Paul's Love for Israel (Rom 9:1-5)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Paul’s Sworn Love for Israel
Paul’s Sworn Love for Israel
I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit,
I am telling the truth
I am not lying
My conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit
Why is Paul being so intense in his affirmation of love for his people Israel?
There is a mixed community in Rome with the Jewish element being the smaller in number.
Paul’s comments about the Jews previously could easily be misunderstood and used as fodder to incite bias and hate.
What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;
rom 2 1-
Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
Paul is now reassuring the church that he is a Jew and loves his people according to the flesh.
Paul is also about to say some things that are very difficult to hear and that is especially the case for the Jew.
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Romans Exegesis and Exposition
The prepositional phrase ἐν Χριστῷ (en Christō, in Christ) modifies the verb λέγω (legō, I say) rather than the noun ἀλήθειαν (alētheian, truth; so Cranfield 1979: 451) and denotes that Paul says these words under Christ’s control
Paul’s truthfulness is certified in the Holy Spirit and is therefore, infallible.
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Romans Exegesis and Exposition
In this instance his conscience has been informed by and is under the control of the Holy Spirit, so the Roman readers can be assured of the truthfulness of his assertion (so Lohse 2003: 265).
Paul does this elsewhere:
As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.
(Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.)
For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
What is Paul not lying about?
that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Romans Exegesis and Exposition
Indeed, Paul’s lamentation is reminiscent of the OT prophets who expressed grief over the sin and exile of their people
Think about Moses’ intercession for Israel.
Think about the OT prophets’ concern for Israel
Paul uses two expressions to describe his emotions:
λύπη μοί ἐστιν μεγάλη
My grief is great: great grief.
ἀδιάλειπτος ὀδύνη
Continual distress, pain.
Paul Follows Moses
Paul Follows Moses
For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Romans Exegesis and Exposition
The expression ἀπὸ τοῦ Χριστοῦ (apo tou Christou, from Christ) that follows ἀνάθεμα indicates that separation from Christ is intended.
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Romans Exegesis and Exposition
The verb should be interpreted to say that “I could wish to be cursed from Christ if that were possible, but of course such a wish is impossible.
Even though this is an impossible wish, it does not take away from the weightiness of the expression.
“But now, if You will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!”
This word accursed is anathema. It also appears here:
If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha.
Privilege is Good
Privilege is Good
who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises,
Israel is privileged because they were adopted as sons.
“Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Israel is My son, My firstborn.
The experienced God’s glory first hand
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
The were the recipients of the covenant
“Now not with you alone am I making this covenant and this oath, but both with those who stand here with us today in the presence of the Lord our God and with those who are not with us here today (for you know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which you passed; moreover, you have seen their abominations and their idols of wood, stone, silver, and gold, which they had with them); so that there will not be among you a man or woman, or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of those nations; that there will not be among you a root bearing poisonous fruit and wormwood.
They were given the law
“So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.
They were given the temple service
Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship,
They were given the promises
“And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers,
These all belong to the fathers
“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.
From them came the Christ
concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh,
