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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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Romans Author and Audience (Romans 15–16) In | Romans 6 and 7: Inside the Bookends
Lesson 5, Activity 8

In | Romans 6 and 7: Inside the Bookends

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Now let’s read the chapters sandwiched between Romans 5–8. Read Romans 6 and 7.

The “bookends” of Romans 5:1-11 and 8:18-39 let us know that Paul’s agenda in this section was to give believers in Rome confidence in Jesus’ intercession and hope in their salvation through His life and death. At the center of this section, in chapters 6 and 7, Paul gives an explanation for this confidence and hope—Christians are alive in Christ. 

Without Christ, we are prisoners under the law and sin, which are two ways of framing a single situation—hopelessness and death.

In Romans 6 and 7, Dr. Moo has mapped the Christian state of life, in opposition to life under the law and in servitude to sin.

As in other parts of his letters, Paul is interested here in framing the hope and benefits of life in Christ. Terms like “sin” and “law” appear as situations to be contrasted with the freedom and confidence of the new Christian community.  

Romans 6Romans 7
Freedom. . . from sin. . . from the law
Death. . . to sin (6:2). . . to the law
Union. . . with Christ’s death (6:3). . . through the body of Christ (7:4)
Freed. . . from sin (6:7, 18). . . from the law (7:6)
Shared. . . in Christ’s resurrection (6:4-5). . . with him who was raised from the dead (7:4)
We now. . . live in newness of life (6:4). . . serve in newness of Spirit (7:6)
Our fruit. . . leads to holiness (6:22). . . is borne to God (7:4)

Table quoted from: Douglas J. Moo, Romans, 2000, p. 220.