Romans 9:1-33
Following on from chapter 8 where Paul wrote that holy-people (sanctified
people, Christians, saints) cannot be separated away-from God's love
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord – he continues next regarding his
heart's desire for his kindred according to flesh.
Romans 9:1-5:
9:1I say truth in Christ, I do not lie, my
conscience bearing-witness-together with me in holy spirit .2that
there is great sorrow with me and unceasing pain with my heart –
.3for I used-to pray (for) I myself to be a
cursed-offering away-from Christ – on behalf of the brothers (who
are) my family-kinsmen according to flesh, .4the-people-who
are Israelites, of-whom (are) the adoption and the glory and
the covenant and the legislation and the rendering-of-service and
the promise, .5of-whom (are) the fathers and
out-from whom the Christ
(came) according to flesh – God being upon all (is)
blessed into the ages, with-certainty.
Paul writes:
- I am
saying truth (I lay out this collection of words for you in this letter,
the substance or content of which is the essential reality, the inherent
verity)
- in
Christ (within the sphere of action of Christ),
- I am
not lying (I am not telling a falsehood, a false statement; this phrase
is a figure of speech where Paul emphasizes that he is saying the truth
again by writing it in the opposite manner: say truth / not lie),
-
…during the same time that (while)…
- my
conscience is bearing witness together with me (the word “conscience”
means: a person’s knowing-awareness, the perception of what is right
which he put together for himself in his mind as a result of all that he
has already been taught and learned in relation to the one whom he
recognizes as his ruler, the one who has authority, ultimately this
authority should be the only true God; – my conscience is jointly
witnessing, attesting with its information, declaring its knowledge,
stating and confirming the following in conjunction with what I am
layout out before you here)
- in
holy spirit (within the sphere of action of the gift of holy spirit
within me)
…(both what I say and my conscience witness the same thing which is)
that…
- at
the present time there is great sorrow (a large amount of grief) with me
- and
incessant pain (sufferings without space in-between, assiduous distress)
with/in the center of my being –
- in
fact, I used-to pray (on several occasions I was continuing to spend
time expressing my prayerful wish or desire of my commitment as a vow)
- for
emphatically I myself to be a cursed-offering (an accursed thing, an
offering set-aside for destruction; refer to Leviticus 27:28 and Joshua
chapter 7)
- away
from Christ (however this is not possible because once a person becomes
a holy-person, such as Paul, then he remains a son of God with holy
spirit-life and this cannot change, as we read in Romans chapter 8, but
here Paul shows the depth of his sorrow and pain even to the point that
he could wish this to happen regarding himself) –
…on behalf of (in the interests of)…
- the
brothers who are my family-kinsmen according to flesh (specifically
referring to the brothers who are my relatives in accordance with the
flesh category only, but not the spirit category; my relatives who have
rejected the Christ and so they have not received God’s gift of holy
spirit),
- the
people who are Israelites (descendants of the man who was named
Israel),
- pertaining-to or belonging-to whom are
- the
adoption (being put/placed as sons; adoption was not by seed born within
them because sonship by seed was first made available by God via the
Lord Jesus Christ on the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2;
previously God had separated the nation of Israel out from among the
other nations and claimed them as His own, His adopted-sons)
- and
the glory (the importance, splendor, renown from God)
- and
the covenant (originally given to Abraham [some Greek texts have the
plural form “covenants” to indicate the inclusion of all the specific
covenants made by God to them])
- and
the legislation (law placement, the putting/placing of the law given to
them by God via Moses)
- and
the rendering (performance) of service to/for God
- and
the promise (originally made in Genesis 3:15, and which continued via
Abraham, Moses, and Jesus Christ [some Greek texts have the plural form
“promises” to indicate the inclusion of all the specific promises made
by God to them]),
- pertaining-to or belonging-to whom are
- the
fathers (referring to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel, and all those great
men who instructed the people in God's words as fathers to their
children)
- and
out-from whom the Christ (the Anointed-one, the Messiah) came according
to flesh (refer to Romans 1:3) –
- God
- being upon all (He is presently and actively being on, upon, over, or
higher up than all people and things – not that God controls all, but He
is above it all, His authority is superior, and He will continue
according to what He says no matter what others may do to try to stop
Him)
- is
blessed into the ages,
- with-certainty (amen, truly, surely!).
