Epistle to the Romans Trivia Quiz

Answer: Paul

In ancient times, the author of a letter would put their name at the beginning rather than the end. The recipients of Paul's letter were the members of the church in Rome. While there may have been a few Jews in attendance, the members were mainly Gentiles. Paul's focus was on salvation and righteousness being equal for those Jewish and not Jewish.

However, Paul began by writing that he wished to come to Rome and even discussed this near the end of the letter. According to the book of Acts, Paul arrived under house arrest and lived there for at least two years (Acts 28:16, 30) awaiting an audience with his appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:11-12).

Answer: On their hearts

Paul was discussing not the Mosaic law, which was given to the Jews. Here he was referring to the natural moral law that is considered to be inherent in the Mosaic law and the laws of civilized societies. He emphasized that having the law was not a free ticket to righteousness but following it was.

This was but an example for Paul's larger argument that being a Jew was not the key to salvation. "We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin." (Romans 3:9)

Answer: Through faith

Romans 3:22 states, "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." This passage was necessary after Paul had already argued that both Jews and Gentiles were unable to obtain salvation by themselves. He then showed that righteousness was a gift from God, "for all have sinned and fall short" (Romans 3:23).

This is the beginning of Paul's discourse on the term of how one is justified before God. Paul used the verb 'justified' twenty-two times in his letters.

Answer: Abraham

Again, Paul was working from the viewpoint that one cannot earn righteousness. He took Abraham, the patriarch of the Jewish nation, as an example. He showed that Abraham was counted among the righteous prior to his circumcision, a Jewish sign of righteousness and work of the law.

Therefore, it was Abraham's faith that was counted as righteous. He lauded Abraham's faith in God's promise that he would be the father of countless descendants, despite his advanced years and no children (Genesis 15:2-6). Paul expanded this point in stating that these words were for all who believed that they would be counted as righteous.

Answer: Sin

Redemption was and still is a popular term for those saved through faith. Redemption would have particular meaning in a slave culture where redemption meant having their debt with their master paid for and thus no longer being a slave. Paul's particular point in this section was to warn against the idea that believers had the freedom to sin as much as allowed now that they were justified by faith. Now they were freed to follow the teachings of the Lord. "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." (Romans 6:22)

Answer: Spiraling towards the chaos of destruction

Paul joyfully told the Roman believers that the Spirit would "put to death the deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13) and bring life. They were therefore children of God via adoption and heirs with Christ. The description of creation says that it had been afflicted with sin and the consequences of sin as much as people had been. So creation too awaited in eager anticipation of the coming glory beyond the present.

The personification of creation in childbirth attested to creation's longing.

Answer: Israelites

Paul was an Israelite himself and very learned in Judaism. However, Acts showed Paul consistently having his Christian message rejected by the Jews and finding a receptive audience among the Gentiles. While Paul rejoiced that there was no favoritism against the Gentiles, he had "great sorrow and unceasing anguish in (his) heart" (Romans 9:2) for his kinsmen.

However, Paul recognized that there was a remnant of Israel that had faith in Jesus Christ.

Answer: as living sacrifices

Paul referred to this as their "spiritual worship". (Romans 12:1) There might be two possible meanings in this phrase. First, the emphasis would be on living. At that time, dead sacrifices on altars were commonplace in society and so the Christians would contrast against their neighbors.

They would not offer dead sacrifices; rather, they would live the Christian life. Second, this could be a reference to the belief that they had received the gift of eternal life through faith.

Answer: To submit to all authorities

Paul maintained that all authorities are there only by God's will. Therefore to resist the governing authority would be to resist God as well. He applauded the work of the government. "For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad." (Romans 13:3) He also advocated that Christians be good tax payers to help support the government.

This would call back to the famous teaching of Jesus, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." (Matthew 22:21)

Answer: Indulging in immorality

This letter reached a church that was still developing its identity, separate from Judaism. Some people believed that eating a particular diet and holding to the Sabbath rituals put forth in the Old Testament was required. Others felt that those who did not embrace the Christian freedoms were weak in faith. Paul wrote, "Each one should be convinced in his own mind." (Romans 14:5) He said that each Christian should follow what they believed to be ethical and not cause these disputes to separate the Christians. On the other hand, Paul did not stand for immorality. "I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people." (I Corinthians 5:9)