Romans 6 explains why grace never licenses sin. United to Christ in His death and resurrection, believers count themselves dead to sin and present themselves to God so that holiness grows under grace.
Bible Themes and Doctrines
This free resource includes detailed commentary on each book of the Bible (66) as well as a chapter-by-chapter study of each chapter of the Bible (1,189). The chapter studies are excluded from the normal search results and are best found by selecting from the list below.
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Genesis
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50.
Exodus
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40.
Leviticus
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27.
Numbers
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36.
Deuteronomy
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34.
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Joshua
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.
Judges
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.
Ruth
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4.
1 Samuel
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31.
2 Samuel
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.
1 Kings
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.
2 Kings
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25.
1 Chronicles
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29.
2 Chronicles
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36.
Ezra
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Nehemiah
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
Esther
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
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Job
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
Psalms
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150.
Proverbs
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Ecclesiastes
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
Song of Songs (Song of Solomon)
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
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Isaiah
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66.
Jeremiah
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52.
Lamentations
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Ezekiel
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48.
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Daniel
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
Hosea
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.
Joel
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3.
Amos
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Obadiah
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1.
Jonah
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4.
Micah
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Nahum
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3.
Habakkuk
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3.
Zephaniah
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3.
Haggai
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2.
Zechariah
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.
Malachi
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4.
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Matthew
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.
Mark
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
Luke
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.
John
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.
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Acts (of the Apostles)
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.
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Romans
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
1 Corinthians
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
2 Corinthians
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
Galatians
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Ephesians
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Philippians
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4.
Colossians
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4.
1 Thessalonians
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
2 Thessalonians
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3.
1 Timothy
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
2 Timothy
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4.
Titus
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3.
Philemon
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1.
Hebrews
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
James
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
1 Peter
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
2 Peter
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3.
1 John
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
2 John
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1.
3 John
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1.
Jude
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1.
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Revelation
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.
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Here’s a plain-language orientation to Dispensational Theology—what it is, why I’m using it beneath the surface of these chapter studies, and how to spot its thread even when the label itself doesn’t appear.
At heart, dispensationalism is a way of reading the Bible that pays close attention to God’s unfolding plan across history, takes promises and prophecies at face value (according to normal grammar and context), and keeps Israel and the church distinct without breaking the unity of God’s salvation in Christ. It notices that God has administered His will in recognizable stages—each with revealed responsibilities, clarifying tests, and fresh light—yet salvation is always by grace through faith because there has only ever been one Savior. The approach expects real fulfillment of God’s covenants to Israel in the future, while recognizing genuine foretastes of the kingdom in the present through the Spirit.
The classic stages (“dispensations”) at a glance
Writers describe the stages with minor variations; the classic seven are:
The point of mapping these stages is not to box God into charts but to recognize how Scripture itself marks turns in the road—from Eden to exile to Pentecost—and to let each passage speak within its historical setting while tracing the one plan that moves toward Christ’s reign and renewal.
Think of these as the load-bearing beams you’ll see throughout my essays:
The Chapter Studies do not to use the word dispensational (or its variants) in the body of each chapter study. That’s intentional. Labels can distract; Scripture should lead. Instead, I’ll use plain phrases that carry the same freight: “stage in God’s plan,” “administration under Moses,” “future fullness,” “the King’s rule tasted now,” and so on. You’ll also see a dedicated Redemptive-Plan Thread woven through each essay—especially in the “Theological Significance” section—that quietly does this work:
Within the dispensational family there are intramural debates (e.g., timing of the rapture, certain prophetic sequences). Those questions matter, but the pillars above are the bedrock beneath my essays. Where timing questions arise, I’ll keep the focus on what the passage clearly teaches, majoring on the hope of Christ’s return, the integrity of God’s promises, and our present calling.
Dispensational Theology, as I’m using it, is not a grid pasted on the Bible; it’s a commitment to let the Bible’s own storyline, covenants, and categories stand as written, to hear every text in its time, and to follow the thread to Christ—the one Savior for all who believe. You’ll rarely see the label. You will see the fruit: context-honoring exposition, covenant confidence, present power by the Spirit, and durable hope in the King who will keep every promise.
Romans 6 explains why grace never licenses sin. United to Christ in His death and resurrection, believers count themselves dead to sin and present themselves to God so that holiness grows under grace.
Romans 5 moves from verdict to life: peace with God, access to grace, and love poured out by the Spirit, proven at the cross. The Adam–Christ contrast shows how grace overrules sin so that those in Christ reign in life.
Romans 4 shows how God credits righteousness to those who trust Him, using Abraham and David as witnesses and Christ as the ground. The chapter anchors assurance in the cross and resurrection, making the promise firm to all who believe.
Romans 3 names universal sin and unveils God’s answer in Christ, where justice and mercy meet at the cross. This study traces the argument from law to grace with clear application.
Romans 2 turns the mirror toward the moral and the religious. God judges impartially, His kindness calls us to repent, and the Spirit must change the heart.
Romans 1 opens with the gospel promised in Scripture and reveals why the world needs it now. God’s saving righteousness comes by faith as He rescues worshipers from the deadly exchange of His glory for lesser things.
Paul’s closing chapter turns generosity, travel, teamwork, and greetings into discipleship shaped by grace. Watchful courage and steady love mark a church that waits for the Lord.
Paul calls the church back to the gospel of first importance and defends bodily resurrection with eyewitnesses, Scripture, and hope. Christ is raised, we will be raised, and steady work in His name will never be wasted.
Paul says love must steer the sounds of worship. In 1 Corinthians 14, intelligible, orderly speech builds up the church, reveals God to seekers, and keeps peace.
Paul crowns the discussion of gifts with love—the only power that makes speech, knowledge, faith, and sacrifice truly edifying. Love’s character shapes worship now and will endure when we see the Lord face to face.
God arranges the church like a body and gives every believer a Spirit-empowered role for the common good. Desire gifts eagerly, and let love set their aim.
Paul calls the church to honor God’s design in public worship and to receive the Lord’s Supper without pride or partiality. The result is reverent order and shared joy that proclaim Christ until He comes.
Israel’s history warns the church to flee idolatry, share the Lord’s table with undivided loyalty, and use liberty for edification. Every meal and choice bends toward God’s glory and the salvation of many.
Paul affirms a minister’s right to support yet gladly waives it where love and clarity require. He adapts without compromise and runs with disciplined aim.
Paul weds knowledge to love so that liberty serves the good of the church and the honor of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 8, freedom is real, but love decides how it is used.