The name Israel, which means God rules or commands, was given by God via
one of His angels to Jacob, the biological father of the twelve men
forming the twelve tribes of Israel; refer to Genesis 32:27, 28, 35:10,
and Hosea 12:4. In verse 4 above, Paul refers to “Israelites” (the
physical descendants of Jacob/Israel) and therefore includes those who
may call themselves “Judeans.” The record in I Kings chapter 12 details
the division of the nation of
Israel
into the 10 northern tribes (then referred to as
Israel)
and the 2 southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin (then referred to as
Judah).
Even though Israelites had such importance during and throughout all of
the items listed in verses 4 and 5(a) above, the only true God is
blessed. He is the One Who rules, commands, and Who is actively being
upon all relative-to
Israel
and the things pertaining-to the Christ because God is the source of His
will coming-to-pass as He promised in Genesis 3:15.
God is blessed. The adjective "blessed" means: good-worded, well-spoken.
The spoken-account of God's inner-thoughts is good/well. The words that
come from God are good/well. God is in the continuing and lasting
standing and state of blessedness. God - blessed, and this truth does
not change. God is the One Who bestows His blessings to others, and of
course, we are to bless (speak-well of) Him also.
How long is God blessed? Throughout the durations of lifetimes, for
eternity, forever (refer to Romans
1:25).
[Reference: Genesis chapter 17, 26:24, 28:10-15; Exodus 2:24, 3:6, 4:22,
13:5ff, 32:30-35; Numbers chapters 3-5; Deuteronomy chapters 7, 8, 29
and 30; Psalm 41:13; Matthew 1:1-23; Luke 3:23-38; Acts 2:22, 3:13 and
25, 13:16-41, 23:12-14; Romans 1:3, 11:1; II Corinthians 3:7, 11:22 and
31; Ephesians 1:3(a), 4:6; Philippians 3:4-7; I Timothy 2:7; Hebrews
chapter 9; I Peter 1:3.]
Verses 6-9:
.6But
(it is) not of-the-kind (that) the word of God fell2.
For not all the (people) out-from Israel
these-people (are) Israel, .7neither because they
are seed of Abraham all-people (are) children – but
"In Isaac seed will be called to you" – .8this is:
not the children of the flesh these-people (are) children of
God, but the children of the promise are calculated for seed,
.9for this (is) the word of promise, "According to
this time I will come and there will be a son to Sarah."
Paul explains: it is not of the sort (quality) as though the words that
God spoke (to/for/regarding
Israel)
fell out/off from the truth of what God said and it continues fallen
(failed, having no effect by not coming to pass as He said).
In truth…
- not
all the people out-from
Israel
(not everyone who is a descendant physically, genealogically of the man
named
Israel)
- these people are
Israel
(the true
Israel
regarding whom all of the items listed in verses 4 and 5(a) are
applicable),
- and
not because they are seed of Abraham (physically, genealogically)
- all
of these people are children (refer to Romans
4:11
and 12) –
…but contrary to the physical flesh or genealogy being the criteria, the
word that God spoke to Abraham was…
- "In
Isaac seed will be called to you (referring to Abraham; this is an
important scripture because Abraham had a son named Ishmael by a
servant-girl before he had a son named Isaac, but Abraham's true seed is
called in his second son – Isaac; Isaac was the promised son, and the
Christ would be born according to the promise; refer to Genesis 3:15,
21:9-13; Hebrews 11:17 and 18)" –
…this is (further clarification):
- not
the children of the flesh (those who are born relative to the flesh,
directly descended flesh-wise, their genealogy from Abraham) these
people are children of God (in other words: the people who are Abraham's
descendants by way of flesh, whether via Isaac or Ishmael and thus claim
to be God's children based only on the flesh, are definitely not
the children of the only true God),
- but
contrary to flesh being the criteria,
- the
children of the promise are calculated for seed (the people who are born
relative to the promise are counted, reckoned, computed into/for seed of
Abraham; refer to Galatians 4:23-28),
…for this is the word of promise (the spoken-account of God’s
inner-thoughts consisting of His proclamation, the declaration of God’s
intention)…
- "In
accordance with this specific time (precise period, season) I will come
and there will be a son to Sarah (refer to Genesis
18:10
and 14)."
