to accomplish, according to our chapter and to the Bible overall?

7. If the Torah is not the “source of righteousness”, what is?

8. Is the true source of righteousness antithetical towards Judaism? If not, give Biblical and Jewish references to support…

9. How does God make a man righteous and what is the definition of “Mishpot”?

10. So if the way to make one righteous is separate from the Torah, does Faith (emunah) nullify the Torah? If not, then why have Torah?

Romans 2 אגרת פולוס השליח אל-הרומיים

Romans 2

1. Who is Paul talking to by using the phrase “O man”?

2. What are the two related principles Paul brings up in this chapter, summarize the two sections?

3. Explain the spiritual principle of מדה כנגד מדה “middah kneged middah” (measure for measure), and how does Shaul use it in his argument?

4. What is the Greek word for “belittle” in vs. 4, how else can it be translated and what is the accusation that Paul is making using this word?

5. Vs. 4, Shaul says that kindness leads to repentance; give other biblical examples of how this is true…

6. What is the meaning of “keshei oref” קְשֵׁה-עֹרֶף  in Exodus 33:3, and “ve-chizkei lev” וְחִזְקֵי-לֵב in Ezekiel 2:4 and how does it relate to our chapter?

7. What does Paul mean by saying “storing up wrath” and how is it “Jewish”?

8. How is “self-seeking” connected to the “Spirit of Perversity” and where else is this found in the Bible?

9. Who is Paul talking about when he describes some people as “sinned without the Law”?

10. Who are the B’nei Brit; and how does Paul describe them as opposed to those who “do not have the Law”?

11. According to commentators, what does Paul mean when he says, “They are a law unto themselves”; also what is your opinion of what he means?

12. What does it mean to bear the name “Jew”, what are the implications according to Paul?

13. What is Chilul Hashem חילול השם  and how does Paul say that Jews dishonor God and slander Him among the nations? Give the citation…

14. How can a righteous deed by an uncircumcised person be counted to him as “circumcision”? explain…