The Regular Guys Bible Study

Romans 15

Ken Strickland Season 7 Episode 16

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Diving into Romans 15, we explore the relationship between strong and weak believers and how Christ exemplifies bearing others' burdens rather than pleasing ourselves.

• Scripture teaches that strong believers should support those who are weaker in faith
• The Old Testament remains essential for Christian growth and understanding
• Everything written in Scripture was designed to teach us and give us hope
• Christ's example shows us how to put others before ourselves
• Unity among believers is crucial despite personal differences or annoyances
• Each Christian has a unique "priestly duty" assigned by God
• Paul's missionary strategy focused on reaching places where Christ wasn't known
• We should listen during quiet time to discover our specific calling
• Paul faced real dangers in his ministry but remained committed
• Praying for safety and protection in ministry work is appropriate and biblical

We encourage you to reflect this week on what specific "priestly duty" God might be calling you to fulfill in His kingdom, and to practice intentional listening during your quiet times.


Speaker 1:

you are listening to the regular guys bible study podcast, the bible study for regular guys by regular guys. We are your host, ken and steve, and we are just regular guys studying the bible together not theologians all right, steve so we're recording a little earlier in the day than normal.

Speaker 2:

I don't think anyone's aware of that no, but.

Speaker 1:

But what that does to me is it is so hot in this room. Me is it is so hot in this room. Oh, it is 80 degrees in this room, because that's the, that's where I have the ac set. Um, until you know, until I, uh, turn it down so I'm out in my shop.

Speaker 2:

Let me see what I keep it set to. I accidentally kept it set to like 76 or 75 for all of last week and oh wow, it was really chilly in here just a second let me look.

Speaker 1:

Oh, how is this important? Oh, my goodness, all right. Well, guys, while he's doing that, um, we're on romans, chapter 15. If you haven't read it, make sure you pause and read it, and then you can come back here and you can find out what steve's temperature is in his, in his garage well, I had another reason to get up.

Speaker 2:

I remembered that the air compressor was still turned on, and we wouldn't want that turning on all, all of a sudden, although I bet the noise canceling would have caught it maybe all right is what's the temperature in there?

Speaker 1:

steve says 78.

Speaker 2:

All right, a little cooler than here, but not much I probably should turn it up to 80, though, when I'm not here, yeah, that's what I do with my upstairs.

Speaker 1:

I turn it up to 80 when I'm not here, but it really takes a while to come down. All right, so I already did the little intro for Romans 15,. Steve, we're getting close to the end. We've got two. We are. We've got two right. This one and one more. Is that it? Yep?

Speaker 2:

all right, that's it all right. I actually had a suggestion for what we do next. You did oh what is that? First and second Thessalonians at the same time.

Speaker 1:

That's crazy. First, and second oh okay, wow okay, I was thinking first and, like we just like, I would read um second thessalonians at the same time, while you're reading first thessalonians we could try that it's like stereo. We'd put my audio in the right and yours in the left and have stereo Thessalonians. That would be pretty cool. I don't think it would be, worthwhile though. All right, you ready to get started?

Speaker 2:

Sure.

Speaker 1:

You had some trepidation there, Steve. Why the trepidation?

Speaker 2:

Well, I was trying to decide if I want to make my comment about verse 1 before or after we read it, but I'm going to wait until after, hmm.

Speaker 1:

Now I'm curious. All right, yes, all right, just so you know. Just in case, steve, it's not talking about the animal In verse 1, it's not talking about the animal In verse 1, it's not talking about the animal.

Speaker 2:

Oh, okay, that's not what my comment's about. Okay, good.

Speaker 1:

Because that was just going to be stupid.

Speaker 2:

Would you like me to read this first section?

Speaker 1:

I would like for you to read the first section of Romans 15 and go.

Speaker 2:

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves and go For. Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us so that, through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement, give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that, with one mind and one voice, you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord, jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God, for I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles. I will sing the praises of your name.

Speaker 2:

Again, it says Rejoice you, gentiles, with his people. And again, praise the Lord. All you, gentiles, let all the people extol him. And again Isaiah says the root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations. In him the Gentiles will hope. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. So what I wanted to point out yes.

