BIBL 110
REFLECTIVE READING TEMPLATE
Reflective Reading Passage: _______Romans 8:31–39_________________________
Use this template and the course texts The Inquisitive Christ and Approaching the New
Testament to record brief notes for each step of the reflective reading process.
Step One: Prepare
Use this space to understand the key elements of context to your passage. Consulting and citing
Approaching the New Testament, please complete the contextual information according to the
information found in the course textbook:
By consulting and citing Approaching the New Testament, who is the author of this biblical book
(in 2-3 sentences)?
Paul identifies himself as the author in the opening verses of Romans, stating, "Paul, a servant of
Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1).
Additionally, various references throughout the letter reflect Paul's personal experiences,
teachings, and theological perspectives.
By consulting and citing Approaching the New Testament, when was this biblical book written
(in 1 sentence)?
According to the scholarly work "Approaching the New Testament," the Epistle to the Romans
was likely written by the Apostle Paul around AD 55. This dating is based on various historical
and contextual factors, including references within the text itself as well as external sources.
By consulting and citing Approaching the New Testament, what is the overall theme of the book
(in 2-3 sentences)?
The book of Romans in the Bible is divided into four sections, each of which covers various
topics. Although the practical section of the letter is often ignored, it is just as important as the
dense theology of the first three sections. In Romans 1:16-17, Paul states that he is not ashamed
of the gospel, which has the power to save those who believe in it. The author emphasizes the
importance of the gospel, which has the power to save those who believe in it. This passage
inspires people to have faith and trust in the gospel as a means of finding salvation.
Source: A. Chadwick Thornhill, “Romans,” in Approaching the New Testament: A Guide for
Students (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2022), 111.
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Step Two: Read
Utilizing either a translation of choice or creating a paraphrase of your own, use this space to
re-write the full passage of scripture. Please do not copy and paste from an existing translation,
but rather, write out the passage word-by-word in order to slowly reflect on the content.
What then shall we say in view of these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who
did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely
give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is
the one who condemns? It is Messiah, who died, and moreover was raised, and is now at the
right hand of God and who also intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of
Messiah? Shall tribulation, distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or
sword? As it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as
sheep for the slaughter.” But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who
loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things
present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be
able to separate us from the love of God that is in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.
Step Three: Reflect
Use this space to answer the following questions. Consult The Inquisitive Christ for insight into
pertinent Gospel texts.
If there is dialogue in the passage, who is speaking (in 1 complete sentence)?
In the passage, there is no direct dialogue between individuals. It is written in the form of a letter
from the apostle Paul to the Romans, and he is speaking to them about the love and power of
God.
What questions are asked in the passage? Please list all questions located in the passage.
There are several questions asked in the passage. Here is a list of all the questions:
1. "If God is for us, who can be against us?"
2. "How shall [God] not also with [Jesus] freely give us all things?"
3. "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?"
4. "Who is the one who condemns [us]?"
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5. "Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah?"
6. "Shall tribulation, distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword
[separate us from the love of God]?"
How would you answer each of the questions asked (in at least 3 sentences)?
1. What then shall we say in view of these things? - We can say that God is for us.
In view of all the things that we have gone through, we can confidently say that God is
with us, and He is for us. This is a great comfort to us and gives us strength to overcome
the challenges that we face in life.
2. If God is for us, who can be against us? - No one can be against us if God is for us.
When we have God on our side, we can be sure that we have nothing to fear. No matter
what challenges we face or who comes against us, we can be confident that we will
emerge victorious because God is for us.
3. How shall He not also with Him freely give us all things? - God will freely give us all things
along with His Son.
God loves us so much that He gave us His Son, and along with Him, He will freely give
us all things that we need. We can trust God to provide for us and take care of us in every
way.
4. Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? - No one can bring a charge against God's elect.
As God's elect, we are His chosen people, and nothing can separate us from His love. No
one can bring a charge against us because God has already justified us and made us
righteous through His Son.
5. It is God who justifies, who is the one who condemns? - No one can condemn because it is
Messiah who died, was raised and is now at the right hand of God, interceding for us.
Since it is God who justifies us, no one can condemn us. Jesus died for us, was raised
from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of God, interceding for us. This assures
us that we are secure in God's love and nothing can separate us from it.
6. Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah? - No one or nothing can separate us from the
love of Messiah.
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The love of Messiah is so strong and powerful that nothing in this world can separate us
from it. No matter what we go through in life, we can be sure that we are loved and
cherished by our Savior.
7. Shall tribulation, distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? - None
of these things shall separate us from the love of Messiah.
No matter what challenges we face in life, we can be confident that nothing can separate
us from the love of Messiah. Whether we face tribulation, distress, persecution, famine,
nakedness, danger or sword, we are secure in God's love.
8. But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. - Through
Him who loved us, we are more than conquerors in all these things.
Through the love of Jesus, we are more than conquerors in all the challenges that we face
in life. We can overcome any obstacle because we have the strength and power of our
Savior working within us.
9. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present
nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Messiah Yeshua our Lord. - Nothing can separate us
from the love of God in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.
We can be confident that absolutely nothing in this world can separate us from the love of
God that we have in Jesus. Not even death can separate us from His love, and we can be
confident that we will spend eternity with Him because of His great love for us.
In view of these things, we can confidently say that God is for us. With His unwavering support,
no one can stand against us. He freely gives us all things through His Son, and no charge can be
brought against His elect. It is God who justifies us, and no one can condemn us because of the
intercession of Messiah. Nothing can separate us from the love of Messiah, not even tribulation,
distress, or danger. Through Him, we are more than conquerors in all things. We can be
convinced that nothing, not even death or angels, can separate us from the love of God in
Messiah Yeshua our Lord.
What words or phrases stand out to you, and why? Are any words/themes repeated? If so, share
why you think there is repetition. Please answer with at least 3 sentences.
In Romans 8:31-39, the words and phrases that stand out include "If God is for us, who can be
against us?" and "nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God." These phrases
emphasize the unwavering support and love that believers have from God. The repetition of the
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theme of God's love and protection reinforces the message of assurance and security in one's
faith. The repetition serves to strengthen the believers' confidence and trust in God's everlasting
love and provision.
What questions do you have as you read this passage? If you have no questions, please explain
why this might be the case.
Questions could be addressed by the powerful assurance and protection that comes from God
being on our side, the victory we have in Christ over all challenges, and the unbreakable bond we
have with Him through His love. The passage in Romans 8:31-39 serves as a reminder of the
unwavering love and support that God provides for His children.
Step Four: Pray
Use this space to formulate a prayer to God, dialoguing with Him about what he may be
speaking to you in this passage:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your word that reassures me of Your unwavering love and
protection. As I reflect on Romans 8:31-39, I am reminded of Your steadfast presence in my life
and Your promise to always be with me. Help me to trust in Your divine plan and to find comfort
in knowing that nothing can separate me from Your love. May I walk in confidence, knowing
that You are for me and that Your love is unending. Amen.
Step Five: Respond
Use this space to contemplate how God may be asking you to respond to this passage in your life
with him:
To have confidence and trust in His love and protection. To reflect on the fact that nothing can
separate me from God's love and allow this truth to give me peace and strength in all
circumstances. To embrace the assurance that I am secure in His care and that He is always with
me, no matter what challenges I may face.
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