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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Romans 9
Verse Commentaries:
Chapter Level Commentary:
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary ,which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
Romans 9-11'S RELATIONSHIP TO Romans 1-8
A. There have been two ways of understanding this literary unit's relationship to Romans 1-8.
1. It is a totally separate topic, a theological parenthesis
a. There is a drastic contrast and lack of logical connection between Rom_8:39; Rom_9:1.
b. It is directly related to the historical tension in the church at Rome between believing Jews and believing Gentiles. It was possibly related to the growing Gentile leadership of the Church.
c. There was misunderstanding about Paul's preaching concerning Israel (and the Law) and his apostleship to the Gentiles (offer of free grace), therefore, he deals with this topic in this section.
2. It is the climax and logical conclusion of Paul's presentation of the gospel.
a. Paul concludes Romans 8 with the promise of "no separation from the love of God." What about the unbelief of the covenant people?
b. Romans 9-11 answers the paradox of the gospel concerning Israel's unbelief!
c. Paul has been addressing this very issue all through the letter (cf. Rom_1:3; Rom_1:16; Rom_3:21; Rom_3:31; Rom_4:1 ff).
d. Paul claims that God is true to His Word. What about His OT word to Israel? Are all those promises null and void?
B. There are several possible ways to outline this literary unit
1. by Paul's use of a supposed objector (diatribe)
a. Rom_9:6
b. Rom_9:14
c. Rom_9:19
d. Rom_9:30
e. Rom_11:1
f. Rom_11:11
2. Romans 9-11 forms a literary unit (chapter and verse divisions are not inspired and were added later). It must be interpreted together as a whole. However, there are at least three major subject divisions.
a. Rom_9:1-29 (focusing on God's sovereignty)
b. Rom_9:30 to Rom_10:21 (focusing on human responsibility)
c. Rom_11:1-32 (God's inclusive, eternal, redemptive purpose)
3. by main topics: a good outline of this section of Romans is found in the paragraph divisions of the NKJV by Thomas Nelson Publishers
a. Israel's rejection of Christ, Rom_9:1-5
b. Israel's rejection of God's purpose, Rom_9:6-13
c. Israel's rejection of God's justice, Rom_9:14-29
d. Present condition of Israel, Rom_9:30-33
e. Israel and the gospel, Rom_10:1-13
f. Israel rejection of the gospel, Rom_10:14-21
g. Israel's rejection not total, Rom_11:1-10
h. Israel's rejection not final, Rom_11:11-36
C. This section is as much a cry from the heart as a presentation from the mind (logical outline). Its passion reminds one of God's heart breaking over rebellious Israel in Hos_11:1-4; Hos_11:8-9.
In many ways the pain and goodness of the Law in Romans 7 are paralleled in Romans 9-10. In both cases Paul's heart was breaking over the irony of a law from God that brought death instead of life!
D. Paul's use of over 25 OT quotes in Romans 9-11 shows his desire to illustrate the paradox of Israel from OT sources, as he did in Romans 4, not just current experience. The majority of Abraham's physical descendants had rejected God, even in the past (cf. Acts 7; Nehemiah 9).
E. This text, like Eph_1:3-14, deals with the eternal purposes of God for the redemption of all humanity. At first it seems to describe God choosing some individuals and rejecting other individuals (supralapsarian Calvinism), however, I think the focus is not on individuals, but on God's eternal plan of redemption (cf. Gen_3:15; Gen_12:3; Act_2:23; Act_3:18; Act_4:28; and Act_13:29, see Special Topic at Rom_8:28).
The Jerome Biblical Commentary, vol. 2, "The New Testament," edited by Joseph A. Fitzmyer and Raymond E. Brown, says:
"It is important to realize from the outset that Paul's perspective is corporate; he is not discussing the responsibility of individuals. If he seems to bring up the question of divine predestination, this has nothing to do with the predestination of individuals to glory" (p. 318).
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO CHAPTER 9
A. What a drastic change of attitude occurs between Romans 8 and Romans 9.
B. This literary unit (Romans 9-11) deals theologically with
1. the basis of salvation
2; the electing purpose of God
3. the faithlessness of unbelieving Israel versus the faithfulness of YHWH
4. the inclusion of all humanity in Jesus' redemption
C. Romans 9 is one of the strongest NT passages on God's sovereignty (i.e., the other being, Eph_1:3-14) while Romans 10 states human's free will clearly and repeatedly (cf. "everyone" Rom_9:4; "whosoever" Rom_9:11; Rom_9:13; "all" Rom_9:12 [twice]). Paul never tries to reconcile this theological tension. They are both true! Most Bible doctrines are presented in paradoxical or dialectical pairs. Most systems of theology are logical, but proof-text only one aspect of biblical truth. Both Augustinianism and Calvinism versus semi-Pelagianism and Arminianism have elements of truth and error. Biblical tension between doctrines is preferable to a proof-texted, dogmatic, rational, theological system that forces the Bible onto a preconceived interpretive grid! See hyperlink at Rom_3:27.
D. Rom_9:30-33 is a summary of Romans 9 and the theme of Romans 10.
E. Notice how much Paul uses OT texts to establish his argument. This presupposes a Jewish readership in Rome.
1. Rom_9:7 - Gen_21:12
2. Rom_9:9 - Gen_18:10; Gen_18:14
3. Rom_9:12 - Gen_25:32
4. Rom_9:13 - Mal_1:2-3
5. Rom_9:15 - Exo_33:19
6. Rom_9:17 - Exo_9:16
7. Rom_9:25 - Hos_2:23
8. Rom_9:26 - Hos_1:10
9. Rom_9:27 - Isa_10:22
10. Rom_9:28 - Isa_10:23
11. Rom_9:29 - Isa_1:9
12. Rom_9:33 - Isa_28:16; Isa_8:14
There are many more OT quotes in Romans 19 and 11!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. How is Romans 9 (predestination) related to Romans 10 (mankind's free will)?
2. What is the main theme of Rom_9:1-29?
3. Has God broken His promise to Israel?
4. List the privileges that national Israel enjoyed (Rom_9:4-5).
5. Were all the Jews right with God? Why or why not (Rom_9:6)?
6. If man is forced to do God's will is he morally responsible?
7. How is "mercy" the key to predestination (cf. Rom_9:15-16; Rom_9:18; Rom_9:23; Rom_11:30-32)?