Speaker 2:

That very first sentence. We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak. That's exactly. Well, not exactly. That's the same sentiment you said at the end of 14, without reading 15.

Speaker 1:

I know. Do you know why? Because you read 15. No, I didn't, but that's what he was saying. I mean, I thought it was evident. That's what he was saying. It's up to us who are strong to bear with the ones who are weak. You can't put the thing that is difficult on the ones who are weak, right. That doesn't make sense.

Speaker 2:

That doesn't make sense. I just wanted to give you kudos for being right about something.

Speaker 1:

That is incredible, steve. I don't even know how to you know what. Okay, let me take a deep breath, steve. Thank you. Yeah, you're welcome. All right, wow, and yeah, I thought you were talking about the bear. Those who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak. It's not. It has nothing to do with the animal. That's because the reason I know that is because bears hibernate.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, that makes sense. I'd swear. Earlier in Romans we were discussing about where was Paul when he wrote this, and I think you said wasn't he in the Roman prison?

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

And that's wrong.

Speaker 1:

You know, I was.

Speaker 2:

So I gave you a compliment sandwich here. You got chapter 14 right, but where he was, you were wrong.

Speaker 1:

Okay, okay. I don't know if I said that and I'm not going to go back and listen to see if I said that, but when I was reading this I was going hold on, where did I think Paul was when he was writing this? Because it kind of seems like I remember saying Paul was in. I think Paul was in prison in Rome.

Speaker 2:

I recall you saying that too.

Speaker 1:

But you know.

Speaker 2:

And I was probably dumb enough to agree with you. You're right, kid, you're smart. You said stuff. It must be true.

Speaker 1:

So you know, yeah, I think I'm wrong, I think it's very evident, I'm wrong.

Speaker 2:

Well, it's interesting. You should say that, Because I asked AI where was Paul when writing this?

Speaker 1:

What did AI say?

Speaker 2:

Which.

Speaker 1:

AI did you use?

Speaker 2:

Chat GPT.

Speaker 1:

Okay, he stinks, but go ahead.

Speaker 2:

You know, I hear that it's not as good as the others objectively, and yet it's still a pretty good answer.

Speaker 1:

No, I know I've gotten very similar answers. I say he stinks, but it's about the same.

Speaker 2:

Anyway, paul wrote the letter to the Romans while he was in Corinth, most likely during his three-month stay in Greece, which is mentioned in Acts 20, 2-3. The visit likely took place around AD 56-57 during his third missionary journey. Several clues support this. In Romans 16.1, paul commends Phoebe, the deacon of the church in Centuria, a port city near Corinth, suggesting he was in that area. Gaius, mentioned in Romans 16.23 as Paul's host, is also connected to Corinth in 1 Corinthians 1.14. Erastus, the city treasurer mentioned in Romans 16.23, is likely the same Erastus found in Corinth. An inscription with his name has been discovered there. So Paul was most likely in Corinth, writing to the church in Rome to prepare for a future visit and to explain his gospel message in depth.

Speaker 1:

Wow, that was really interesting. And all these people clues.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, interesting I wonder if it's true it might be true I didn't actually go to those verses to see if it was telling me the truth ah yeah, that kind of information.

Speaker 1:

Ai is pretty good at that. I mean it doesn't typically make up stuff. It's really bad at things like chess.

Speaker 2:

Which is kind of funny, since the first AIs were all about playing chess.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, those weren't real AIs, though it was true. It was just memorizing moves. Anyway, that is very interesting. So he was likely I'm going to say likely, or let's say there's a good chance he was in Corinth on his last visit to Corinth, on his third missionary journey, and then he was planning to come back through Rome. We haven't actually read that part, though, have we About he's?

Speaker 2:

going to come About him coming to try and visit him. That's later on in this.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, okay.

Speaker 2:

I probably had my notes out of order.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's all right. That's all right. I want some order.

Speaker 2:

Would you like some fries with that order?

