For each of the following questions, choose the best answer. If you answer incorrectly, try again. You will be given partial credit for answering on the second try. Only eight questions will be displayed in this session, but there are more than eight questions in this set. To see the other questions, take the quiz multiple times.
If Paul wrote more than one copy of the letter that we now call Romans, and only one of these copies contained chapter 16, where did that copy probably go?
To Philippi
To Rome
To Corinth
To Ephesus
Where was Paul when he wrote the letter to Rome?
In Philippi
In Rome
In Corith
In Ephesus
There is considerable scholarly debate over the reason Paul wrote the letter to the Romans, and Roetzel acknowledges that, "Perhaps no single reason is sufficient to explain its existence." Still, Roetzel clearly favors one purpose for the letter. Which one is that?
Paul feared that he might never make it to Rome, so he hoped the letter would help the church there strengthen its own ministry and expand the Christian mission to Spain.
The letter had little to do with the Roman church, but was written to help Paul formulate his defense of his gospel as he prepared for his trip to Jerusalem.
By answering Jewish objections to his gospel, Paul hoped to reconcile a divided church and build a base from which to launch his mission to Spain.
The phrase "obedience of faith" used in Romans 1:5-7 and the way Paul discusses faith (pistis) in Romans, suggest that
Christian faith goes beyond belief to include faithfulness to God, trusting obedience to Godís will
faith is indistinguishable from obedience to the Law, so true Christian faith must include both acceptance of Paulís gospel and obedience to the Jewish Torah
faith is indistinguishable from obedience to the Law, so true Christian faith must include both acceptance of Paul's gospel and obedience to the Jewish Torah
pistis means only "belief" and refers to an intellectual acceptance of the basic historical claims of Paulís gospel
Read Romans 1:16-17, then answer the question below.
Which of the following best describes the way this text functions in Romans?
Several phrases in this text are ambiguous, having more than one possible meaning, but Paul considers only one interpretation as correct for each phrase. Figuring out which interpretation is the correct one determines whether or not the reader correctly understands the letter.
While several phrases in this text might appear to be ambiguous, upon closer reading they are all shown to be clear and univocal (unambiguous).
Several phrases in this text are ambiguous, having more than one meaning, and Paul exploits this ambiguity to force the reader to think about the implications of his gospel. Both meanings of several key phrases in this text are relevant to the larger points that Paul makes in the letter.
In the letter to the Romans Paul uses the example of Abraham to argue that
just as Abraham was accepted on the basis of his obedience to Godís commandments, so also the Gentiles must obey the commandments.
God has always accepted people on the basis of faith (pistis) rather than the law.
while God once accepted people on the basis of obedience to the Law, God now accepts people only on the basis of faith (pistis).
In Chapter 5 of Romans Paul contrasts Adam (the first Adam) with Christ (the second Adam). Which of the following best represents what most scholars take to be the point of this discussion?
Adam sinned, so now all people are born sinners and appear as sinful before God even before they commit any conscious acts
All people eventually follow the model of Adam by sinning against God, but there is now another model, Christ, who represents the force of life rather than death. Now it is possible to turn away from the example of Adam to follow Christ and find life rather than death.
While all people from Adam till the time of Jesus were sinners, Jesus has broken the power of sin, so those who come after him are not considered sinners.
Which of the following best expresses Krister Stendahl's view of the point of Paul's discussion of sin and the law in Romans 7 and his use of "I" in that discussion?
The Law is responsible for causing Paul to sin. Since it works at cross-purposes with the gospel, the Law is evil, and Paul (as well as all other Christians) must resist it and live only by faith.
Paul sees sin as the power that is responsible for making him do what he does not want to do. It takes advantage of his knowledge of the Law, but Paul does not express a sense of guilt about this. In stead, he views the power of Christ as greater than the power of sin.
Paul feels guilty because of the continued presence of sin in his own life and struggles to overcome that guilt with the power of Christ. The Law, however, opposes him.
Which of the following is not one of the points Paul defends in Romans 9-11?
While God once had a special relationship with Israel, God has now rejected that relationship and relates only to individuals, not nations.
God has not abandoned Israel.
The mission to the Gentiles is a valid part of Godís larger plan for humanity.
God is righteous; God cares about both Jews and Gentiles and does not favor one over the other.
Which of the following best expresses the focus of Romans 12-15?
Paul calls on his readers to think about Godís mercy (acceptance of people on the basis of faith) and let it transform their way of thinking so that they too will act in ways that are impartial and characterized by grace.
Paul urges the Roman Christians to become mature in their faith, rejecting petty concerns about food and ritual purity.
Paul urges the Roman Christians to just do what they know to be right and avoid thinking too much about the implications of God's decision to accept people on the basis of faith.