© 2004 Tony Garland - contact@SpiritAndTruth.org
Topics Many Christians are
Uncomfortable With
These three chapters (Romans
9-11) are foundational to an understanding of the role of Israel in
the plan of God after having rejected her Messiah. Paul emphasizes
two key doctrines which many find unsettling:
the sovereignty of God,
the uniqueness of the nation of Israel in God's plan.
A dramatic shift in Paul's
presentation.
The chapter break is evident in the
transition which occurs from the lofty heights of Romans 8:35-39 and the dark valley of Paul's anguish over
Israel. This transition serves as an exclamation mark to us
as readers: take note! What follows
is very important teaching close to Paul's heart and also
that of the Holy Spirit!
Accursed from Christ for his
brethren
"Accursed" is ana'thema :
to be slain, doomed to destruction, without hope of redemption.
(This is the term applied by the Roman Catholic church to those who
are placed outside of the salvation of the church--they are
considered lost.) If it were possible, Paul would trade his own
salvation in order to see Israel accept Messiah Jesus. Paul may have
had the similar offer by Moses in mind ( Ex. 32:32 ) .
"according to the flesh"
Paul is sorrowful over his "countrymen"
( sungenw'n = together/with + kind/race =
relatives ) according to the flesh .
Paul is being especially careful that the reader understands that he
is speaking of the nation of Israel, Jews, and not
some "New Israel" or "Spiritual Israel" as some
teach in error.
National Israel
The
meaning which Paul attaches to Israel here and throughout the New
Testament is that of the physical offspring of Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob. Paul knows nothing of the idea that "the church
replaces Israel."
"the adoption"
"Adoption"
is huiothesi'a. Huios = "son," thesi'a is
from tithemi = "to place as." Israel has "sonship"
under God.
Israel's Adoption
In
Egypt, Israel was adopted by God ( Ex. 4:22 ) . She was called out of Egypt at her adoption (
Hos. 11:1
) The nation became God's special treasure ( Deu. 14:2 ) .
Believers are Adopted
The
security of a believer as God's adopted son ( Rom. 8:15 , 23
; Gal. 4:5
; Eph. 1:5
) extends also to the national adoption of Israel. If God can
"unadopt" Israel, then he can "unadopt" New
Testament believers and our salvation is insecure! The security of
adoption is based upon:
promises God has made (to believers and to Israel),
the character of God,
God is the One doing the work.
"the glory"
This
refers to the visible manifestation of God's localized presence,
often called His shekinah (dwelling) glory. His glory
descended upon Mt. Sinai at the giving of the Law ( Ex. 24:16 ) . His glory filled the tabernacle of Moses ( Ex. 40:34-38 ) and Solomon's Temple ( 1K. 8:11 ) . His glory will illuminate the New Jerusalem (
Rev. 21:11
cf. Rev. 22:5
).
"the covenants"
Various
covenants (plural) were made between God and the nation Israel:
Abrahamic Covenant - between God and Abraham ( Gen. 12:1-3 ; 15:18 ; 17:2-10 ),
Mosaic Covenant - between God and Israel as a nation, ( Ex. 24:7-8 ; 34:27 ),
Land Covenant - permanent possession of the Promised Land ( Deu. 29-30 ) ,
Davidic Covenant - between God and David ( 2S. 7:12-16 ; Jer. 33:20-25 ; Ps. 89:3 , 34 ),
New Covenant - Initially made with Israel, believers participate through Jesus ( Jer. 31:33 ; Mat. 26:28 ; Heb. 8:6 ).
Jewish
Covenants
These covenants are with Israel
--even the New Covenant. Apart from the work of Christ, Gentiles
would forever remain strangers from these formal promises made with
Israel ( Eph. 2:12 ) .
Source: Paul Enns, Moody Handbook of Theology, p. 35 (Mosaic Covenant added by instructor.)
"the giving of the law"
This refers to the Law of Moses given on Mt.
Sinai, which includes the Ten Commandments ( Ex. 20 ; Ne. 9:13-14 cf. John 1:17 ) . Paul spoke of this earlier when he discussed the
advantage of the Jew: "Chiefly because to them were committed
the oracles ( lo'gia, utterances ) of God." The
Gentiles were without the law ( Rom. 2:14 ) .
"the service of God"
"Service" is latrei'a : religious
service based in worship. The service of God took place in "God's
House" -- the Temple. The service of God in the Temple would be
meaningless if it were not for the fact that the glory of God (His
localized presence) resided there.
"the promises"
Paul
has already mentioned the covenants. Now he speaks of
additional promises which are not explicitly included in the formal
covenants.
The Coming Messiah
Intertwined
with the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants, many additional promises
concern the coming of the Messiah ( e.g., Deu. 18:15 ; Isa. 9:6-7 ; 42:1-7
). Many additional promises relate to the coming kingdom on earth,
the Millennial Kingdom. These promises concern topics such
as:
the Messianic reign from Jerusalem ( Isa. 2:1-4 ; Mic. 4:1-8 ),
the gathering of Israel to permanently possess the Promised Land ( Amos 9:8-15 cf. Isa. 11-12 ; Eze. 37:21-25 ),
the restoration of Jerusalem, a time of great blessing ( Isa. 65:19-25 cf. Isa. 62 ; Zec. 8:1-8 ).
How do we become aware of these
promises?
We become aware of these promises made
to Israel by:
carefully reading the entire Old Testament,
paying attention to Jewish expectations at Christ's first coming ( e.g., Acts 1:6 ).
"of whom are the
fathers"
This refers to Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob through whom the Abrahamic covenant was passed down to the
offspring of Jacob (who is the man "Israel" ( Gen. 32:28 ) . By mentioning "fathers" (plural),
Paul is excluding other descendants of Abraham who are not the
recipients of the promises to Abraham, for example:
Isaac's brother Ishmael - from whom the Arabs and Muhammed claim descent,
Jacob's brother Esau - from whom the Edomites and Idumaeans, including Herod the Great, descended.
"according to the flesh"
Paul uses the same phrase he used when describing
his countrymen ( Rom. 9:3 ) . Paul describes the dual origin of Jesus, born of
a virgin by the Holy Spirit. He is both God and Man.
According to his human nature, He came in the the line of the
Jews ( Mat. 1:1-18
; Luke 3:23-38
). According to his divine nature, He is from eternity ( John 1:1-3 ) .
the importance of His Jewish lineage
If Jesus were not a Jew by birth:
He would not qualify as the promised Messiah,
believing Gentiles would remain strangers to Israel's covenants ( Eph. 2:12 ) !
Our participation in salvation (the New Covenant) hinges upon the Jewishness of Jesus because the New Covenant was given to the Jews ( Jer. 31:31 ) .
"the eternally blessed
God"
There are three general ways the Greek
of this phrase has been understood:
"the blessed Christ is God."
"Christ is blessed by God."
"Christ is over all, God be blessed."
The original Greek
Differences
in translation are not due to differences among Greek texts, but due
to differences in how the phrase is parsed.
Context favors Christ as the subject
or object of blessing
The context of Paul's lament
concerning the special privileges of Israel reaches a climax in her
production of Messiah. The focus is on Christ and especially
Israel's failure to accept her own Messiah. It makes less sense for
the last phrase to be taken as a doxology of the Father ( "God
be blessed" ).