Deck 15: The Gospel According to Paul: The Letter to the Romans

Question 1

Compare and contrast the judicial and participationist models of salvation. What is the problem in each of these scenarios? What is the solution? How is a believer justified?

Answer 1

Paul presents two central models of salvation in Romans. First is the judicial model. In this scenario, God is both lawmaker and judge. Humans disobey God (sin), and the penalty for sin is death. The solution to this problem is Jesus' death. Jesus pays the penalty for human sin. God's acceptance of this payment is apparent because he resurrects Jesus. For Christians to appropriate Christ's payment, they must have faith in its efficacy. Second is the participationist model. Here, too, the problem is sin, but sin is not an act; it is a cosmic force that enslaves humans. The solution to this problem is Jesus' death, envisioned as the defeat of the power of sin and death. People participate in Christ's victory and are united with him through baptism.

Question 2

How does Paul argue that Jews and gentiles are equally entitled to salvation and that God has not broken his promises to Israel?

Answer 2

Paul's gospel centered on the availability of salvation to both Jews and gentiles. Because the Jews had the Scriptures, though, and because Jesus came to the Jews, Paul taught that salvation came first to the Jews and then to the gentiles. Even though the Jews had this advantage, both were on equal footing before God. Justification by faith, moreover, is revealed in scripture: Abraham was justified by his faith, not his works. Because salvation had always been offered on the basis of faith, then, God had not broken his promises to the Jews.

Question 3

What does Paul apparently want to achieve by writing this letter to the Romans? What particular features of the letter assist him with his goal?

Answer 3

It appears that Paul hoped that the Roman Christians would welcome him and offer him some support as he extended his mission further west into Spain. It may be that the Roman Christians had already heard of Paul's message and were not fans, or that they knew very little of Paul. In either case, he set out to convince them of his particular gospel, with particular attention to the standing of Jews and gentiles before God. Paul's tone and style are fitting for a letter that attempts to persuade an unfamiliar congregation of his views. Paul also uses diatribe, a rhetorical technique that helps him defend his views and address possible objections.

Question 4

What is a diatribe? How did Paul use this rhetorical style to explain, defend, and justify his views? Give examples from Romans.

Question 5

Romans is unique among the undisputed Pauline letters because_____.

A) it is a unified letter
B) it is a composite letter
C) it is written to a community Paul did not found
D) it is written to Jews in the synagogue

Question 6

Paul may have written to the Romans for all of the following reasons except _____.

A) to explain his beliefs
B) to ask them to help get him out of jail
C) to put to rest any suspicions they may have about his ministry
D) to hope to receive financial support for his ministry

Question 7

In Romans, Paul defends himself and his beliefs using the rhetorical tool of _____.

A) apology
B) justification
C) epistle
D) diatribe

Question 8

According to Paul, which of the following is not necessary for salvation?

A) trusting acceptance of God's act of salvation in Christ
B) circumcision
C) commitment to the belief in Jesus' death and resurrection
D) fulfilling the righteous requirements of God's Law

Question 9

All of the following are true for both of Paul's models of salvation except _____.

A) the problem is sin
B) Jesus' death is part of the solution
C) the virgin birth is part of the solution
D) Jesus' resurrection is part of the solution

Question 10

In the judicial model, all of the following are true except _____.

A) breaking the law is sin
B) God gave the law
C) sin is a cosmic force
D) God is the judge

Question 11

The judicial model is also called _____.

A) justification by faith
B) justification by baptism
C) justification by the Law
D) the participationist model

Question 12

In Romans, Paul protested against reports that he taught _____.

A) people to love one another
B) against the Law
C) that Jesus is God
D) that circumcision is evil

Question 13

According to the judicial model, all of the following are true except _____.

A) everyone sins
B) the penalty for sin is death
C) baptism cleanses people of their sin
D) reconciliation with God depends on belief in Jesus' death and resurrection

Question 14

According to the participationist model, sin is_____.

A) breaking the law
B) being circumcised
C) not believing in Jesus
D) a cosmic power that enslaves people

Question 15

The participationist model envisions Jesus' death and resurrection as _____.

