A Coptic Orthodox Journey through the Bible

The previous chapter could be considered as the concluding part of the practical teachings of the Epistle. It is in harmony with the first part of the epistle where St. Paul discussed theological issues. This is because it is impossible to separate the faith of the church from its daily conduct.

This chapter represents the concluding words of the Epistle, and provides us with a great number of names. While we know very little about many of them, the Holy Spirit reveals, through them, the fervor of the Church. All sought to establish a spiritual Church in the Lord, and they were charged with a spirit of love which sanctifies shared feelings and emotions.

St Paul considers that ‘the mystery of the Lord Jesus Christ’ lies in the opening of the door of faith to the whole world, and allowing all nations access to salvation. While the entire epistle proclaims the nature of salvation, here St. Paul presents practical applications which are in harmony with all the other parts of his message. He stresses the obligations of the Church as a whole as well as the role of each member of the Church. All should demonstrate a loving heart that yearns to bring all to salvation.

In this chapter, St Paul addresses the Gentiles and warns them against misunderstanding his earlier speech directed to the Jewsish-Christians and advises them not to harbor any pride or contempt towards them. He explains that towards the end of time, the Jews will ultimately accept the Lord Jesus Christ and repent. In other words, when St Paul speaks to the Jews, he reproaches them in order to lead them to open their hearts with love towards the Gentiles. When he speaks to the Gentiles, he reproaches them in order to lead them to open their hearts to the Jews who repent and turn to God with faith. St. Paul yearns that all humanity supports one another in the spirit of love and humility and that none die through pride and arrogance.

Most look at chapters 9-11 as a shift in Romans, as St. Paul shows that God has not rejected Israel and turned His back on promises He has made. In this chapter, we see St. Paul speak from a place of great love for his Jewish brethren. He wants them to see that they have rejected God and everything He offered them. That is, it is they who have left God and not God who left them. He confirms that they are God’s chosen people, not due to any personal distinction or entitlement they possess; rather, it is due to God’s love. In this sense, God also has proclaimed His love to the Gentiles and He has chosen them as well.

This can be one of the tougher chapters - people often stumble over the language of God choosing people and preferring some people over other people. But it is really all about the free choice that people have and whether we choose God.

St. Paul began his epistle to the Romans by talking about the sinful state of both Gentiles and Jews; and that Christ came to save both. Then St. Paul discussed the relationship between sin and death and how, through Adam, death came into the world. Because of what Adam chose to do, all human beings became mortal, and being mortal, all human beings fell into sin. St. Paul then presented Christ as the solution to this problem in overcoming death and overcoming sin for our salvation.
In this chapter St. Paul contrasts “flesh” and “the spirit.” He is talking about two principles that are at work inside of us, assuming we have been baptized/chrismated. Thus, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, who’s working with us to transform us, free us from sin, bring about repentance, and bring us closer to Christ. And then we also have this sinful flesh that is trying to draw us back to the world. We live our lives according to one or the other of these principles. We have to choose which we’re going to follow.

St. Paul continues his argument from the previous chapter, where he asserted that the reason believers can now overcome sin is that they are no longer under Law, but under grace. In this chapter, he further reflects on the nature of the Law. The Law helps us see that we are sinning but does not save us. Thus, while the Law exposes sin and does not deal with it or treat it, it still leads us to the Lord Jesus Christ in order to enjoy His righteousness.

Chapter 5 focused on Adam, he was the key to the problem, through his transgression, all humanity became mortal and disposed to sin; while Christ was the solution.

In this chapter, St. Paul begins discussing how we move from Adam’s side to Christ’s. He discusses baptism where we move to being children of God. When we follow Our Lord Jesus, we offer our bodies as instruments of God’s righteousness after they had been corrupt instruments of sin.