Calvinists Think About Romans At Least Nine Times A Week, Study Finds

How the Apostle Paul's Epistle Captivates and Influences the Minds of the Reformed Faithful

Alessandro Algardi (Italian sculptor, 1598-1654), "Beheading of St. Paul" (1650) Marble, height 286 cm., San Paolo Maggiore, Bologna.

A new study conducted by the Pew Research Center has revealed that Calvinists, a branch of Protestant Christianity that emphasizes the sovereignty of God and the doctrine of predestination, think about the book of Romans at least nine times a week on average.

The book of Romans, written by the apostle Paul, is considered by many Calvinists to be the most comprehensive and systematic presentation of the gospel and the doctrines of grace in the Bible. The study found that Calvinists often meditate on passages such as Romans 8:28-30, which states that "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."

The study also found that Calvinists frequently quote verses from Romans to support their theological arguments and to challenge other Christians who hold different views. For example, Calvinists often cite Romans 9:13-16, which says that "As it is written, 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.' What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy."

The study surveyed 1,000 self-identified Calvinists from various denominations and asked them how often they think about the book of Romans in a typical week. The results showed that 75% of Calvinists think about Romans at least once a day, 15% think about it at least three times a week, 5% think about it at least once a week, and 5% think about it less than once a week. The study also found that Calvinists are more likely to think about Romans when they are facing difficulties or challenges in their lives, when they are witnessing to others, or when they are studying the Bible.

The study concluded that Calvinists have a deep and lasting attachment to the book of Romans and that it plays a significant role in shaping their faith and worldview. The study also suggested that Calvinists may benefit from reading other books of the Bible as well, such as James, Hebrews, and Revelation, which offer different perspectives and insights on various topics. The study recommended that Calvinists should seek to balance their devotion to Romans with a broader appreciation of the diversity and richness of the biblical canon.