This is the promise spoken by an angel (a spirit-being delivering God's
message) to make known that Sarah, Abraham's wife, would have a son.
After God issued His words which were the promise to Abraham, then it
was up to Abraham to believe that-which God gave him to believe. Abraham
was not to attempt to make Ishmael this son of promise because he was
not, but Abraham was to believe what God said to him, and by doing so
his wife Sarah gave birth to a son and they called him Isaac (refer to
Romans 4:13-25).
[Reference: Genesis chapters 16, 18 and 21, 25:1-4 and 12-18,
35:22(b)-26; Exodus 1:1-7; John 8:12-59; Romans chapter 4; Galatians
3:6-29, 4:22-31; Hebrews 11:8-19.]
Verses 10-13:
.10But not only (this), but also
Rebecca having conception from one (man), Isaac our father –
.11for not-yet having been born nor having practiced
something good or bad, in order that the purpose of God according to
selection may remain not from works but from the (One)
calling, .12it was said that, "The greater will
serve-as-a-slave to the lesser," .13according as it was
written2, "I loved1 Jacob but I hated Esau."
Not alone is there the example provided in verses 6(b)-9 above, but on
the contrary, there is also Rebecca having conception (the Greek word
literally refers to her lying down in a marriage bed and the effect was
that she conceived; in fact she had twins) from one man, her husband
Isaac who is our father (forefather) –
- for
not-yet having been born (before the birth of the two boys)
- nor
having practiced something good or bad (before either of them habitually
did anything good that issues from God or anything bad that does not
issue from God [some Greek texts have the word “slight / trivial”
instead of “bad”]),
- for
the purpose and result that God’s purpose (proposal, what God purposed
beforehand, that-which He put or set before Himself to do in advance of
it actually occurring, His plan)
- which is in accordance with selection (election, God’s picking or
choosing out)
- would remain (stay)
- not
out-from works (originating from deeds, things wrought, effected, or
produced by their actions expending their energy, not because of any
merit due for works done by either of the boys)
- but
on the contrary, God’s purpose would remain from the One calling (God
Himself because He is the One Who is inviting, and then it is up to
those involved to accept or reject the call/invitation),
- it
was said (spoken by definite words being uttered) that,
- "The
greater (referring to the older brother) will serve as a slave to the
lesser (referring to the younger brother – this was contrary to the
usual family laws or customs of that time-period; these were prophetic
words spoken by God to Rebecca; refer to Genesis 25:23)”,
- just
as what was previously written in the old covenant writings many years
later of what God spoke regarding the brothers after they had lived
their lives,
- "I
loved1 Jacob (the younger brother who was later renamed
Israel;
the verb "to love1” comes from the Greek word agape
which is God’s kind of love)
- but
I hated Esau (I had active ill-will towards the older brother)" (refer
to Malachi 1:2 and 3).
The purpose of God according to selection did not come as merited wages
for something either of the twins (Jacob or Esau) did. God was not
forced to give either of them a blessing, but what God said to Rebecca
came to pass.
As regards to their behavior – Jacob gave God recognition of His position
as God, and wanted to receive all of God's blessings, and so he lived
his life in order to obtain all that God said was available, even though
at times Jacob did not do things in a manner which was fitting of
someone who would be blessed by God from the fleshly viewpoint, but he
believed what God said. Esau on the other hand sold his birthright to
Jacob for food. He did not value his birthright as the eldest son of
Isaac, and so he did not value God's position and authority over His
people – he did not believe what God gave him to believe (refer to
Hebrews
12:16
and 17).
[Reference: Genesis 25:21-34, 36:1-8 and 43, 50:24; Leviticus 26:42;
Numbers 24:17-19; Deuteronomy 32:9; II Samuel 8:14; Psalm 47:4; Isaiah
41:8, 44:2-5; Jeremiah 49:10; Malachi 1:2 and 3; Romans 4:17; I
Thessalonians 2:12; Hebrews 12:16 and 17.]
Verses 14-18:
.14Therefore what will we say? (There is)
not unrighteousness with God, is there? – (no) – may it not
become! – .15for He says to Moses, "I will be
merciful-towards whom ever I may be merciful, and I will have
pity-for whom ever I may have pity." .16Therefore
consequently (it is) not of the (person) intending nor
of the (person) running, but (it is) of the
(One) being merciful – God.
