THEOLOGICAL CENTRE FOR ASIA
ROMANS 9:6-13
AN EXEGETICAL PAPER SUBMITTED TO
DR CHUL WOO LEE
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS OF
BNT524 CONTEMPORARY HERMENEUTICS
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1
OVERVIEW OF ROMANS 9-11 1
TRANSLATION OF ROMANS 9:6-13 3
INNER TEXTURE 4
Repetitive Texture and Pattern 4
Opening-Middle-Closing Texture and Pattern 6
INTERTEXTURE 7
Oral-Scribal Intertexture 7
Social Intertexture 11
FOCUS: TRUE ISRAEL AND ELECTION 12
CONCLUSION 15
BIBLIOGRAPHY 17
INTRODUCTION
This exegetical paper will be dealing on Rom 9:6-13. In order to understand this passage, an overview of chapters 9 to 11 will be considered as it forms part of Paul’s discussion (although it is possible take into consideration the entire epistle, it is not necessary to discuss beyond the context). Next, a proposed translation of the text is done highlighting the variants that exists in the passage. Then, a socio-rhetorical analysis using inner texture and intertexture will be used to draw out a clearer understanding of the passage. Finally, with the help of the analysis, the meaning of true Israel and the understanding of sovereign election will be discussed. This understanding of this focus is fundamental in correcting, if any, the misinterpretation of God’s promises by the Jews and believers at Rome, and as well as for us today.
OVERVIEW OF ROMANS 9-11
Romans chapter 8 ends in a most glorious and victorious statement. Paul says that he is convinced that nothing is able to separate him and the believers from the love of God (Rom 8:38-39). However, he begins in chapter 9 with great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart (9:2). It would seem strange to see a sudden shift in Paul’s attitude in the beginning of chapter 9. The relation of chapters 9 to 11 to their context – as well as, of course, their purpose – has been the subject of a great deal of scholarly discussion. At first glance, the discontinuity of this portion of the epistl...
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...ion of Christian Origins. New York: Crossroad, 1994.
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Piper, John. The Justification of God: An Exegetical and Theological Study of Romans 9:1-23. 2d ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1993.
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Witherington, Ben, III. Paul’s Letter to the Romans: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004.
. Paul’s Narrative Thought World: The Tapestry of Tragedy and Triumph. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1994.
Ruden, Sarah. Paul among the People: The Apostle Reinterpreted and Reimagined in His Own Time. New York: Pantheon, 2010. Print.
It is the author's portrayal of Paul, however, that most promotes the theme throughout the story. Paul's most striking trait is his obsession that, although is an obvious correlate to his...
The progression of the letter starts with an introduction by Paul where he greets and bless his audience, the church of Ephesus, and introduces himself. It follows on explaining that they have been predestined in God's plan for His glory. It continues by stating that we have dead because of our sins but now we ar...
An awareness of the historical-cultural background of Paul’s letter to Philemon will aid in interpretation of the text. The information gleamed should allow for a greater contextual appreciation. With this knowledge in hand, the reader can grasp a deeper understanding of the theological teachings of the book of Philemon.
While acknowledging the divergent views of Nygren and Bornkamm that Romans reflects Paul's past experience, this essay, however, sides with the view that the Sitz im Leben of Romans manifests itself as a letter addressed to the social interactions between Jews and Gentiles and the situation of the Roman Jewish community whom Paul hopes to persuade, as in 14:1 and 15:3, to build up a Christian community net-work in order to give concrete support to his mission to Spain and spiritual support for his journey to Jerusalem (L. K. Lo, 1998 and Ziesler, 1989). This manifestation is again revealed in Paul's discussion of the commonality of sinfulness of Jews and Gentiles in 1:18-32 and 2:21-24, arguing that their solidarity in sin has put them in the same situation of guilt and powerlessness (Lo, 1998). The problem of human sin affecting Jews and Gentiles can only be solved by the divine righteousness which comes to the rescue of human beings in their collective predicament and which is, as in 1:17, primarily a saving power available to all who have faith in and respond to Jesus Christ (Ziesler, 1989). It is therefore against this background that this essay will attempt to discuss Pauline doctrine of justification by faith as understood by scholars like Ziesler, Barclay, Kasemann, Lo and Heinecken and to highlight where relevant differences in their perceptions of the doctrine. In its latter part, this essay will take issue with contentions that the doctrine constitutes only a subsidiary crater (Schweitzer), that justification is only the consequence rather than the content of the gospel (Molland) and that Christology rather than justification is the theme of the epistle (Friedrich) and will argue that the doctrine is so important and...
Metzger, B.M. & Coogan, M.D. “The Oxford Companion to the Bible”. Oxford University Press. New York, NY. (1993). P. 806-818.
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In Rogers’ article “Caesar and Christ” from the journal Aspects of Western Civilization: Problems and Sources in History the New Testament verses of the bible are presented by the synoptic gospels’ authors and Paul. There is an obvious shift between the synoptic gospels’ authors and their contemporary Paul: Paul focuses on Christianity’s award for having faith in face of opposition and what the less fortunate receive; whereas the synoptic gospels’ authors present the message for how Christians should give back to the less fortunate.
Awwad,Johnny 2011. From Saul to Paul: The Conversion of Paul the Apostle. Theological Review vol 32, pgs 1-14
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death" (Rom 8:1-2). Paul believes if you are in Christ Jesus, then you will be saved. Because of Jesus' selflessness, he has freed us from sin and death. God had created the world through wisdom and with Adam we then were under the reign of sin. Then, with the resurrection of Jesus, He freed us from the law and we entered into a period of grace with God. We are living by the Spirit in an era of grace, so therefore we should be dead to sin. Paul explains this in greater detail in the beginning of Romans in 3:9.
Geisler, Norman L. and William E. Nix. A General Introduction to the Bible. Rev. and expanded. Chicago: Moody Press, 1996.
Wenham, G.J., Moyter, J.A., Carson, D.A. and France, R.T., eds. New Bible Commentary. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1998.
Paul, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, wrote a letter to believers in Rome. The letters is now known today as the book of Romans. In Romans, chapters 1-8, Paul addresses some of the challenges and situations the Roman believers were dealing with. Some of the things he touches upon are the natural world, culture, human relationships, and human identity. Paul’s letter gives the believers in Rome a ray of hope when there seems to be no hope.