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Romans

  1. Lesson One
    Romans as a Theological Treatise (Romans 1–6)
    22 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Romans as an Occasional Letter (Romans 9–11)
    19 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  3. Lesson Three
    The Real Difference (Romans 7–8)
    19 Activities
  4. Lesson Four
    Living out the Gospel in “Rome” (Romans 12–14)
    21 Activities
    |
    5 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    Author and Audience (Romans 15–16)
    22 Activities
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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In the first chapter of Romans, Paul links idolatry with the sins that follow. He was far from the first to make this kind of connection in his tradition. Read the passages below from the Wisdom of Solomon (NRSV), an apocryphal book:

For all people who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature; and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know the one who exists, nor did they recognize the artisan while paying heed to his works; . . . But miserable, with their hopes set on dead things, are those who give the name “gods” to the works of human hands, gold and silver fashioned with skill, and likenesses of animals, or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand. 

Wisdom 13:1, 10

 

Then it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of God, but though living in great strife due to ignorance, they call such great evils peace. For whether they kill children in their initiations, or celebrate secret mysteries, or hold frenzied revels with strange customs, they no longer keep either their lives or their marriages pure, but they either treacherously kill one another, or grieve one another by adultery, and all is a raging riot of blood and murder, theft and deceit, corruption, faithlessness, tumult, perjury, confusion over what is good, forgetfulness of favors, defiling of souls, sexual perversion, disorder in marriages, adultery, and debauchery. For the worship of idols not to be named is the beginning and cause and end of every evil. 

Wisdom 14:22-27