Bible Study on Romans Session 24

Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans;

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

Study Guide – February 18, 2020 – Romans 13.1-10 – Homily 23

Prayer before reading of the Holy Scriptures: Shine within our hearts, loving Master, the pure light of Your divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our minds that we may comprehend the message of Your Gospel. Instill in us also reverence for Your blessed commandments so that, having conquered sinful desires, we may pursue a spiritual life, thinking and doing all those things which are pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are the light of our souls and bodies, and to You we give glory, together with Your Father who is without beginning and Your all holy, good and life giving Spirit, always now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Chapter 13, Verses 1-7

  • Paul spoke often about obedience. SJC “And he does this to show that Christ did not bring in these laws of his to overthrow states but to improve and reform them, as well as to teach men not to make foolish and senseless wars.” (Pg 1, #1)
  • Earlier Paul urges us to the Christian way of life, now he intensifies this life by insisting on being subject to others. SJC “After he had demanded a constant pursuit of that Christian way of life and prepared us to be well-disposed to both friends and enemies, after he made us useful to both those living in prosperity or in need and simply to all men, after he implanted a way of life suited to the angels, after he had gotten rid of anger and crushed recklessness, after he had in every way turned their anger into mildness, he then turns his exhortation to embracing subjection to authority.” (Pg 1, #2)
  • EVERY Christian is called to be subject to authority. SJC “This holds true whether you be an apostle, an evangelist, a prophet, or anyone whatsoever, insofar as this subjection does not subvert religion and reverence for God.” (Pg 1, #4)
  • We are called to be subject, not merely to obey. SJC “I am not now speaking about individual rulers, but about power and authority. For that there should be dominion, that some rule and others be subjects, that all things be not swept away by chance and without restraint, with the people tossed this way and that by the waves, all that, I say, is the work of God’s wisdom.” (Pg 1, #5)
  • We should feel obligated to by subjects with gratitude. SJC “For in this way he was more likely to draw infidel rulers to religion as well as drawing the faithful to obey. For in those days many a story was making the rounds which falsely accused the apostles of sedition and innovation in government because they were doing and preaching everything to overthrow the accepted laws.” (Pg 2, #12)
  • Don’t feel ashamed by being subject to authority. SJC “God has laid down this law and he takes strong vengeance on those who hold in scorn the things it commands. For if you do not obey, he will exact no light punishment but, rather, the greatest. Nothing will exempt you if you speak against it. You will undergo the severest punishment at the hands of men, and no one will protect you.” (Pg 3, #14)
  • Rulers make virtue easier. SJC “The ruler makes a virtuous life easier for you in other ways, too. He does this by punishing the wicked, by benefiting and honoring the good, and by working in concert with the will of God. God, on this account, has called the ruler his minister or deacon. Consider this. I counsel you in the matter of moderation. The ruler has the same to say through the agency of the laws. I exhort you not to claim more than your share nor to take more than is yours. Your ruler sits in judgment in such cases. So he is working with us and helping us.” (Pg 3, #17)
  • Since the fear of rulers brings out good works, rulers are doing God’s work. SJC “Therefore, a ruler, who by fear and rewards turns the souls of many men, so that they become more ready for the word of teaching, is quite reasonably called the minister of God.” (Pg 4, #20)
  • We owe respect and taxes to rulers since they provide for our needs. SJC “Also your ruler is your benefactor in matters of the greatest importance, because he guards for you your peace and your public institutions.” (pg 4, #21)
  • If we were to be subject to pagan leaders then, all the more now, and still today. SJC “And do not think that you are demeaning yourself or doing any harm to the dignity of your Christian way of life if you stand up in the presence of your ruler or if you uncover your head. If these rules were laid down back when the rulers were pagans, we must do this all the more now when the rulers share the faith.” (Pg 5, #30)

Chapter 13, Verses 8-10

  • Owe only love – see love as a debt to others. SJC “For the demeaning of self does not come from honoring a ruler, but from dishonoring him. For your ruler will treat you with greater respect and will glorify your Master for this, even if he be an unbeliever….For love is a debt on which we never finish discharging, but on which we constantly owe a balance.” (Pg 6, #32-33)
  • Intense love is the sum of the Law. SJC “However, Paul is not looking for mere love but for intense love. For he did not just say: “Love your neighbor,” but, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This is why Christ said that the whole Law and the prophets depend on this. For after Christ set down two forms of love, see how he exalted love of one’s neighbor. For after he said: “This is the first commandment: you shall love the Lord your God,” he gave the second. Nor was he silent about this second, but he added: “The second is like to this. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Pg 6, #37)

Life Application – Love as God Loves!

  • God’s love is free from passion “In the case of men, if you love someone’s beloved, the lover quarrels with you. In the case of God, he deems you worthy to share his love and he hates the one who refuses to share it. For human love is filled with envy and malice. God’s love is free from all passion. So it is that God seeks for those to share his love.” (Pg. 7, #42)
  • God has ALWAYS been expressing His love  “In the case of men, if you love someone’s beloved, the lover quarrels with you. In the case of God, he deems you worthy to share his love and he hates the one who refuses to share it. For human love is filled with envy and malice. God’s love is free from all passion. So it is that God seeks for those to share his love.” (Pg. 7, #43-54 includes many examples)
  • God loves even when not loved in return  “Such is the way with those who love. Even though they are not loved in return, after they have heaped favors on their beloved, they are forced to become vehement and to threaten. This is not because they wish to act as they do, but because they are led to do so by their love. Why? So that, even in this way, they may draw back those who scorned their love. Although this kind of love is forced upon them, by it, they still find consolation because their love is so strong.” (Pg. 9, #55)
  • Punishment comes from love “Let us love him as he wishes to be loved. For he considers this most important. Even if we turn away from him, he keeps summoning us to his side. If we are unwilling to be converted, he punishes us because he loves us and not because he is demanding vengeance“ (Pg. 9-10 #58)

Send Off – Believe and delight in God’s love! “Therefore, let us believe and take delight in his love. For in this way, even from here on earth, we shall see the Kingdom, we shall live the life the angels live and, even if we live in this world, we shall have no less than those who dwell in heaven.” (Pg. 10, #61)