REACHING INTO ROMANS #4 God, God’s Word, and God’s People (Romans 9-11)

Romans 9-11 The Righteousness of God in relationship with his people. Not works or race, but grace and faith. Many tough passages, but the Calvinists are wrong! Main Point: “God has locked up all people (tou.j pa,ntaj) in disobedience in order that he might mercy all (tou.j pa,ntaj)” (11:32).

Word Counts of the Key Terms from 1:17 in Romans Total in the letter Righteous words 27 17 56 Faith words 37 3 66 Live words 41

Word Counts of the Key Terms from 1:17 in Romans 9-11 Total Righteous words 11 1 56 Faith words 16 10 66 Live words 3 8 41

Overall 4-Part Thematic Outline III. The righteousness of God and Israel (9:1-11:36); not works or race, but grace and faith in the promise fulfilled in Christ Longest “section” in all of Paul’s letters = 90 verses; 20+% of Romans. MUST be read as a unit.

3 Themes in Romans 9-11 1) God (26 times) = It’s still “not about you” but GOD. Remember fides quae in Romans 4? Here he is defined especially as “the one who calls” (9:12; καλέω also in 9:7, 24, 25, 26; also 4:17; 8:30; adjective in 1:6-7; 8:28) and “the God who mercies” (9:16; ἐλεέω also in 9:15 [2x], 18; 11:30, 31, 32). An anthropocentric approach leads to a focus on predestination, etc.

2nd Theme in 9-11 2) God’s Word – Οὐχ οἷον δὲ ὅτι ἐκπέπτωκεν ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ (9:6). NOTE the perfect tense of the verb. Within 90 verses are 35 OT quotes! = 39% of the verses!!! AND he assumes you know the stories! Luther = “An intro to the OT” (i.e., how a Christian reads it = Hermeneutics!)

3rd Theme = God’s People e.g., λαός (6x) Israel (11x), etc. Most OT texts are not directed to Christ, but to ecclesiology = to NT era Israel, Jews, and Gentiles collectively. Who is his Israel? Who belongs? On what basis? Has it been redefined since the coming of Christ? (e.g., the olive tree in Rom. 11). Video Clip of Acts 15: Who are God’s people and on what basis?

Romans 9-11 How Romans 9-11 is viewed diagnoses one’s overall understanding of the letter - downplayed by some, the highlight of the letter to others, OR, better, viewed as integral to the whole! Provides Theological Basis for Romans 14-15, contextual letter!

A new section, but….. CONNECTIONS: “The theme of election (compare 8:26-30 and 9:6b-23), with its key words πρόθεσις (8:28; 9:11) and κλητός/καλέω (8:28, 30; 9:7, 11, 24, 26); the issue of “sonship/adoption (cf. υἱοθεσία in 8:15, 23; cf. 9:4; τέκνα in 8:16, 17, 21; cf. 9:7, 8; υἱός in 8:14, 19; cf. 9:9, 26); and the hope for eschatological glory (cf. δόξα in 8:18, 21 [cf. 30]; cf. 9:4, 23).” Moo, Romans, 555, n 2.

A comma or a full stop (semicolon, period)? All chapter, verse, and word divisions are later, as is all punctuation (e.g., 9:5) ὧν οἱ πατέρες καὶ ἐξ ὧν ὁ Χριστὸς τὸ κατὰ σάρκα [what goes here?] ὁ ὢν ἐπὶ πάντων θεὸς εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, ἀμήν. A comma or a full stop (semicolon, period)?

Romans 9 is not really about predestination, God’s freedom or sovereignty. Where are those words? It is about “the God who calls” (9:12) and “the God who shows mercy” (9:16). He is choosing people for different roles in salvation history. 9:13 NOTE: The Hebrew underlying μίσέω, often mistranslated “hate” (sanah) is not an emotional term, but an act of “spurning” in favor of another.

Fair to the Pharoah? Through the first 5 plagues (Ex. 9:7), either the Pharaoh’s heart was hard or Pharaoh hardened his own heart. God only begins to harden it in Ex 9:12.

9:21 ἢ οὐκ ἔχει ἐξουσίαν ὁ κεραμεὺς τοῦ πηλοῦ ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ φυράματος ποιῆσαι ὃ μὲν εἰς τιμὴν σκεῦος ὃ δὲ εἰς ἀτιμίαν; The key parallel text regarding pottery is 2 Timothy 2:20. The same Greek words apply to honored vessels of gold and silver (e.g., fine china), vs. common vessels of wood and clay (the everyday dishes). No vessels are made to smash!