.17For the writing says to Pharaoh that,
"With-a-view-to this same-thing I raised you up-out-from
(other people) so-that I may point-out My ability in you
and so-that My name may be throughly-messaged in all the earth".
.18Therefore consequently, whom He intends He is
merciful-towards and whom He intends He hardens.
Following-on logically from the previous verses, what will we say
(mindfully tell others)? There is not unrighteousness (unjustness,
injustice) at rest beside, at or with God, is there?
The answer: No! The Greek construction of this question indicates that
the expected answer is "no." Then Paul confirms the negative answer by
writing: may it not become! May that not come to pass! May that not
happen! The thought of such a thing being so repulsive to Paul is
conveyed in his expression of may it not become or come into being that
such a thing would occur at any time! There is not unrighteousness with
the only true God.
In truth, God says to Moses…
- "I
will be merciful (I will show mercy, actively not bestow merited
judgment, I will withhold punishment even though it will be deserved,
and thus I will give active relief)
- towards whom ever I may be merciful,
- and
I will have pity (I will have a
tender feeling of unhappiness or distress on seeing the ills being
experienced by another)
- for
whom ever I may have pity."
This is a quotation from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the old
covenant writings):
Exodus 33:18-23:
And (Moses)
says, Manifest thyself to me.
And (God)
said, I will pass by before thee with my glory, and I will call by
my name, the Lord, before thee: and I will have mercy on whom I will
have mercy, and will have pity on whom I will have pity.
And (God)
said, Thou shalt not be able to see my face; for no man shall see my
face, and live.
And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place
by me: thou shalt stand upon the rock;
And when my glory shall pass by, then I will put
thee into a hole of the rock; and I will cover thee over with my
hand, until I shall have passed by.
And I will remove my hand, and then shalt thou see
my back parts; but my face shall not appear to thee.
God is willing to listen to those people who want to see Him, who want to
be close to Him. God did all that was available to do for
Moses in response to Moses’ request. Moses did not force God into
showing him mercy or pity or anything else! God is God, and He is the
One Who gives by the freedom of His own will.
Paul continues in verse 16: following-on logically in correspondence to
what is written in previous verses, it is (referring to the truth that
God does what He says, God’s words come to pass, His purpose according
to selection occurs)…
- not
of/from the person intending (willing, with active volition and desire)
- nor
of/from the person running (hastening, hurrying, moving quickly),
- it
is of/from the One Who is being merciful – God.
The reference to a person intending to bring God's blessing to pass for
himself is referring to Jacob, who willingly did whatever he thought
necessary to obtain all the blessings that God had available. The
reference to the person running to bring God's blessing to pass for
himself is referring to Esau, who tried to undue the selling of his
birthright to Jacob by running to be in the first position/place to
receive all the blessings that God had available via their father,
Isaac. God's blessings are not bestowed because of human-will or
human-effort.
Paul continues: in truth, the writing says (it records in Exodus
9:16 what God via Moses said) to Pharaoh that…
- "With-a-view-to this same-thing (for this purpose) I raised you up out
from other people (I set you)
- in
such a manner that I would point-out (indicate, as though with My
finger, display)
- My
ability in you (My able-power, capability during the time of your
existence)
- and
in such a manner that My name (the fullness of everything involved with
Myself, all that I am and will continue to be, all of My
authoritative-power, ability, workings, etc, My distinguishing and
distinctive constitution, character, and quality)
- would be thoroughly declared in all the earth (proclaimed throughout
every part of the earth)".
Following-on logically in correspondence to what is written above…
- whom
God intends
- He
is merciful-towards (shows that person mercy, actively bestows merited
judgment, withholds punishment even though it is deserved, and thus God
gives active relief to whom He wills)
- and
whom He intends
- He
hardens (makes rigid and inflexible as a leaf being dried-up; because of
Pharaoh’s refusal to partake of God's supply of "water" which is God's
spiritual blessing, he became stiff, like a leaf having detached itself
from the tree that was to be its source of water and nourishment to give
and maintain life).
God makes His own decisions. God allows/permits people to become hard
against Him. Pharaoh rejected what God had said. God did not force
Pharaoh to be that way, but it was his own free-will decision against
God. The consequences of rejecting God, and what He supplies, causes
hardness in the heart of that person.
