Romans 9-11 Bible Study Questions

This is part of a series of posts on Romans. Click here for the contents page.

Here are some questions for a Bible Study doing an overview of Romans 9-11. Underneath are some suggested answers. The questions are grouped into four sections (see the four headings below). One way to do the study is for everyone to do the first section together, then split into three groups doing one of the remaining sections each, then come back together with each group taking turns to talk through their answers.

Romans 9:1-5

1. Why is Paul so upset?
2. What is it that Paul has taught earlier in Romans that shows these ethnic Israelites are in this situation?

Romans 9:6-29

3. What does Paul have to say to people who don’t like his teaching that God saves those who have faith, and who think that God should save ethnic Israelites because of their ethnicity and/or their works of the law instead?

Romans 9:30-10:21

4. Whose fault is it that these ethnic Israelites are not currently in a right-standing with God? (see Romans 9:30-10:3 and 10:14-21)
5. Paul repeats his earlier teaching about who God saves – what is this teaching? Why is this good news for us? (see Romans 10:4-13)

Romans 11:1-36

6. Is there any hope for ethnic Israelites to be saved, or has God rejected them? (see Romans 11:1-32)
7. Why is Paul so happy in Romans 11:33-36?

Suggested Answers

Romans 9:1-5

1. Paul is upset because many of his fellow ethnic Israelites are not in a right-standing with God.
2. Justification/salvation is based on who has faith, not ethnicity/works, so unbelieving ethnic Israelites aren’t included.

Romans 9:6-29

3. God is under no obligation to save ethnic Israelites – he chooses who he wants to save.

Romans 9:30-10:21

4. It’s their fault – they didn’t seek righteousness by faith and did not believe.
5. God saves all who believe. This is good news for us because Gentiles are allowed in.

Romans 11:1-36

6. Yes, God hasn’t rejected them and they can be grafted back in.
7. The ethnic Israelites he cares about can still be saved (see the verses just before 11:33-36).

This was first published at the Predestination Station, where comments can be made.