Speaker 1:

No thanks. All right, so I have a couple of notes here. Romans 15.4. I wrote this. Okay, let me read 15.4. For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us so that, through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and in the encouragement they provide, we might have hope. I think it's really common for Christians to just avoid the Old Testament completely, and I think that's a huge mistake.

Speaker 2:

I know.

Speaker 1:

I don't read it as often, that is true, and I probably don't read it as often as I should, and we've only done one Old Testament book, in fact when you said you were thinking about doing first and we should do first and second Thessalonians. I thought you might be saying we should do Genesis or something.

Speaker 1:

That would take years. It would take a long time. But I thought you were going to say an Old Testament book. But I'm fine with first and second Thessalonians, let's do that. But the point is, as a believer, we need to understand what happened in the Old Testament. It really it firms up my foundation in Christ to understand the Old Testament and to read the Old Testament, and that's what Paul is saying here as well.

Speaker 2:

Well, you went and answered my question before I asked it.

Speaker 1:

I'm sorry Because.

Speaker 2:

I had a question on verse 4 that says in what ways do the Scriptures encourage us and give us hope, and I think you just answered it.

Speaker 1:

Well, yeah, sort of yeah, I think I answered it.

Speaker 2:

But I also had a note on verse 3.

Speaker 1:

Oh, I forgot that. Yeah, sorry about that.

Speaker 2:

That's okay. So in verse 3, it says For even Christ did not please himself. But as it is written, the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. So he's saying that Jesus took the. I think he's saying Jesus took the sin of others upon himself, and this quote is actually from Psalm 69.9.

Speaker 1:

Yes.

Speaker 2:

But where else? I found several other places because I was curious, did Jesus ever say this himself? And what I found was Peter pointed it out in 1 Peter 2.24. John the Baptist did it in John 1.29. References to Isaiah 53, 5-6, which is but he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our inequities. The punishment that brought us peace was on him and by his wounds we are healed. Very popular scripture that people claim points to the Messiah. Very popular scripture that people claim points to the Messiah. And Mark 10.45, I think, is the closest to Jesus actually saying it. For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I think that's pretty close to saying the same thing. I mean he added and give his life for many.

Speaker 2:

But but I was just kind of curious when I read that is this a Paul only thing, or was this something Jesus actually said? Well, it's Paul, it's Petereter, john the baptist, isaiah mark david, if that, if david wrote the psalm.

Speaker 1:

But um, yep, so it's not an isolated statement what you're saying wow, I thought that was kind of cool that is cool and that's some pretty. What are you doing like did, were you bored and researched more?

Speaker 2:

I was bored.

Speaker 1:

Yes, golly, I don't even know what to do now. It's like I feel inadequate in your presence, steve good thing you're not in my presence.

Speaker 2:

Well, we, we're, only we're in we're in virtual presence.

Speaker 1:

virtual presence, All right.

Speaker 2:

Um, those are the best kind of presence cause you get to keep opening them over and over.

Speaker 1:

Uh-huh, all right. Um, let's see, I had another comment for Romans.

Speaker 1:

Uh, for six to seven okay all right, you want me to go there? Shoot? All right. So six and seven, let me. Let me read that again um, so that with one mind no, it's really. Uh, yes, okay, so that with one mind and one voice, you may glorify the god and father of our lord, jesus christ. Accept one another then, just as christ accepted you.

Speaker 1:

And this just reminds me of how the Scripture really desires for us to be have unity in christ, um, and not um, have these separate factions. I'm not saying we shouldn't have different churches, but, um, we need to be unified in our response to the world, and not just with the believers we like, but with all followers of Jesus. So I mean, even you know, even in my own church, there are people that annoy me, right, and yeah, I know what that's like. Well, I mean, yeah, but we go to different campuses, steve, oh right, my personal little petty annoyance get in the way of being unified in Christ with believers who might have a personality that gets. That annoys me. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 2:

I sure do.

Speaker 1:

So that's, you know, I was.

