Bible Study on Romans Session 1

A Bible Study Based upon the Homilies of St John Chrysostom (SJC)

Study Guide – August 21, 2018 – “The Argument”

How to Study the Holy Scriptures:

1. Purchase a quality Bible. I personally recommend the Orthodox Study Bible (OSB) but many quality translations exist. In choosing a translation, you should pay close attention to WHO is the publisher or sponsor. Since there is ALWAYS something lost in translation, how an edition chooses to handle “difficult” words will affect the theology presented. (REF 2 Thess 2.15)

Original Greek Ἀρα ουν, αδελφοί, στήκετε και κρατείτε τας παραδόσεις

NKJ Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions

NIV So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings

BBE So then, brothers, be strong in purpose, and keep the teaching

NLT With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on everything we taught you

GNB So then, our friends, stand firm and hold on to those truths

AB So then, brethren, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions and instructions

There are several FREE online bibles which easily switch among a variety of translations.

www.BibleGateway.com(includes FREE APP)

www.eBible.com(includes FREE APP)

You can purchase the OSB at St Nicholas Cathedral Bookstore or online for Kindle or on GooglePlay

2. Purchase a bilingual Bible. Anyone serious with studying the Holy Scriptures will want an edition that has the original and their own language. Nestle/Aland has become the “standard” Greek-English edition for “lay-scholarship” and is what I use. I also have a Greek-Greek edition with the original AND modern Greek. I have found it helps to see how the Greek scholars have translated their own original since there is “less lost” in cultural nuances etc. SJC in his homily “On the Obscurity of the Old Testament” also spoke of the difficulty inherent in translations, so this is not a new struggle in understanding the Holy Scriptures.

3. Read on a regular basis. You should find a good time during which you can sit and read long enough to “absorb” something, but not so long that you don’t want to do it. Daily is always better. There are two ways to read: for content and for context. When reading for CONTEXT do not stop to analyze words and phrases. Just read to absorb the story. When reading for CONTENT stop, take notes, write down questions, flip back and forth etc. BOTH are needed for quality study.

4. Notes/Highlights/References. Some write so much you can’t see the actual text, while others would ‘NEVER’ write in their Bible. I keep two Bibles: one for CONTEXT reading and one for CONTENT reading. I make notes, highlights, questions etc in the CONTENT edition. This way, when I am reading just for context, I don’t get ‘confused’ by all my previous notes. As you grow, your comments will grow/change with you. While the meaning of the Holy Scriptures doesn’t change, the application in YOUR life will always change. The new “e-books” editions are a great solution for this. You can highlight/add notes/ without having them clutter your text.

How will we proceed? This study will be based upon the homilies of St John Chrysostom which were preached while Chrysostom was a priest in Antioch, somewhere between 375-385 CE. In preparation for our weekly study, I suggest the following:

1. Read Romans in its entirety every week. It will accomplish two main objectives. 

a. You will begin to see the “whole picture” and better understand the connections Saint Paul makes throughout.

b. You will begin to internalize the Scriptures so you can recall its contents for life applications. If you can’t remember where something resides, you can’t call upon its wisdom.

2. Read the Homilies of SJC on Romans. Each week will focus on a different homily. (32 homilies = 33 sessions including our introduction) We will be using a NEW Translation of the Homilies compiled by Fr Panayiotis Papageorgiou of Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Marietta, GA., and published by Holy Cross Press. There are limited copies available via Amazon. You can also find the sermons in an “old” translation free online at:

a. Christian Classics Ethereal Library www.ccel.org

b. New Advent Fathers www.newadvent.org

c. Christian Book Distributors www.Christianbook.com(FOR PURCHASE)

Author and Date: Written by St Paul when he was in Corinth c. 55-57 CE. SJC felt it relevant to understand why Paul would speak differently on similar subjects. Not only were the audiences different needing different emphasis, but each letter was written at a different time also revealing Paul’s experience. This means we will benefit differently from each book of Scripture. In Romans, Paul will shortly be arrested and finally head to Rome.

Liturgical Use of Romans:

  1. Read in the Lectionary from the 2nd Day of Pentecost lasting for five weeks (summer months)
  2. Often read during Divine Liturgy for the commemoration of a martyr saint
  3. Read on the Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist

Structure  and Themes of Romans:

  1. Introduction – Romans 1.1-17 (Homilies 1 & 2)
  2. Mortality and Sinfulness – Romans 1.18-3.20 (Homilies 3-7)
  3. Salvation without the Law – Romans 3.21-4.25 (Homilies 7-9)
  4. New Life in Christ – Romans 5-7 (Homilies 9-13)
  5. New Life in the Holy Spirit – Romans 8 (Homilies 13-15)
  6. God’s Plan for Reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles – Romans 9-11 (Homilies 16-19)
  7. Christian Life – Romans 12-16 (Homilies 20-32)

Life Application: Why Romans? Why Chrysostom? (see The Argument)

  1. Saint John Chrysostom has GREAT reverence for Saint Paul “The trumpet sound of his spiritual voice gives me a pleasure that exalts and delights my soul. Indeed, my heart grows warm with yearning as I recognize his words, which are so dear to me. I seem to imagine that he is personally present, and I feel as if my eyes are fixed on him as he converses with me.” (Page 1 #1)
  2. Saint Paul teaches for each at the level needed “Both physicians and teachers make a practice of acting this way: the physician does not treat those who are at the beginning of an illness in the same way as he does those who have come to the point of having their health restored for the future, nor does the teacher treat young children in the same way as he does students who need more advanced instruction.” (Page 5 #19)
  3. Romans teaches us that ALL deserve God “Let us imitate, in our turn, this great love that Paul manifested to the world. Even if no one man can keep in order and control the entire world, nor whole cities and nations, let each of us train and correct his wife, children, friends, and neighbors.” (Page 6 #24)

Romans will be a blessing to us and bring us peace “So let us first shake off this attitude and then, with all zeal, then to the members of our household. In this way, we shall enjoy abundant peace here on earth by controlling, in the fear of God, those who are related to us. Then shall we also share in the multitude of the blessings of heaven. (Page 7 #26)