[Reference: Genesis chapters 25 and 27; Exodus 8:15 and 32,
9:13-17 and 34, 33:9 - 34:7; Joshua 2:10 and 11, 9:9; Romans 2:5; Titus
3:4-6; James 5:11.]
Verses 19-26:
.19Therefore you will say to me, "Why
therefore does He yet blame, for who stood-against2 His
deliberate-determination?" .20Oh man!, who are you,
the (man) answering-back to God? The molded-thing will not
say to the (person) having molded (it), "Why did you
make me thus?”, will it? – (no.) .21Or, the potter
has authority of the clay to make out-from the same lump the vessel
indeed for honor and the (vessel) for dishonor, doesn't he? –
(yes.)
.22But if God, intending to point-out the wrath
and to make-known His ability, carried in much patience vessels of
wrath having been fully-equipped2 into destruction,
.23(it is) even in
order that He may make-known the wealth of His glory on vessels of
mercy which He prepared-beforehand into glory .24whom
also He called – us – not only out-from Judeans but also
out-from Gentiles; .25as also He says to
Hosea, "I will call the (people who are) not My people, My
people, and the (daughter) not having been loved1,2,
having been loved1,2" – ".26and there will be
in the place where ever they will be called not My people, there
they will be called sons of (the) living God."
Paul continues by asking questions that someone may want to ask regarding
this subject, and he provides the answers.
Following-on logically from what is written in previous verses, you
(singular individual) will mindfully tell me, "Why therefore does God
still blame (find fault because of some incompleteness), for who stood
against/anti (withstood, resisted) and continues to stand against God’s
deliberate-determination (His purposed will)?"
The answer:
- Oh
man (this expression refers to a human-being whether male or female)!,
who are you, the man answering back/again to God (replying against Him)?
- The
thing molded (formed from clay or as plastic molded into a shape
adaptable to its maker’s need) will not mindfully tell the person who
has molded it, "Why did you make me in this manner?",
- will
it? No! The Greek construction of this question indicates that the
expected answer is "no."
- Or,
the potter has authoritative-power (permitted right) pertaining to the
clay to make (to produce) out-from the same lump (mass of clay) the
vessel indeed for honor (the utensil into being esteemed to have value,
deemed to be worthy of price) and the vessel for dishonor (the utensil
into lack of honor, esteemed to lack value, deemed not to be worthy of
price),
- doesn't he? Yes! The Greek construction of this question indicates that
the expected answer is "yes."
But if/since God…
- intending (willing, with active volition and desire)
- to
point-out the wrath (to indicate, as though with His finger, to display
His lasting angry vengeance, like the heat of a burning-fire which is
not a spur-of-the-moment thing on the His part)
- and
to make personally known His ability (able-power, capability),
…carried (He bore, brought) within a lot of patience (long-suffering,
long-temperedness, long-forbearance toward/with)…
- vessels that were the objects of His wrath
- which were fully-equipped and continue made fully-equipped (these people
were put down in a straight/right order and they stayed that way, the
pieces framed together, they were fitted-out)
- for
destruction (directed into loss, with a view to perdition, being utterly
lost and ruined away-from God),
…the purpose and result for God tolerating these vessels of wrath is
emphatically that He would make personally known the wealth of His glory
(the richness of His importance, splendor, renown) down-on…
- vessels that are the objects of His mercy
- which He prepared-beforehand (previously made ready)
- for
glory (directed into importance, with a view to splendor, renown)
- whom
also He called (invited; refer to verse 7 above)
- – us
(all of us who are holy-people because we have received the gift of holy
spirit, we who truly are Christians, saints) –
- not
only out-from Judeans (not alone do we include people from the Judean
background)
- but
on the contrary, in addition out-from Gentiles (we also include people
from the Gentile background, from among nations other-than
Israel,
other ethnic groups);
…as also God says to Hosea (recorded in Hosea 1:10
and
2:23)…
- "I
will call the people who are not My people,
- My
people (the word “people” here is a singular noun
laos
meaning: a mass or group of people collectively as one unit, one united
assembly),
- and
the daughter who has not been loved1 (as verse 13 above) and
continuing not loved,
- having been loved1 and continuing loved” –
- "and
there will be in the place (location) where ever they will be called not My people,
- there in that place at a future time they will be called sons of the
living God (God Who is living, He is presently and actively alive)."