Romans 9:21-24 22 εἰ δὲ θέλων ὁ θεὸς ἐνδείξασθαι τὴν ὀργὴν καὶ γνωρίσαι τὸ δυνατὸν αὐτοῦ ἤνεγκεν ἐν πολλῇ μακροθυμίᾳ σκεύη ὀργῆς κατηρτισμένα εἰς ἀπώλειαν, 23 καὶ ἵνα γνωρίσῃ τὸν πλοῦτον τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ σκεύη ἐλέους ἃ προητοίμασεν εἰς δόξαν; 24 Οὓς καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ἡμᾶς οὐ μόνον ἐξ Ἰουδαίων ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐξ ἐθνῶν,

9:22-23 9:22 “vessels of wrath have been fitted for and are headed toward destruction.” In other words, if you are under God’s wrath you are heading toward destruction. Who? See Romans 1:18-3:20! God is patient/his kindness is leading us to repentance (2:4) so we move toward….

9:23 “vessels of mercy have been prepared for and are headed toward glory.” In other words, if you under God’s mercy, glory is on the way. Similar is 1 Peter 2:8 “They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do” (NIV). What is destined is not that some would stumble, but that those who disobey/fail to listen WILL stumble.

9:24-29 God’s Word stands for both Jews and Gentiles A KEY example of Paul extending the meaning. Who are “not my people” in Hosea? Who are they in Romans?

Righteousness Reaffirmed Part 1 – NOT from works of the Law 9:30-10:5 Righteousness Reaffirmed Part 1 – NOT from works of the Law A 1-way street – not by pursuing as if by works, but from faith you get it!

10:4 – A great hinge 10:4 4 τέλος γὰρ νόμου Χριστὸς εἰς δικαιοσύνην παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι Note similarities with 1:16-17. Ends the Law discussion (after 10:5). Pivots to the Gospel, 10:6-15. What does “end” mean (next slide)? Does “culmination” work?

Christ the “End” of the Law (10:4) Moo, Romans, 638, states: Does “end” mean (1) “termination,” as in the sentence “The end of the class finally came!” or (2) “goal” as in the sentence, “The end of government is the welfare of the people”; or (3) “result,” as in the sentence “She did not foresee the end of her actions.” Each of these meanings is possible for the Greek word telos, and each is attested by Paul.

Righteousness Reaffirmed 10:6-10:15 Righteousness Reaffirmed Part 2 – Christ Proclaimed = The Word of Faith for ALL

10:9 ὁμολογέω “say the same thing” NOT a work Νote actives in 10:9 turn passive in 10:10. Word-based; acknowledge what here? Compare 1 John 1:9-10 Where in worship???

κύριον Ἰησοῦν (10:9-13) What does it mean to confess “Jesus is LORD” in light of the OT passage quoted in 10:13 from Joel 2:32 (cf. Phil 2:10-11)? Yahweh 6,000+ times in OT (Exodus 3:14-15) Pharisaic fear of misusing the name, replaced in reading with Adonai (“lord”) and with κύριος in the Septuagint and NT.

Consequently, faith comes by hearing and the message is heard through the…. Call on the Lord Jesus The Word of Christ (10:17)

In the NT these 2 normally occur OUTSIDE the context of the gathered community of believers (see 10:8,14-15). Κηρύσσω = proclaim, herald as a town crier to unbelievers Τo translate “preach” does not communicate this in our culture. Who does it/where? Εὐαγγελίζομαι = share good news; evangelistic (10:15)

When the believers are gathered, the NT usually says they get (12:6,7): διδάσκω = instruction προφητεύω = taking God’s Word and making it relevant/applying it

“obey” is a terrible translation of ὑπήκουσαν in 10:16 (cf “obey” is a terrible translation of ὑπήκουσαν in 10:16 (cf. 1:5; 6:16; 15:18; 16:26. What is the root meaning? And the parallel word? Ἀλλ᾽ οὐ πάντες ὑπήκουσαν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ. Ἠσαΐας γὰρ λέγει· κύριε, τίς ἐπίστευσεν τῇ ἀκοῇ ἡμῶν;

NOTE the 5 ἀκούω words Though it may see like it at the moment, faith does not come by decision, intel-lectual comprehension,… Note: no mention of baptism here. Do not make it a legalistic necessity for salvation (cf. circumcision)

Hearing is passive (10:17) Yet, like Jesus, call people to repent, believe, etc. The word does the work Faith is listening; letting yourself be given to, but you can actively reject (10:16). See ἀπειθοῦντα καὶ ἀντιλέγοντα in 10:21.

