The leadership of a church is very important. It includes apostles, pastors and teachers, evangelists and prophets. All are under the authority of the original Apostles through Scripture.

Paul was in prison because of his calling to take the gospel to the gentiles. When Christ came, what had been promised to Abraham about the Jews being a blessing for all nations, came into being. This was a ‘mystery’ that is still being fulfilled today.

In the light of God’s mercy shown to Jews and Gentiles, we should respond by living our lives wholly committed to God. our behaviour and thinking will change.

Following the general statements of the last episode, Paul gives detailed teaching about the practicalities of serving God. It should be done with humility, faith and love. He lists several gifts of the Holy spirit to build up the church.

In seeking to build up the church, Paul addresses the vulnerability of the church to opposition. As Christians we should rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. We should not seek to revenge opposition but be kind to those who persecute us.

Following on Jesus' teaching, Paul also encourages the Christian community to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’. Our neighbour is people in the church community who need help which we can give. He introduces a sense of urgency in the light of the Second Coming of Jesus and the question of how we have used our opprtunities.

Paul greets a long list of co-workers in Rome and urges them to welcome Phoebe who is probably the courier for the letter to the Romans. There is evidence of team work throughout Paul’s ministry.

Paul explains that Jesus is the culmination of the law. He outlines the process of sharing the gospel and comments on the response of the Jews and Gentiles at that time.

Paul explains that God has a future purpose for the Jewish nation that has been hidden but has been revealed to Paul - that great numbers of Jews will believe in Jesus as the Messiah, once the number of Gentiles to believe is completed.

The process of writing letters at that time is outlined, together with the background of Paul the writer. The importance of Jesus' resurrection is highlighted and the term Apostle explained.