Douglas Jacoby Podcast

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

We have studied Romans from A to Z. Listen to the final podcast (19 minutes) here. In Romans Z, Paul sends greetings, makes a few final comments, and rounds off his magnificent epistle.

Passages mentioned: Mark 15:21; 2 Corinthians 11:12-15; Philippians 3:18-19; Ephesians 5:6-12; Genesis 3:15. Greek word: diákonos (servant). Theological word: doxology (word of praise). The material on the Bible & Culture is found in three podcasts, starting here.

Suggested for memory: "Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you" (16:16).

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Click on the link to hear the penultimate podcast in our series Romans A-Z.  This lesson (16 minutes) reveals Paul's philosophy of ministry, and something of his grand vision for how the Old Testament scriptures are being fulfilled in his outreach to the Gentiles.

Verses referred to: 2 Corinthians 12:12; Acts 28; Isaiah 66:18-20; Acts 13:47 (see 2:39); 1 Corinthians 16; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Acts 2:10.

The excerpt from 1 Clement (c.96 AD) that may be referring to a Pauline visit to Rome is found in chapter 5: “Owing to envy, Paul also obtained the reward of patient endurance, after being seven times thrown into captivity, compelled to flee, and stoned. After preaching both in the east and west, he gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith, having taught righteousness to the whole world, and come to the extreme limit of the west, and suffered martyrdom under the prefects. Thus was he removed from the world, and went into the holy place, having proved himself a striking example of patience.” And here is an article on the Pillars of Hercules.

Memory passage suggestion: "It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation" (15:20).

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Romans X is the 24th podcast (19 minutes) in our series Romans A-Z. Ever in mind is unity between Jewish-background and Gentile-background Christians, although the principles of the chapter have broad applicability for many issues in our own day.

Referred to: 1 Corinthians 8:1-11:1; Mark 7:19; Colossians 2:16; 1 Corinthians 8:13; Ephesians 4:15; Psalm 69:9. The Greek word for "disputable matters, doubtful issues, etc" is dialogismos. See also the related study on Judging.

Suggested for memory: "So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves" (14:22).

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Romans W (21 minutes) explores chapter 13.

Passages referred to or alluded to: Daniel 3; 6; Matthew 7:12; Leviticus 19:18; Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5; 1 Peter 4:1-15; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 5:5.

Recommended: a number of political podcasts -- on how we as believers are to relate to the state.

Texts on capital punishment:

• “When they know that we cannot endure even to see a man put to death, though justly, who of them can accuse us of murder?… We consider that to see a man put to death is much the same as killing him” (Athenagoras, c.175 AD).
• “Christians do not attack their assailants in return, for it is not lawful for the innocent to kill even the guilty” (Cyprian, c.250 AD).
• Texts about complaints over the Jews, who were viewed as shirking their civic duties: Cicero Flacc. 28.67 and Tacitus Hist. 5.5.5.1.

Suggested memory passage: "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts" (13:14).

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Romans V takes us through the balance of chapter 12. The podcast (15 minutes) contains some surprises -- for most Bible believers, at any rate.

Verses touched on: 1 Thessalonians 5; 1 Corinthians 12; Galatians 6; Matthew 25; 1 Peter 4; Matthew 5; Proverbs 25:21-22. Nietzsche quote: “It is inhuman to bless when one is being cursed” (Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil 4.181). And here you will find Mark Twain's War Prayer.

Suggested for memory: "Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer" (12:12).

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Romans U (16 minutes) is the 21st lesson in our series Romans A-Z. As is his custom, Paul lays highly practical teaching (chapters 12-16) on a solid theological foundation (chapters 1-9). Verses referred to: 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Timothy 1:7. The cool Greek word was metamorphóomai (pronounced metamorphoûmai), meaning "be changed in form; be transformed.

Suggested memory passage: "Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God" (12:2).

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

This is the last podcast based on Romans 9-11. This special passage taken up in Romans T (11 minutes) concludes the section, setting things in perspective. Scriptures referred to: Psalm 131; 1 Corinthians 2; 2 Peter 3:16.

Suggested for memory: "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” (11:33-34)

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

This is Romans S, the 19th study in the series Romans A-Z. In this podcast (25 minutes) we will almost finish our study of Romans 11. (Romans T will cover Paul's conclusion to the section Romans 9-11.)

Passages referred to in passing include: 1 Kings 19; 2 Thessalonians 2; Hebrews 6:4; James 5:19; 1 Corinthians 19. "Fullness" passages include John 1:16; Romans 13:10, 15:29; 1 Corinthians 10:26; Galatians 4:4; and a few more in Ephesians and Colossians. Pleroma, the Greek word for fullness, is occasionally rendered "full number," but that doesn't work well here in Romans 11.

For a further podcast (41 minutes) on Romans 11, centered on 11:26, click on A Mass Conversion of Israel?

Suggested for memory: "See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God’s kindness to you, provided you remain in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off" (11:22).

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Romans R (19 minutes) covers the tenth chapter of the epistle. Verses referenced include Job 40:3-5; Deuteronomy 30:11-14; Acts 22:16; 10:28,34-35, 43-48; Galatians 1:14; Psalms 19:5; Deuteronomy 32:21; and Proverbs 19:2. The "mini-study" is based on 1 Corinthians 4:4; Romans 10:1-2; and Romans 9:3.

Suggested for memorization: "Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ" (10:17).

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Romans Q (19 minutes) covers all of chapter 9. Verses referred to (mainly outside Romans) include Exodus 32:32; Psalm 49:6-8; Genesis 25; Genesis 27; Exodus 7; Colossians 1:21; Isaiah 29; Isaiah 45; Jeremiah 18; Hosea 1:9-11; Jeremiah 7; Psalm 118:22; and Isaiah 28:16.

Suggested memory passage: "But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel" (9:6).