Speaker 2:

I was really tempted to show that we were of one mind and one voice by trying to read at the same time you were, but I missed the opportunity.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you missed it. That's too bad, Steve.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, All right. So in verse 8, it says yeah, All right. So in verse 8, it says For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. Let's see what was my note. So Jesus fulfilled the prophecies given to the Jews and the Gentiles glorify God because of his mercy. So the Gentiles had nothing and the only reason we have?

Speaker 1:

well, I guess the only reason we have God's mercy is because the Jews denied him. That is what the scriptures teach.

Speaker 2:

yes, Including the parable of the feast, especially that one. So we get to glorify him because he had mercy on us.

Speaker 1:

Yes, he had mercy on us, yes, and we should be grateful to the Jews for rejecting him, because that is how we have been adopted into sonship, son and daughtership to Christ. I do have a comment about 8, about, you know, we're reading the NIV version. The NIV version is not a word-for-word translation. It is a phrase-by-phrase translation. One thing that they will do, or that can happen there, is that they change words so that it will have the meaning that they think is intended, but it's not always as what am I trying to say? It can change the perspective of what's being said and the reason I bring that up is because the word Jews when Paul is talking here.

Speaker 2:

You'd really have to kind of drop your pants to know.

Speaker 1:

Yes, he's actually not saying Jews, he's saying the circumcision, the circumcised, the circumcised. Let me see.

Speaker 2:

Circumcised or circumcision.

Speaker 1:

Circumcision, which means the group of people who are circumcised. And you know, it just bothers me that they would change that a little bit, because that was a key point to the whole jew and gentile thing, the circumcision thing, and and the jews really thought, okay, if they're gonna follow jesus initially, they some, some of the jewish believers, are saying, okay, they can follow Jesus, but they need to be circumcised and man. I'm glad that happened to me when I was a tiny little kid, and I can't remember it.

Speaker 1:

But so I think that's significant and it makes me a little sad that they would change that to just say the Jews.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I can see where you're coming from. I mean because it is sort of one of those hot topics between Jews and Gentiles.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, especially. I mean it might not be a hot topic anymore, but it was then right.

Speaker 2:

Mm-hmm.

Speaker 1:

All right, what other comments do you have here, steve Verse?

Speaker 2:

12. I feel like if there was any Old Testament verse that would convince the Jews, it would have to be verse 12, because I mean, look at it, the root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations. In him the Gentiles will hope they're seeing all these Gentiles turn to Jesus, who's a Jew, who is from the root of Jesse. It just seems like that should be a slam dunk. Yeah, Maybe not the most, the best from the Old Testament but it's way up there.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, there are a lot of things in Isaiah that just point, that just scream Jesus, and it's not Like the one we read earlier.

Speaker 2:

Isaiah 53, 5. Yes, but Pierced for our transgressions and the thing is, the Jews knew these scriptures.

Speaker 1:

They, many of them, had to memorize these scriptures. I can't imagine they knew it and they chose to ignore it. Or you could argue, god hardened their hearts for our sake.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, Thanks God.

Speaker 1:

Yep. Thank you, God. Do you have any more for this section?

Speaker 2:

I'm done with my notes on the first section. I am done with my notes as well. All right, let me go.

Speaker 1:

I will read Romans 15, verse 14 through 22. All right of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done, by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So, from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyrium, illyrium, I, I, have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 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, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. Rather, as it is written, those who are not told about him will see and those who have not heard will understand.

Speaker 2:

This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you, so I really only had one comment in this section, and that's 17 through 21. It sure feels like Paul is patting himself on the back.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, maybe it's kind of like a. I mean, he gives God the credit, yeah, but it is his duty, and he has said before that God has given him this pain in the side, or you know this, uh, this, this thing to keep him from being conceited. Um, so he is a man. Uh, I imagine he gets proud of himself, just like, uh, people do. He was not a perfect man, so, um, yeah, maybe he is patting himself on the back a little bit here, um, and as we're reading his words, 2 000 years after he wrote them, yeah, maybe he deserves a little pat on the back I think he does.