A) a payment for the sins of others
B) a defeat of the power of sin and death
C) a tragedy
D) a judgment against the Jews who participated in Jesus' trial

Question 16

According to the participationist model, people are joined with Jesus through _____.

A) baptism
B) circumcision
C) knowledge
D) the Law

Question 17

Paul believed that baptism did all of the following except _____.

A) create a community of believers
B) create a union between the believer and Christ
C) reveal the believer's exalted state
D) represent a Christian's death with Christ

Question 18

According to Paul's letter to the Romans, which statement is not true concerning both Jews and gentiles?

A) The both can be made right with God by being circumcised, baptized, and obeying the Law.
B) They are both on equal footing with God.
C) They both can be made right with God by believing in Jesus' death and resurrection.
D) They are both equally alienated from God.

Question 19

Paul believed all people were enslaved to sin because of _____.

A) Sarah's questioning of God
B) Abraham's union with Hagar
C) Sodom and Gomorrah
D) Adam's disobedience

Question 20

Who does Paul identify as the carrier of his letter to the Romans?

A) Peter
B) Phoebe
C) Mary
D) Philemon

Question 21

Before he could travel to Rome, Paul notes that he expects to make a trip to _____.

A) Jerusalem
B) Corinth
C) Galatia
D) Alexandria

Question 22

Romans 1 includes all of the following except _____.

A) Paul's plan to visit the Roman congregation
B) a thanksgiving
C) Paul's statement that not ashamed of his gospel
D) Paul's request for money

Question 23

According to Paul, God is righteous because he _____.

A) has kept his covenantal promises by making all people, Jew and gentile, righteous through Christ gentile, righteous through Christ
B) revises his earlier promises to the Jews
C) favors the gentiles
D) maintains exclusive benefits for the Jews

Question 24

In Romans, to show that he did not invent his gospel message, Paul stresses that his message is rooted in _____.

A) apostolic teachings
B) the Jewish Scriptures
C) his encounter with Jesus
D) Roman law

Question 25

Paul's participationist and judicial models of salvation _____.

A) are not mutually exclusive
B) are kept distinct in Paul's letters
C) conflict with one another
D) are exactly the same

Question 26

The death of Christians reveals to Paul that _____.

A) those Christians have not been baptized
B) those Christians are not participating
C) Christians have not yet experienced the resurrection
D) Christians are following the Law

Question 27

According to the judicial model of salvation, sin is _____.

A) human disobedience
B) failure to follow the Jewish Law
C) a cosmic power
D) not an option

Question 28

According to Romans, Paul's gospel is essentially _____.

A) justification by faith
B) participationism
C) the Jewish Law
D) God's act of salvation in Christ

Question 29

Paul and Jesus are similar in all of the following ways except _____.

A) they were born and raised Jewish
B) they held an apocalyptic worldview
C) they viewed the love of one's neighbor as the sum of the Law
D) they taught the need for faith in Jesus' resurrection

Question 30

Which of the following views of Paul did Jesus share?

A) Faith involves belief in the death and resurrection of Christ.
B) Judgment will take place within the current generation.
C) The coming cosmic judge is Jesus.
D) Jesus' importance lies in his death and resurrection for sins.

Question 31

In Romans, Paul claims that God has been __________________ in his treatment of the Jews and of all people.

A) strict
B) consistent
C) inconsistent
D) unpredictable

Question 32

What is a technical term for an atoning sacrifice?

A) expiation
B) redemption
C) participation
D) kosher

Question 33

Which of the following does not reflect an early Christian tradition about Paul's activity in Rome?

A) Paul was martyred in Rome.
B) Paul was sent to Rome after being arrested.
C) Paul ultimately became the bishop the Roman church.
D) Paul hoped to use Rome as a basis for a mission to Spain.

Question 34

After Paul wrote Romans, _____.

A) the Roman congregation invited Paul to visit
B) Paul was rejected by the Christians at Rome
C) the letter almost did not make it into the canon
D) the letter became a central text of the Reformation