Romans 9:1
Ἀλήθειαν λέγω ἐν Χριστῷ. οὐ ψεύδομαι, συμμαρτυρούσης μοι τῆς συνειδήσεώς μου ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ,
Truly I say in Christ; I am not lying; bearing witness with me, my conscience, in the Holy Spirit.
Paraphrase: Now, dear friends, having giving you an explanation of the gospel I preach, I hope you will be willing to follow me to another issue that I know is present among you as it is in so many of the Christian churches. I want to teach you the truth about the Jewish people and the promises which God has made to them. I know there are many who accuse me of being hostile to the Jewish nation and of having betrayed my own people. It’s not true; don’t believe such slanders, my friends. I speak to you as a person who is in a saving union with Christ, and my Master has taught me to love one another. (John 13:34; 15:12,17) Therefore, I am telling you the truth; I am not trying to manipulate or deceive you. My conscience is clear on this issue; what I am about to say to you is the truth. The Holy Spirit Himself testifies to me that this is the truth, yes, this is God’s truth to you, brothers and sisters, and you do well to listen carefully.
Comments:
The thought behind the next three chapters is the same as expressed by Gideon: “Oh my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” (Judges 6:13)
Romans 9:2
ὅτι λύπη μοί ἐστιν μεγάλη, καὶ ἀδιάλειπτος ὀδύνη τῇ καρδίᾳ μου.
that a great grief to me it is and unceasing sorrow in my heart
Paraphrase: The truth is that I have so much anguish and pain in my heart for my own people.
Comments:
Romans 9:3
ηὐχόμην γὰρ ἀνάθεμα εἶναι αὐτὸς ἐγὼ, ἀπὸ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου, τῶν συγγενῶν μου, κατὰ σάρκα·
for I myself am wishing accursed to be from Christ on behalf of my brothers, my people according to the flesh.
Paraphrase: Believe me, I am willing to make any sacrifice for their salvation. I am willing to throw myself into the deepest hell if it would result in their being delivered from it and brought to salvation in Christ. (Exodus 32:32)
Comments:
ηὐχόμην is an imperfect. GGBB calls (p552) it a tendential or “desiderative” imperfect, the thought being that Paul’s love for his own people was so intense that he was willing to contemplate the possibility of his own damnation if it might bring salvation to the Jewish people. Undoubtedly, we are not to interpret this with strict literal logic. On this verse, Dunn quotes Kuss as saying, “One cannot measure the speech of the heart with the rules of logic.” Likewise Bengel (p106):
Human words are not fully adequate to include in them [to express fully] the emotions of holy souls; nor are those emotions always the same; nor is it in the power of those souls always to elicit from themselves such a prayer as this. If the soul be not far advanced, it is incapable of [cannot comprehend] this. It is not easy to estimate the measure of love, in a Moses and a Paul. For the narrow boundary of our reasoning powers does not comprehend it; as the little child is unable to comprehend the courage of warlike heroes.
Tholuck says (p151) that those who object to Paul’s language here are reading it too coolly. They altogether forget what a loving heart, in the fervor of its passion, is capable of uttering.
Romans 9:4
οἵτινές εἰσιν Ἰσραηλῖται, ὧν ἡ υἱοθεσία, καὶ ἡ δόξα, καὶ αἱ διαθῆκαι, καὶ ἡ νομοθεσία, καὶ ἡ λατρεία, καὶ αἱ ἐπαγγελίαι·
who are Israelites (Romans 3:1), of whom the adoption and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the law and the worship and the promises.
Paraphrase: Yes, the nation of Israel are the old covenant people of God and are highly privileged in every way. Consider some of these privileges:
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- First, even their name speaks to this; they are called Israelites which brings to our mind Jacob’s struggle and victory in his wrestling with God. (Genesis 32:28)
- Second, the Jewish people have been adopted into God’s family. “Israel is My son, My firstborn.” (Exodus 4:22) God announced to Pharaoh. “When Israel was a youth,” said God through the prophet Hosea, “I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.” (Hosea 11:1) God also gave this message to Jeremiah, “Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a delightful child? Indeed, as often as I have spoken against him, I certainly still remember him; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him.” (Jeremiah 31:20)
- Third, it was to the nation of Israel that God showed Himself in magnificent glory and resplendence. Remember the Glory-Cloud by which God led His people through the wilderness. (Exodus 13:21-22; 16:10) The same Cloud appeared over the tabernacle when it was first dedicated (Exodus 40:34) and then reappeared at the dedication of Solomon’s temple. (1 Kings 8:11).