Finally, it is for “all” who hear. In 10:11-13 = anyone, no difference, Lord of all blesses all who call, everyone who calls = same Greek word πᾶς). In other words, God calls ALL who hear to believe. BUT SEE OUTLINE C. 4

Double predestination and the Calvinist TULIP scheme is wrong. This is not ABOUT God’s sovereignty or freedom either Where can humans (e.g., ancient Israelites, Gentiles, Jews, Californians, South Dakotans, etc.) actively cause trouble, disrupt the plan and intention of God? (v. 16, 21)

kalhmevra eujcaristw` poluv God sends out the Word of the Christ/Messiah Starting at Romans 10:16 are reaction(s) and response(s) --- see Outline

The key is the paradox of Monergism – Romans 9 Who chooses, works, calls, pursues? a one-way street, an either/or and Resistability (10:16, 21) Which does Calvinsim reject? T.U.L.I.P.? Keep going through 11.

Romans 11:1-7 – Key Greek 11:1 μὴ ἀπώσατο Aorist middle, push away from himself (see 10:21) 11:5-6 5 οὕτως οὖν καὶ ἐν τῷ νῦν καιρῷ λεῖμμα κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν χάριτος γέγονεν· 6 εἰ δὲ χάριτι, οὐκέτι ἐξ ἔργων,.. 7 Τί οὖν; ὃ ἐπιζητεῖ [What? How? Why?] Ἰσραήλ, τοῦτο οὐκ ἐπέτυχεν, ἡ δὲ ἐκλογὴ ἐπέτυχεν· οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ ἐπωρώθησαν, AS WITH the Pharaoh, God’s response to those we reject Him.

Romans 11:7-17 – Key Greek 11:12 εἰ δὲ τὸ παράπτωμα αὐτῶν πλοῦτος κόσμου καὶ τὸ ἥττημα αὐτῶν πλοῦτος ἐθνῶν, πόσῳ μᾶλλον τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῶν. 14 εἴ πως παραζηλώσω μου τὴν σάρκα καὶ σώσω τινὰς ἐξ αὐτῶν. 15 εἰ γὰρ ἡ ἀποβολὴ αὐτῶν [NOT rejection, but loss] 17 Εἰ δέ τινες τῶν κλάδων

Romans 11:18-25 Key Greek and the Olive Tree Analogy 20 καλῶς· τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ ἐξεκλάσθησαν, σὺ δὲ τῇ πίστει ἕστηκας [tense?]. 23 κἀκεῖνοι δέ, ἐὰν μὴ ἐπιμένωσιν τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ, ἐγκεντρισθήσονται How many trees are there?

Bow Tie Diagram (search my name on YouTube for a 12-minute overview) The Promise Gen. 3:15 Gentiles Israel Lost Sheep of Israel The Remnant Creation was “very good” Gen. 1:31 Creation Restored Rev. 21-22 New Twelve David Pentecost Acts 2 Abraham chosen Gen. 12 The Christ—Center of Salvation History All People, Isa 49:6; Matt 28:19

God’s 1 Israel New Testament Believers/ Branches Old Testament Patriarchs, roots

All Israel will be saved = the whole tree 25 Οὐ γὰρ θέλω ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο, ἵνα μὴ ἦτε [παῤ] ἑαυτοῖς φρόνιμοι, ὅτι πώρωσις ἀπὸ μέρους [partial or temporal] τῷ Ἰσραὴλ γέγονεν [tense?]. ἄχρι οὗ τὸ πλήρωμα τῶν ἐθνῶν εἰσέλθῃ See Ephesians 3. In the NT, except for 1 Cor 15:51, the mystery is always now revealed!

Romans 11:26-27 26 καὶ οὕτως πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ σωθήσεται, καθὼς γέγραπται· ἥξει ἐκ Σιὼν ὁ ῥυόμενος [Hebrew = “to Zion;” LXX “on account of Zion”], ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ἰακώβ. 27 καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῖς ἡ παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη, ὅταν ἀφέλωμαι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν……

Romans 11:32 & Doxology 32 συνέκλεισεν γὰρ ὁ θεὸς τοὺς πάντας εἰς ἀπείθειαν, ἵνα τοὺς πάντας ἐλεήσῃ. 33O [the] depth of [the] riches and wisdom and knowledge of God; How unfathomable his judgments And incomprehensible his ways. 34“Indeed, who knew [the] mind of [the] Lord? Or who has become his counselor?”

Romans 11:32 & Doxology 35“And who has given previously to him and it will be repaid to him?” 36Because all things [are] from him and through him and to him To him [is] the glory into the ages, amen! No Verb. What should we assume? Check Luke 1:28. Note also 16:20, 27, etc.