Romans 8:31-39 Discussion Questions
Nothing Shall Separate Us From God's Love
Paul has now completed his substantial argument and he closes the great Chapter 8 with a famous celebratory passage that ties together all of the strands of the letter to this point.
1. Before we dig into the specific verses, summarize the overall structure of this paragraph. It is structured around four rhetorical questions and answers. What are the questions?
2. What is the rhetorical answer to the question in Verse 31? Do you see an echo of the Abraham and Isaac story here (Genesis 22.16)?
3) In answering the second and third question, Paul directly quotes Psalm 44.22 and seems to less implicitly reference Isaiah 53 (particularly verses 7 and 12). Review these two Old Testament passages. Is Paul reflecting on what it means to be "conformed to the image of God"? Consider also 2 Cor 4.7-15 and Col 1.24. What can we conclude that Paul understands about Christian suffering?
4) In verse 35, Paul lists specific physical threats and in verse 38, he lists the forces behind those threats. It's not surprising that "death" is a threatening force, but are you surprised to see "life" on this list?
5) For you, which of these threats or forces are the greatest thing separating you from the love of God?
1. Before we dig into the specific verses, summarize the overall structure of this paragraph. It is structured around four rhetorical questions and answers. What are the questions?
2. What is the rhetorical answer to the question in Verse 31? Do you see an echo of the Abraham and Isaac story here (Genesis 22.16)?
3) In answering the second and third question, Paul directly quotes Psalm 44.22 and seems to less implicitly reference Isaiah 53 (particularly verses 7 and 12). Review these two Old Testament passages. Is Paul reflecting on what it means to be "conformed to the image of God"? Consider also 2 Cor 4.7-15 and Col 1.24. What can we conclude that Paul understands about Christian suffering?
4) In verse 35, Paul lists specific physical threats and in verse 38, he lists the forces behind those threats. It's not surprising that "death" is a threatening force, but are you surprised to see "life" on this list?
5) For you, which of these threats or forces are the greatest thing separating you from the love of God?