- Fourth, consider the covenants which God made with Israel and which He did not make with any other nation. God made a covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:18; 17:1-14) which covenant He also renewed with Isaac (Genesis 26:1-5) and Jacob. (Genesis 28:10-15) Then, God made a covenant with all Israel at mount Sinai. (Exodus 19:5; 24:7-8) God also made a covenant with David. (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalm 89:19-37) Finally, we have seen in our own day the inauguration of God’s new covenant with His people which He made with them in Christ. (Luke 22:20)
- Fifth, who can overestimate the value of the whole body of laws which God gave to His people? It is so true what Moses asked, What other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws which God has given us? (Deuteronomy 4:8)
- Sixth, is the worship which God so carefully laid out for them. No other people has such an exalted form of worship with so many rituals and symbols which lift the soul up to God and purify the people. In fact, the worship of other nations is so foolish and degrading; they worship the creature rather than the Creator. (Romans 1:20- 25)
- Finally, are the promises. What can we say about all the promises which God has made to His people in the various covenants which we have previously mentioned? Think of the promise to David that his dynasty would never fail but would be eternal. (Psalm 89:36) Think of the promise to Abraham that in his seed, all the families of the earth would be blessed. (Galatians 3:8) The glory of all these promises is that the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29); not one of them will fail. (Joshua 21:45; 23:14)
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Comments:
Lange sees (p306) this list as chronological referring first to the patriarchs, then to the Mosaic, and finally to Christ.
Romans 9:5
ὧν οἱ πατέρες· καὶ ἐξ ὧν ὁ Χριστὸς τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, ὁ ὢν ἐπὶ πάντων Θεὸς, εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. ἀμήν.
Of whom the fathers and from whom Christ, according to the flesh, the One being over all God, blessed to eternity. Amen!
Paraphrase: To this people belong the patriarchs, the great fathers of our faith. Finally, the greatest privilege of all; the Great Messiah King and Savior of the world was born to this nation. True, in His divine nature, He was the second Person of the glorious Trinity, co-eternal God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, and consubstantial with the Father; but in his human nature, He was born to Joseph and Mary who were Israelites from the tribe of Judah. What privilege can possibly be higher than this?
Comments:
Fitzmyer gives the following possibilities for this text:
- a comma before the participle ὁ ὢν. Of whom are the fathers and from whom is Christ, according to the flesh, being God over all blessed to eternity.
- a period after σάρκα and before the participle ὁ ὢν. Of whom are the fathers and from whom is Christ, according to the flesh. God being over all blessed to eternity.
- a comma after “Messiah” and a period after “over all.” Of whom are the fathers and from whom is Christ, according to the flesh, being over all. God be blessed to eternity.
- switching ὁ ὢν to ὢν ὁ. Of whom are the fathers and from whom is Christ, according to the flesh being over all. God be blessed to eternity.
The second, third, and fourth interpretations involve a doxology to God, but Stuart (also Sanday & Headlam) points out (p319) that a doxology to God is out of place here. Paul would then be saying something like, these special privileges which God has given to the Jews have, by being abused, contributed greatly to enhance the guilt and punishment of the Jewish nation; God be thanked that He has given them such privileges!
Sanday & Headlam have (p233) a full discussion of the issues in this text. See also Kennedy p17.
Romans 9:6
Οὐχ οἷον δὲ, ὅτι ἐκπέπτωκεν ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ. οὐ γὰρ πάντες οἱ ἐξ Ἰσραήλ, οὗτοι Ἰσραήλ.
But not the kind of think that the word of God has fallen down, for not all those from Israel, these are Israel.
Paraphrase: So what then has happened to God’s special people? Why are they in such disarray? Why does it look like all God’s promises to them have failed? Has God gone back on His word or is He just not capable of bringing to pass what He promised them? No, my friends, you must never think this way. God’s word of promise is sure and certain; none of His promises ever fall to the ground. The real issue we have to face is this, who really is an Israelite? Who really are God’s people who are entitled to the blessings of His covenant?
Comments:
Romans 9:7
οὐδ’ ὅτι εἰσὶν σπέρμα Ἀβραάμ πάντες τέκνα· ἀλλ’, Ἐν Ἰσαὰκ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα
Romans 9:8
τοῦτ’ ἔστιν, οὐ τὰ τέκνα τῆς σαρκὸς, ταῦτα τέκνα τοῦ Θεοῦ· ἀλλὰ τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἐπαγγελίας λογίζεται εἰς σπέρμα.
Romans 9:9
ἐπαγγελίας γὰρ, ὁ λόγος οὗτος· Κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον, ἐλεύσομαι, καὶ ἔσται τῇ Σάρρᾳ υἱός.
Romans 9:10
Οὐ μόνον δέ, ἀλλὰ καὶ Ῥεβέκκα, ἐξ ἑνὸς κοίτην, ἔχουσα Ἰσαὰκ τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν,
Romans 9:11
μήπω γὰρ γεννηθέντων, μηδὲ πραξάντων τι ἀγαθὸν ἢ φαῦλον, ἵνα ἡ κατ’ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις τοῦ Θεοῦ μένῃ,
Romans 9:12
οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων, ἀλλ’ ἐκ τοῦ καλοῦντος, ἐρρέθη αὐτῇ ὅτι, Ὁ μείζων δουλεύσει τῷ ἐλάσσονι.
