This week, we continue our journey with Paul. He’ll conclude Romans, travel back to Israel, meet some persecution, undergo trial, and land under house-arrest in Rome. All the while, he’s writing letters and building relationships so that the gospel may speed along to the ends of the earth.
In chapter 11, Paul continues his explanation about God’s promises as they relate to Israel. Paul reassures the church at Rome that God has not rejected the Jewish people who believed in faith, though the majority have stumbled. Instead, the good news about salvation in Christ has gone to the whole world because of their disbelief. And hope still remains for the Jews to repent and believe and be welcomed back into the people of God. Though Jews do not believe the gospel, they are worthy of our love because all God’s promises came through them. On this ground, then, Paul can shift into his exhortation to the church in chapters 12-13. (1) Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world – like the world of idolatry and political expediency the Jews fell into. (2) Don’t be prideful because of the grace you’ve received. (3) Remain cheerfully expectant of Christ’s return as you live the Christian life. (4) Only owe that which is appropriate: submission and respect to authorities; love to your neighbor.
We come to Paul’s concluding exhortations and remarks in Romans – the lengthiest of Paul’s letters. In chapter 14, Paul has two specific applications for how believers relate to one another within the church. First, do not pass judgment on another believer regarding matters of conscience – for both “strong faith-ed” believers and “weak faith-ed” believers honor the Lord in their own ways from the heart – and we ourselves will each give an account of our own actions to the Lord (14:1-12). Second, as you seek not to judge, take it a step further and do nothing that might cause a brother to stumble (14:13-23). Not only is this fitting, but it is the very example Christ set for us (15:1-7). Paul concludes the “theology” of his letter with reminders that Christ is the hope for both Jews and Gentiles followed by a word of blessing for their peace and abounding hope. From 15:14-16:27, Paul gives person instructions and greetings. These chapters aren’t throwaway chapters – they’re useful for knowing more about Paul as a person and the people in the Roman church.
Likely, Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, so now we pick up with his travels after Corinth (Acts 18) and after writing Romans. This time, he’s leaving Ephesus and heading up into Greece to visit the churches there. On his way back toward Jerusalem, he stops in Miletus and asks the Ephesian elders to meet him there, where he encourages them, challenges them, and says goodbye. In Jerusalem, he meets serious persecution from the Jews. Paul is not surprised. He knew it would come to this and he is prepared. He has counted the cost. And he proclaims the gospel clearly to his brothers, his kinsmen according to the flesh.
After Paul’s arrest he must undergo trial by the Roman rulers. These three chapters recount the various trials and defenses Paul gives about his arrest. We learn a lot about Paul and about how he understands the “hope of the gospel” in relation to his people. We just read about Paul’s determination to get to Rome and in Acts 26, he finds a way to get there by appealing to Caesar.
These chapters detail Paul’s travel from Caesarea Philippi in Israel to Rome. They report a fascinating look at travel in the Roman empire without neglecting God’s sovereignty even over travel and the weather. You can see a map of his travel here. I’m struck specifically by Paul’s relationship with the centurion Julius. In a situation where Paul could easily dehumanize his captor, he builds a relationship with him. Our society could surely learn something from loving our enemies like Paul modeled. After a stormy boat ride and a shipwreck, the Lord bring them to Rome where Paul meets and encourages the churches there.
The readings for today and tomorrow are both letters Paul wrote from house arrest in Rome. Colossians is Paul’s encouragement to Colossae and Laodicea not to be swept away by “philosophy or human tradition” (2:8) but remain fully committed to Christ and his way. Believers are not to put on new ways of thinking or the old self, but Christ. And in so doing, following Jesus faithfully should change the way we live in our houses and treat our family members. The final paragraphs of Colossians mention several people who are also mentioned in Philemon. See if you can pick out the common names as you read. Likewise, you should see a practical application of Colossians in Philemon as regards the gospel, slavery, and social hierarchy. This is not an apostolic letter – it is an appeal to a dear brother of Paul’s to walk in step with the gospel in how he received Onesimus. The gospel, rightly applied, chips away at the unjust systems enacted by men.
The six chapters of Ephesians can easily be divided into two major sections: chapters 1-3 tell us what God has done for us; chapters 4-6 tell us how we should respond to God’s action. Chapters 1-3 detail God’s magnificent inheritance he’s bestowed on his church in Jesus Christ even though all of us were dead in sin and were his enemies. This inheritance is available to both Jews and Gentiles who have been reconciled through the cross. These enemies living and worshipping together in the church makes the “wisdom of God” known in the heavenly places. As a result of what God has done, believers are to walk in humility and love as a result of their new life given by Christ. This has a direct impact on how families within those house-churches live, too. In summary, Paul concludes the letter with an encouragement to prepare ourselves with the protection God has given us in the gospel. We put on God’s gospel armor and stand in God’s power against the tactics of the enemy.