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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Romans 9:20 - 9:20
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Nay, but, O man, who art thou? (O anthrōpe, men oun ge su tis ei̇). “O man, but surely thou who art thou?” Unusual and emphatic order of the words, prolepsis of su (thou) before tis (who) and men oun ge (triple particle, men, indeed, oun, therefore, ge, at least) at the beginning of clause as in Rom 10:18; Phi 3:8 contrary to ancient idiom, but so in papyri.
That repliest (ho antapokrinomenos). Present middle articular participle of double compound verb antapokrinomai, to answer to one’s face (anti̇) late and vivid combination, also in Luk 14:6, nowhere else in N.T., but in lxx.
The thing formed (to plasma). Old word (Plato, Aristophanes) from plassō, to mould, as with clay or wax, from which the aorist active participle used here (tōi plasanti) comes. Paul quotes these words from Isa 29:16 verbatim. It is a familiar idea in the Old Testament, the absolute power of God as Creator like the potter’s use of clay (Isa 44:8; Isa 45:8-10; Jer 18:6). Mē expects a negative answer.
Why didst thou make me thus? (ti me epoiēsas houtōṡ). The original words in Isaiah dealt with the nation, but Paul applies them to individuals. This question does not raise the problem of the origin of sin for the objector does not blame God for that but why God has used us as he has, made some vessels out of the clay for this purpose, some for that. Observe “thus” (houtōs). The potter takes the clay as he finds it, but uses it as he wishes.