Romans 9:13
καθὼς* γέγραπται Τὸν· Ἰακὼβ ἠγάπησα, τὸν δὲ Ἠσαῦ ἐμίσησα.
Romans 9:14
Τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν; μὴ ἀδικία παρὰ τῷ θεῷ; μὴ γένοιτο!
Romans 9:15
τῷ Μωϋσεῖ γὰρ λέγει· Ἐλεήσω ὃν ἂν ἐλεῶ, καὶ οἰκτιρήσω* ὃν ἂν οἰκτίρω*.
Romans 9:16
Ἄρα οὖν, οὐ τοῦ θέλοντος, οὐδὲ τοῦ τρέχοντος, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ἐλεῶντος Θεοῦ.
Romans 9:17
λέγει γὰρ ἡ γραφὴ τῷ Φαραὼ ὅτι· Εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο ἐξήγειρά σε, ὅπως ἐνδείξωμαι ἐν σοὶ τὴν δύναμίν μου, καὶ ὅπως διαγγελῇ τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ.
Romans 9:18
ἄρα οὖν, ὃν θέλει, ἐλεεῖ· ὃν δὲ θέλει, σκληρύνει.
Romans 9:19
Ἐρεῖς μοι οὖν, Τί ‹οὖν› ἔτι μέμφεται; τῷ γὰρ βουλήματι αὐτοῦ, τίς ἀνθέστηκεν;
Romans 9:20
ὦ ἄνθρωπε, μενοῦνγε, σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ ἀνταποκρινόμενος τῷ Θεῷ; μὴ ἐρεῖ τὸ πλάσμα τῷ πλάσαντι, Τί με ἐποίησας οὕτως;
Romans 9:21
ἢ οὐκ ἔχει ἐξουσίαν ὁ κεραμεὺς τοῦ πηλοῦ, ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ φυράματος ποιῆσαι ὃ μὲν εἰς τιμὴν σκεῦος, ὃ δὲ εἰς ἀτιμίαν;
Romans 9:22
Εἰ δὲ θέλων ὁ Θεὸς ἐνδείξασθαι τὴν ὀργὴν καὶ γνωρίσαι τὸ δυνατὸν αὐτοῦ, ἤνεγκεν ἐν πολλῇ μακροθυμίᾳ, σκεύη ὀργῆς, κατηρτισμένα εἰς ἀπώλειαν,
Romans 9:23
καὶ ἵνα γνωρίσῃ τὸν πλοῦτον τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ σκεύη ἐλέους, ἃ προητοίμασεν εἰς δόξαν,
Romans 9:24
οὓς καὶ ἐκάλεσεν, ἡμᾶς οὐ μόνον ἐξ Ἰουδαίων, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐξ ἐθνῶν;
Romans 9:25
ὡς καὶ ἐν τῷ Ὡσηὲ λέγει· Καλέσω τὸν οὐ λαόν μου, λαόν μου· καὶ τὴν οὐκ ἠγαπημένην, ἠγαπημένην,
Romans 9:26
Καὶ, Ἔσται ἐν τῷ τόπῳ οὗ ἐρρέθη αὐτοῖς, Οὐ λαός μου ὑμεῖς, ἐκεῖ κληθήσονται Υἱοὶ Θεοῦ ζῶντος.
Romans 9:27
Ἠσαΐας δὲ κράζει ὑπὲρ τοῦ Ἰσραήλ· Ἐὰν ᾖ ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ ὡς ἡ ἄμμος τῆς θαλάσσης, τὸ ὑπόλειμμα σωθήσεται.
Romans 9:28
λόγον γὰρ συντελῶν καὶ συντέμνων, ποιήσει Κύριος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
Romans 9:29
Καὶ, καθὼς προείρηκεν Ἠσαΐας· Εἰ μὴ Κύριος Σαβαὼθ ἐγκατέλιπεν ἡμῖν σπέρμα, ὡς Σόδομα ἂν ἐγενήθημεν, καὶ ὡς Γόμορρα ἂν ὡμοιώθημεν.
Romans 9:30
Τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν; ὅτι ἔθνη τὰ μὴ διώκοντα δικαιοσύνην, κατέλαβεν δικαιοσύνην, δικαιοσύνην δὲ τὴν ἐκ πίστεως·
Romans 9:31
Ἰσραὴλ δὲ, διώκων νόμον δικαιοσύνης, εἰς νόμον οὐκ ἔφθασεν.
Romans 9:32
διὰ τί; ὅτι οὐκ ἐκ πίστεως, ἀλλ’ ὡς ἐξ ἔργων. προσέκοψαν τῷ λίθῳ τοῦ προσκόμματος,
Romans 9:33
καθὼς γέγραπται· Ἰδοὺ τίθημι ἐν Σιὼν λίθον προσκόμματος, καὶ πέτραν σκανδάλου· καὶ ὁ πιστεύων ἐπ’ αὐτῷ, οὐ καταισχυνθήσεται.