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Romans Chapter Twelve

1. Having completed his lament for Israel, Paul returns to his present Gentile audience and proclaims the ministry of the Church (Rom. 12:1ff.).
2. The Church functions as a priesthood, with each believer as a living and holy sacrifice (Rom. 12:1).
   1. Each believer-priest must be transformed so as not to be conformed to this (present evil) age αἰών aiōn ^#165 (Rom. 12:2a; Gal. 1:4).
   2. Each believer-priest becomes a demonstration of the will of God (Rom. 12:2b).
   3. Each believer-priest becomes a demonstration of humility (Rom. 12:3).
3. The priesthood of the Church operates as a body, with individual members fulfilling their designed role (Rom. 12:4-8).
4. General principles for harmony within the Church are then outlined (Rom. 12:9-21).

Romans Chapter Thirteen

1. General principles for the Church’s relationship to the world are also outlined (Rom. 13:1-10). Subjection to governmental authorities is not optional!
2. Above all, the Church is to be mindful of the imminency of Christ’s return, and the urgency of living the life of holiness (Rom. 13:11-14).

Romans Chapter Fourteen

1. The accountability of each believer before the Lord serves to establish the priority of mutual edification (Rom. 14).
2. With respect to matters of personal opinion, believers need to accept the manner through which other believers apply their faith (Rom. 14:1-9).
3. We are not qualified to judge one another, as the Lord Jesus Christ will judge our lives (Rom. 14:10-12; 2nd Cor. 5:9-10).
4. The primary means by which believers build one another up is to consciously keep themselves from creating stumbling blocks for their fellow believers (Rom. 14:13-23).

Romans Chapter Fifteen

1. In addition to keeping stumbling blocks out of the way, we are to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, following the example of Christ (Rom. 15:1-13).
2. Paul turns his attention to the believers in Rome, and has confidence in their application of this doctrine (Rom. 15:14).
   1. Paul explains that this epistle, indeed his entire ministry, was according to the will of God, in reaching out to the Gentiles for Christ (Rom. 15:15-29).
   2. Paul urges the believers in Rome to pray for his opportunity to come and minister among them (Rom. 15:30-33).

Romans Chapter Sixteen

1. Chapter 16 contains personal greetings to believers in Rome (Rom. 16:1-16).
   1. Phoebe is the only deaconess (fem.sing. διάκονος diakonos ^#1249) mentioned by name in the New Testament (Rom. 16:1,2; cf. 1st Tim. 3:11).
   2. Prisca & Aquila were Paul’s companions both in Corinth and in Ephesus (Rom. 16:3-5a; Acts 18:2,3,18-21,26).
   3. Andronicus & Junia (husband/wife) [possibly Andronicus & Junias were brothers] were fellow Benjamites, fellow prisoners at one time, and fellow apostles, otherwise unknown in the New Testament (Rom. 16:7).
   4. Rufus was most likely the son of Simon of Cyrene (Mk. 15:21).  His mother had been like a mother to Paul at some point in time.
2. Paul also warns them to be on guard against trouble-makers (Rom. 16:17-20).
3. Paul sends greetings from a number of people with him, and Tertius the scribe also sends a greeting (Rom. 16:21-23).
4. The Book closes with a benediction appropriate to the Dispensation of the Church (Rom. 16:25-27).