Speaker 1:

It's just humble much yeah, I, I know what you're saying. Um, all right, I do have a comment on verse 16. Verse 16 said um, uh, let's see, let me read 15 and 16. Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points. To remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister to Christ Jesus, to the Gentiles, he gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. And I read that, and Paul is talking about this priestly duty that God gave him. Do we have a priestly duty of some type that we are to do? That's a question to you, steve.

Speaker 2:

Well, there's the great commandment to make disciples of all nations. All right, so.

Speaker 1:

I would say yes. I would say yes too, but I think it's bigger than that, or bigger, not bigger than that.

Speaker 2:

I think it's a pretty big one.

Speaker 1:

No, that's. I think it's more specific than that and that God.

Speaker 2:

More specific.

Speaker 1:

Don't do that, don't do that, that don't do that. Um, I think you know, paul, just like all of us, has that, that same a great commission right that we all have, but he's been given given.

Speaker 1:

He's been given a priestly duty of the, the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. So he has a specific priestly duty he's been called to do and you know, I think, that if we as believers, if you, steve, if you me, if you, listener, listen to God, I think part of a quiet time needs to be listening.

Speaker 1:

It's hard to do, I'm not very good at it, I'm not good at it, but every now and then, god finds his way to speak to me. Through it, through my own thoughts, I think God will tell you things that he wants you to do. I, you know, I have done several things in my life. Based on that, I think this podcast was one of my priestly duties. Um, I don't know how long it's going to last. Um, steve, I think God called you as to have a priestly duty to be my Jonathan in this battle for this podcast. Do you remember that, when we were at a men's breakfast, I think, or?

Speaker 1:

something at your campus.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I vaguely recall that.

Speaker 1:

And I had been talking about this podcast and I had asked you if you would do it with me. Yeah, I do remember that and that message just just spoke to you, or God spoke to you through that message and said I was supposed to be your Jonathan in this. Sorry if that was too personal, but you know I'm sorry, not sorry, it's not personal.

Speaker 1:

Okay, but anyway, um, it's not personal, okay, but um, anyway, I think if we allow god to speak to us and if we allow ourselves to listen, then we all might have a priestly duty, that of some type, that god wants us to do. It might be a a lifelong thing, like Paul's, and it might be a short-term thing, like this podcast, which is not going to be forever.

Speaker 2:

I'm going to challenge both of us, particularly myself, to try to listen more during my quiet time this week and see if I hear anything.

Speaker 1:

All right, that's good. I can't wait, um. I try to, every morning, start off with a quiet moment, um, and it doesn't always work out.

Speaker 2:

This morning. It was a little challenging, cause the wind was blowing the right direction and I could hear the zoo animals and the lions were roaring quite a bit this morning. That's cool.

Speaker 1:

That's pretty cool. Normally, when I'm trying to be quiet and to listen to God, most of what I hear is myself yelling at myself to just shut up and listen. That's good, all right, that's all I have for that section. We have one more section, steve. You want to read that All?

Speaker 2:

right, I'll zip through it, but now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord's people there, for Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord's people in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it and indeed they owe it to them, for if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way.

Speaker 2:

I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ. I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord, jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord's people there, so that I may come to you with joy, by God's will and, in your company, be refreshed.

Speaker 1:

The God of peace be with you all. Amen. That was awful. I was trying to do it on that last sentence, but it just didn't work out. Sorry, I was just a distraction instead. All right, so this is where he talks about going to visit Rome, right? So you know? There are no letters that Paul writes to the churches in Spain churches in spain.

Speaker 2:

Um, so I was curious is there any evidence that paul ever made it there? I was too. Did you look it up?

Speaker 1:

yes, do you ask ai. Of course I asked ai and uh, no, that's all I did.

Speaker 2:

I asked ai yeah, that's all I did too but. I didn't actually write down what it said, I just there are early christian writings that indicate he probably did oh, my goodness, we got different answers really, yeah, what'd you get all right?

Speaker 1:

so there are. There are some okay, okay, okay, by early Christian writings how early, I don't know?

Speaker 2:

Okay, I can probably find it.

