ROMANS Paul’s View of Godly Worship REL 3097-02  2 semester hours The New Testament Book of Romans is the most commented on Book in the New Testament. The class is revised to be a second semester junior or senior first semester program. It is a detailed course and constitutes two semester hours of college credit. The only book in the N.T. that is quoted more than Romans is Revelation. This course was originally written for the Rio Verde University’s College of Religion School of Theology, inmate prison ministry program in 1998. The course has had over 6,700 Federal Prison inmates participate in the last decade. Beginning with the spring semester of 2008, the course is being added to the RVU online distance learning program. This course is considered a pre-requisite course for all students who desire to complete their Biblical Studies programs at RVU-School of Theology. It serves as a baseline for a minimal working knowledge of the N.T. understanding of Protestant Christian Theology. The course is taken directly from the New Testament using the New King James Version NKJV. This course is a theological discussion of the merits of Christianity and the need for a Savior and the relationship with the Jews. This course is a follow-up to the introductory course on Romans REL 1020 Romans 1 semester hour that Dr. Thompson DD ThD also instructs for RVU. The slant of the course is in the Calvinistic N.T. Church of Christ vein, although a little diversity is offered from outside commentators. The missionizing tone of the course has been toned down, and the historical, and theological aspects of the Account from the New Testament explored. There is a term paper (opinion) due for this course. It is a 2,000 word typed double spaced paper on the topic: “Does faith in God nullify the need to obey the commandments given at Mount Sinai?” Dr. Billy Mac Thompson, our guest instructor for this course, has been working with Rio Verde University since 1998. He was born in Gatesville, Texas and grew up in a three room shotgun house with no electricity, and no indoor plumbing. He graduated from high school in 1950, and enrolled at Texas A&M. Just prior to leaving to serve in Korea, as a pilot, he married in 1953. After his military stint, Dr. Thompson returned to Austin, Texas them moved to Abilene where he attended Abilene Christian College. In 1963 he began work in the insurance industry. The father of three children, he became enrolled as a Pension Actuary before the IRS, in July 1963. Says our professor, “I can say this: God’s world, created for man is beautiful. All of the many races, colors, creeds, and nations of people respond to love and the caring, and concern of their fellow man. People react to you as you react to them.” At one time Dr. Thompson and his family supported the work of 17 different missionary families at the same time. He has traveled extensively. Dr. Thompson has 496 earned college credits from seven different schools of higher learning. He earned his Doctorate in Theology from Slidell Baptist Seminary in 1999, and completed a Doctorate of Divinity in 2001. He also attended Michigan State University, and Austin College in addition to Texas A&M. He received his Actuarial certification from the American College of Pension Actuaries. Currently, semi-retired Dr. Thompson travels and speaks and about 40 different churches each year. During the course, if you have questions regarding the class or related comments, you can e-mail Dr.BillyThompson at information@rioverdeunivesity.org. Currently this class is available by distance learning only. (The cost of this course may be tax deductible under either the HOPE or LIFETIME LEARNING programs approved by Congress and incorporated into IRS forms). If you are a minister, evangelist, rabbi, imam, a BACI* or other spiritual leader this course may be taken as a CEU program and provides 7.5 hour credits. Contact our admissions office for further instructions for CEU credit. [*BACI-Beth Adonai Congregations INTL is a primary supporter of RVU-School of Theology]. The textbook for the course will be the New King James Version of the Bible. Other translations may be used as a substitute. The New King James Version Holy Bible Most Biblical quotes are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted. There are several quotes from the American Bible Society translation, as well. These are noted. Note-Many of the theological views expressed in this course are the personally held beliefs of our guest professor’s and as such must be respected. Those from other denominational or religious belief systems should use these views as focal points for discussion and understanding though different than their own. Some of these views differ from Beth Adonai INTL’s theological stance. When you receive your packet (i.e. study guide and text materials) you will find the directions regarding usage of the program materials, on the first page of the study guide. You can purchase a NKJV Holy Bible at most book stores or from the RVU-U bookstore (go to the bookstore on the website, check the book, go to checkout). INSTRUCTIONS: This course is designed to take the student approximately 25-30 hours to finish on average. It should take you about 4 hours to complete the 24 exams included in this course. There are sets of questions in each section. On the answer sheet enclosed, answer all these questions, and submit with the appropriate cover sheet. When you have completed the first 8 mail them in with the cover sheet. Then complete the next 8. Submit them. Finally complete the last 8. Submit them, along with your term paper. The term paper accounts for 25%, and the 23 exams for 75%. You will submit a term paper of approximately 2,000 typed double-spaced at the time you submit your exam to complete the introductory course. See topic assignment above. A grade of 70% is required for successful completion. Begin by opening the text materials. You may already have a Bible at home. (It is possible to use other translations for your testing. If you use another translation please note it on your cover sheet. Unless otherwise notified it