Let’s
remember Paul’s purpose for writing Romans was to re-unite divided
Gentile-Christians with Jewish-Christians who had been kicked out of Rome due
to the Edict of Claudius.
Notice that the self-identification of Jewish and Gentile Christians vis-à-vis one another and in relation to the non-Christian Jewish community plays an important role in this list of questions. As you keep the historical setting in mind, you’ll become a much better reader of Paul’s letter to the Romans.
3:1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what
is the benefit of circumcision?
3:9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at
all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under
sin;
3:29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is
He not the God of Gentiles also?
3:31 Do we then nullify the Law through
faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
4:1 What then shall we say that
Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
4:9 Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or
on the uncircumcised also?
7:1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I
am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a
person as long as he lives?
9:30 What shall we say then? That
Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the
righteousness which is by faith…
10:18 But I say, surely they have never
heard, have they?
10:19 But I say, surely Israel did not
know, did they?
11:1 I say then, God has not rejected
His people, has He?
11:2 Or do you not know what the
Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against
Israel?
11:11 I say then, they did not stumble
so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation
has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.
11:24 For if you were cut off from what
is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a
cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be
grafted into their own olive tree?
14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you
regard your brother with contempt?