Even though at the time when God gave this prophecy to Hosea it referred
to all of the children of Israel/Judah together, here in the Book of
Romans we learn that the fullness of this prophecy also includes
Gentiles (refer to Romans 8:14-17).
[Reference: Genesis 2:7; Isaiah 29:16, 45:9 and 10; Jeremiah 18:5-10;
Hosea 1:1 - 2:23 for context and details; Acts 10:45, 14:16; Romans 1:1,
6, 7, 16-18, 2:10, 3:29, 8:14-17, 20 and 28-30, 10:12, 15:4; I
Corinthians 1:24, 12:13; II Corinthians 3:3, 6:16; Galatians 3:7-9 and
26-28, 4:6 and 7; Ephesians 1:17-23, 2:5-10, 3:6 and 16; Colossians
1:27, 3:4 and 11; I Thessalonians 1:19; I Timothy 3:15, 4:10; II Timothy
2:20 and 21; I Peter 2:9 and 10.]
Verses 27-29:
.27But Isaiah shouts on behalf of Israel,
"If-ever the number of the sons of Israel may be as the sand of the
sea, the remnant will be saved, .28for (the) Lord,
completing-together and cutting-together, will do (His) word
on the earth." .29And according as Isaiah
said-beforehand2, "Except (the) Lord of Hosts
left-down seed in us, we should be caused-to-become as Sodom and we
should be made-like as Gomorrah."
Isaiah cries out in the interests of
Israel
(refer to Isaiah
10:20-23 and 28:22)…
- "If
it should ever happen that the number (total count) of the sons of
Israel
would be in comparison to the sand of the sea (which is innumerable,
numberless because of there being so much sand),
- the
remnant will be saved (it will be only those who are left down remaining
behind who will be made safe to/for/by God from sins and their
consequences, from destruction – the people who believe and do what God
says to them),
- for
the Lord (referring to God),
- completing-together (by bringing what He said together into completion,
fully completing the spoken-account of His inner thoughts, accomplishing
it together into its ending issue)
- and
cutting-together (by cutting so as to contract and limit what He does,
cutting His work short time-wise and making it concise by sticking
exactly to what He has said and not going over or under it),
- will
do His word on the earth (He will perform what He says He will perform
on the earth)."
Also just as Isaiah foretold (as he definitely communicated previously
with words, and what he said has not changed concerning
Israel;
refer to Isaiah 1:9)…
- "Except the Lord of Hosts left-down seed in us (unless God left down
remaining behind seed among us, “seed” is referring to the remnant who
believe God’s words),
- we
should be caused-to-become as
Sodom
(we Israelites would have become in comparison to
Sodom)
- and
we should be made-like as
Gomorrah
(would have been made similar to
Gomorrah)."
The significance of referring to God as “Lord”, which is the Greek word
kurios, emphasizes and confirms the validity and authenticity of God’s
lordship, dominion and authority, plus the respectful submission due to Him. It
is used in Greek as a translation for the Hebrew word Jehovah (Yahweh) which
refers to God in His covenant-relationship to that-which He created. The
word “Hosts” is taken from the plural Hebrew word
sabaoth meaning ‘hosts /
armies’. God is Lord of armies (these can include His angels, His
people, the heavenly bodies including the sun and moon as one unit). He
is the supreme universal ruler, the King and righteous Judge. All who go
into battle with the Lord of Hosts fighting for His cause will succeed;
those who serve and obey Him as their ruler are ultimately involved in
spiritual warfare.
Sodom
and
Gomorrah
were cities that were in existence during Abraham's lifetime, but while
Abraham was living God caused
Sodom and
Gomorrah
to be burned-up because of the evils (such as homosexuality, lesbianism,
different flesh, idolatry, etc) that the people in those cities were
doing against God and His people. God first made known to Abraham, via
one of His ruling angels, what would happen, and Abraham had time to ask
about any righteous people still living in those cities. God, via two
angels, had Abraham's brother's son,
Lot,
and his wife and two daughters rescued out from
Sodom
(refer to Genesis
13:13,
18:16-19:29;
II Peter 2:6; Jude 1:7).
[Reference: Genesis 18:16 - 19:29; Isaiah 1:2-9,
10:20-23, 28:22; Hosea 1:10; Romans 11:1 and 5; Hebrews 8:7-13; James 5:4.]
