RESEARCH PROJECT:TOPIC ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
Paul’s letter to the Romans is perhaps the most logical and systematic of his
letters in terms of
presentation of a biblical theology, so it requires detailed study. Careful study of
Scripture in its
context leads to much better results than simply looking for material taken out of
context to
support a preconceived doctrine. So, the good student of Romans will first
analyze Scripture, but
always with a view to learning the theological point. An effective way to learn
Romans, then, is
to select a topic from a list of passages or sections of Romans on which you
conduct scholar
level research and analysis of the biblical text and then explain the results of the
biblical analysis
of the passage or section and the theological theme that can be drawn from the
passage or section
of the letter.
INSTRUCTIONS
When the topic has been selected, simply write the name of the topic (Romans
1:18 – 4:25; Rom
5:12 – 8:37, etc.) in the textbox. Do not write the complete paper. Students who
opt for an
exegetical paper on one of the passages must state specifically which of the
available passages the
paper will address.
Topics
The student may choose from one of the themes below or may choose a
passage to exposit from
the list farther down.
Explanation of the Flow of Thought in Romans 1:18 4:25. This topic should –
address the
following:
1. Introduction: one to two paragraphs, no more than the first page. The thesis
statement
must appear as the last sentence in the paragraph and should identify the point
to be
argued.
2. The importance of the section for the overall point of Romans. Is this the key
element, secondary, or not important?
3. What is the main theme of that section of Romans? One or two paragraphs
should be
sufficient here but be sure to include a definition of what the theme means (e.g.
sin,
justification, sanctification, etc.).
4. Identify the organization of the thought in Romans 1:18 4:25. This section –
should