will be assumed you used the NIV translation. To be more accurate dates are designated as A.C.E. and B.C.E. (After the Christian Era, and Before the Christian Era) instead of A.D. and B.C. In addition, Biblical Chapters/Verses are highlighted in bold type. Verse quotes are italicized. Read the introduction to the coursework. You may begin taking the final exam the day you receive your study materials. You may use your Bible as this is an open book test. When you have completed the mid-term exam place the cover form along with your answer sheet in the enclosed pre-labeled envelope. Mail your test to: RVU-U c/o Dr.BThompson 3214 N University Ave. Unit #435, Provo, UT 84604. Upon receipt of your test papers it will be graded by staff, recorded in your student file, and returned. (Reminder: A grade of 70% is required for successful completion of each course.) Good luck, and May G-d Bless your studies. Baruch HaShem. Dr. Rivkah Cordoba-admissions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Brief Account of the New Testament Book of Romans The book of Romans was written by the apostle Paul to introduce Paul to the Romans and to give a sample of his message before he arrived in Rome. The book was actually a letter written to the Christians in Rome and believers everywhere. The book of Romans was written in the early spring of A.D. 57. Paul was most likely on his third missionary journey, ready to return to Jerusalem with the offering from the mission churches or poverty-stricken believers in Jerusalem. The most likely place of writing is either Corinth or Cenhrea because of references to Phoebe of Cenchrea and to Gaius, Paulus host who was probably a Corinthian. The apostle Paul was intelligent, articulate, and committed to his calling. Like a skilled lawyer, he presented the case for the gospel clearly and forthrightly in his letter to the believers in Rome. Paul had heard of the church at Rome, but he had never been there, nor had any of the other apostles. Evidently the church had been begun by the Jews who had come to faith during Pentecost. They spread the faith on their return to Rome, and the church grew. Although many barriers separated them, Paul felt a bond with these Romans. They were his brothers and sisters in Christ, and he longed to see them face to face. He had never met most of the believers there, yet he loved them. He sent this letter to introduce him and to make a clear declaration of the faith. Paul’s purposes or writing this letter were varied: He wrote to prepare the way for his coming visit to Rome and his proposed mission to Spain. He wrote to present the basic system of salvation to a church that had not received the teaching of an apostle before. He sought to explain the relationship between Jew and Gentile in Gods overall plan of redemption. The Jewish converts to Christianity were being rejected by the larger Gentile group in the church because the Jewish believers still felt constrained to observe dietary laws and sacred days. After a brief introduction Paul takes the opportunity to present the facts of the gospel and declares his allegiance to it. He continues by building an airtight case for the lost mankind and the necessity for Gods intervention. In his letter to the Romans, Paul tells them that salvation is available to all, regardless of a person’s identity, sin or heritage. We are saved b y grace through faith in Christ and his finished work. Through him we can stand before God justified, not guilty (3:21-5:21). With this foundation Paul moves directly into a discussion of the freedom that comes from being saved. The freedom from the power of sin (6:1-23), freedom from the domination of the law (7:1-25), freedom to become like Christ and discover Gods limitless love (8:1-39). Paul speaks directly to his Jewish brothers and sisters and shares his concern for them and explains how they fit into Gods plan. God has made the way for Jews and Gentiles to be united in the body of Christ. Finally, Paul explains what it means to live in complete submission to Christ by using spiritual gifts to serve other, genuinely loving others, and being good citizens. Freedom must be guided by love as we build each other up in the faith, being sensitive and helpful to those who are weak. Paul stresses unity, especially between Gentiles and Jews. He concludes by reviewing his reasons for writing, outlining his personal plans, greeting his friends, and giving a few final thoughts and greetings from his traveling companions. None of Paul’s other letters states so profoundly the content of the gospel and its implications for both the present and the future. ________________________________________ INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS The book of Romans in the New Testament is a letter from the apostle Paul to believers living in Rome about 58 A.C.E. It completely explains the amazing life of Jesus Christ—what He has already done for us and what He wants to do in us. Paul shows us how God sees us—as desperately in need of a Savior. As sinners, we were all condemned to death and eternal separation from God. But in this letter we see God's wonderful, awesome love for us. He sent His own Son to take the death penalty for our sins so that we might be free to live in marvelous fellowship with Him now and for eternity. Isn't that the best news you could ever hear? Jesus, who is alive from the dead, wants to share His life with all who trust in Him and make them like Himself. "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son" (1 John 5:11). Jesus said, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free" (John 8:32). Paul's letter to the Romans is a message of truth about freedom. Ask God to reveal Jesus to your heart as a living Person, "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, . . . and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe" (Ephesians 1:18,19a). The Bible text as noted above that is being used is from the New King James Version ©1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers. Used by permission.
	Lesson 1 thru 5
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