Verses 30-33:
.30Therefore what will we say? That Gentiles,
the (people) not pursuing righteousness, took-hold-of the
righteousness – even the righteousness from belief; .31but
Israel
pursuing (the) law of righteousness did not go-ahead-of
(the Gentiles) into (the) law. .32Because-of-what?
Because (they pursued it) not from belief but as from
works. They stumbled-against the stone of the stumbling, .33according
as it was written2, "Look!, I am putting in Sion (the)
stone of stumbling and (the) rock of offense, and the
(person) believing on him will not be brought-down-to-shame."
Following-on logically from the previous verses, what will we say
(mindfully tell others)? We will say that…
- Gentiles (people from nations other-than Israel/Judah),
- who
are the people not pursuing righteousness (not following or proceeding
earnestly after God’s justness, justice, the attributes of
justification, the quality of being and doing what is just/right from
God's point of view during the everyday living of their lives),
- took-hold-of the righteousness (in the active sense of receiving in a
downward motion seizing or overtaking the justness suddenly which was
presented to them by God via the Lord Jesus Christ) –
- even
the righteousness from belief (out-from or originating-from the
information that God makes known to people to have confidence-in, to
believe, to have faith-in, to trust with assured certainty and surety,
from belief concerning His son, the Lord Jesus Christ);
- but
Israel
- who
are the people pursuing the law pertaining-to righteousness (the
justification that God has set-up, divided-out and is being administered
to be customarily and rightly used among people)
- did
not go-ahead-of the Gentiles (go in front of, precede, overtake
or come suddenly and surprisingly sooner than the Gentiles did)
- into
the law pertaining-to righteousness.
Because-of-what (for what reason, why)?
- Because
Israel
pursued God’s righteousness
- not
from belief (out-from or originating-from the information that God makes
known to people to have confidence-in, to believe, to have faith-in, to
trust with assured certainty and surety)
- but
on the contrary, as from works (as though it could be attained out-from
or originating-from deeds, things wrought, effected, or produced by
their actions expending their energy; as obtaining a merited wage for
the works they would perform without believing what God said).
- They
stumbled against (beat towards, struck)
- the
stone of the stumbling (the stone that they struck themselves against),
- just
as it was written and continues written,
- "Look (behold, see, pay
attention)!, I presently
and actively place in
Sion
(Sion/Zion, the place where God dwells and proclaims His salvation and
pronounces His judgment; on earth this literally refers to the city of
David,
Jerusalem, part of which contains the mount/hill called Sion/Zion)
- the
stone of stumbling
- and
the rock of offense (the un-movable and un-moving rock, which was the
cause for stumbling, the trap-stick as when bait is attached and if it
is struck or hit against it springs the trap, an offense if a person did
not take heed to it),
- and
the person who is presently and
actively believing on him (having faith, trusting upon the Christ - the
stone of stumbling and the rock of offense)
- will
not be brought-down-to-shame (caused to have the feeling or emotion of
disgrace and guilt bringing reproach having recognized and being sorry
for one's own performance of an improper, ignominious or dishonorable
deed from God's point of view; this person will definitely not be
made to feel shame before another)."
The people of
Israel
thought that they could force God into making them righteous (justified)
based-on the amount of works that they did. They were going through a
lot of rituals and being at the "right place at the right time" – but
they did not believe what God said. It probably looked absolutely pious
and religious, but all the effort which they put into their work was not
done from their belief of God's Word to them! The stone
which they struck-against was the coming of God’s son, the Lord Jesus
Christ. They did not look to the coming of the savior, the Messiah, the
promised seed of Genesis
3:15,
but instead they struck against it/him.
[Reference: Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 8:11-15, 28:14-16; Matthew 16:16-18,
21:42; Acts 4:10-12, 10:43; Romans 1:16 and 17, 3:25 and 26, 4:2, 5:1,
7:12, 10:6-13; I Corinthians 1:23, 3:11; Galatians 2:16, 3:8-11, 4:4-6;
Philippians 3:9; Hebrews 10:38; I Peter 2:4-8. Note: verbs with a
superscript 2 (2) immediately following them indicate the
“perfect” tense – details are provided in the “Relevant Notes” link of
this study.]