Speaker 1:

There are some writings in Spain that act like Paul did get there, but they're not very early and it could be like people want you know, hoping that he had come, acting as if he had come. There's no real evidence that he ever made it to Spain, but some people say that he went to Jerusalem and to Rome and then went to Spain and then came back to Rome and that's when he was arrested and martyred. Others say that he never got out of Rome and he was martyred at that point. But the truth is it's very unknown. There is no. There's no historical, there's no. What is it called unknown? There is no historical, there's no direct evidence.

Speaker 1:

There's no canonical evidence. Is what AI? Said so it's like you know.

Speaker 2:

It's not in the Bible anywhere.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it's not in the Bible anywhere that he went, that he actually made it to Spain anywhere. Yeah, it's not in the Bible anywhere that he went, that he actually made it to Spain and there's no hard historical evidence that he actually ever made it to Spain but he might have.

Speaker 2:

So, as me just reading this, with my own horrible memory, I would read this as though he went to Jerusalem, he got arrested and he ended up in Rome. But he was in prison in Rome, not there visiting. I would have guessed he never made it to Spain.

Speaker 1:

That's my guess, I think you know. I would not be surprised if, through churches that were in Spain, some details of fact and fiction were lost somewhere and so that some churches say he visited here in in you know, 60, uh, ad, but um, but you know, no one really knows.

Speaker 2:

So, yeah, I thought it was also kind of funny that he really wants to come and and be with them and and be with them. But in the previous section it says I don't really want to build on somebody else's foundation. So I'm just going to stop by yeah, that's true.

Speaker 1:

Well, he's saying that's not what he was called to do. Yeah, he's, he's called to be that first, the first light in a dark area.

Speaker 2:

And thankfully he was, otherwise we wouldn't have these letters.

Speaker 1:

Yes, and you have to have those people in any new area. That's why we have these missionaries, who are called to go into areas that have never heard the gospel at all.

Speaker 2:

And they start house churches and those people are called to have the house church and continue it when those people leave.

Speaker 1:

Yes, and sometimes those people are killed for their faith All right.

Speaker 1:

So, uh, romans 31 you know, I've always struggled asking someone to pray for my safety somewhere, um, because I always think, well, who cares? Does that really? Is that really what I should be praying for my safety? That I get somewhere, um. I think so, well, I don't know, I just I don't know. I always feel selfish asking for that. But paul here says pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in judea and that the contribution I take to jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord's people there.

Speaker 2:

And I was just thinking I think that is the only place I've seen where Paul asks prayers for safety.

Speaker 1:

And it feels like foreshadowing, doesn't it? Yeah, it does a little bit. He is kept safe to get there.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So, I mean, I think it just shows that he's clearly aware of the risks of going to Jerusalem.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yep, I agree. Do you have anything else for this section? That's all I've got.

Speaker 2:

I don't, that's all I've got too All right, I don't that's all I've got too All right, I think we're done.

Speaker 1:

Yep, we are done. We have one more chapter in Romans Romans, chapter 16. That will be next week.

Speaker 2:

I hate to say it, but it doesn't look very interesting.

Speaker 1:

You know what. Most of the last chapters in the New Testament, these letters, since they're letters, they are the signing off.

Speaker 2:

Yep.

Speaker 1:

So the last chapter. I think it probably will not be that interesting. Oh, this is where you know. You mentioned Corinth, the very first line. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, A deacon Yep, so that's interesting. And some Baptist churches won't have women as deacons, so I know the Baptist church I grew up with would not have any female deacons. So I know the Baptist church I grew up with would not have any female deacons.

Speaker 2:

That is interesting.

Speaker 1:

But here's a female deacon right here. So Alright. Stop your bigoted ways, people.

Speaker 2:

Yes, bigoted.

Speaker 1:

No, chauvinistic Is that I?

Speaker 2:

don't that, oh, what does?

Speaker 1:

bigoted mean. Uh, now I'm confused, I'm confusing myself, steve I think it's time for that that the ending. You want me to play the outro? The outro, okay, it should start, and and there it goes. All right, guys, next week, romans 16. Please read it, woo, and we'll see you then. The Regular Guys Bible Study is a Chasm LLC production. All rights reserved.

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