If you have not completed your own analysis of the Romans 9-11 and want the satisfaction of doing it yourself then don’t read any more of this Gem now.
Read it when you have done your work and wish to compare it with mine.
If we want to test what we think about the placement of Romans 9 – 11 in the midst of Romans 8:1-39 and Romans 12:1 and what follows, we need to do two things. You need to investigate the connections between Rom 8:39 and what precedes it, with the logical connections with 9:1 and what follows, along the connection between Rom 11:33-36 and Rom 12:1 and what follows. You also need to read and re-read the text of Romans 9-11. No, that is not Rom 9:11 but Romans chapters 9 to 11. Yes I know, disappointing isn’t it! “Ian I don’t read that much Scripture normally.” Yes maybe that is true and therein lies the problem of your understanding of the Word of God.
You have another problem and that is found in the text of Rom 11:33-36. This is one of those parts of Romans where many say Paul has three parts where he actually closes the letter. Is this doxology actually a closure of the letter or is it something else? You will have to decide what you think about that. Read it and try to find another way of explaining why it is there. Decide for yourself how it fits with the rest of the surrounding verses – before it and after it. Realise too that Rom 12:1 starts with a “therefore” so ask yourself what it is there for.
One further thing you need to do to assist your understanding of this passage is to pay attention to Paul’s questions throughout. You know already that one of Paul’s teaching techniques is to ask rhetorical questions. So colour all the rhetorical questions in Romans 9 – 11. (See Gem 148) It might help you determine what is going on. Be prepared to think hard about it all. This is not an easy passage and it has confounded “the experts” for a long while. Be prepared to grunt and sweat. After all nothing good came without blood, sweat and tears: His blood, your sweat and hopefully someone else’s tears.
The way I plan to tackle this is to move through section by section like we have been doing but because it is a complicated we will come to the end and then look back in overview and put it all together with the benefit of hindsight.
Ok there you have it: Your task: Should you choose to accept it
- Look at the connection between Rom 8:39 and Rom 9:1 and the surroundings – what is Paul saying? What is the connection in his mind?
- Look at the connection between Rom 11:33-36 and Rom 12:1 and the surroundings – what is Paul saying? What is the connection in his mind?
- Find all the rhetorical questions in Rom 9 – 11 – mark them in some way.
- Read the passage a number of times to get understanding.
- Are there Roman’s themes present through chapters 9 – 11? Is Paul still on about the same things?
I know I should take time out and give you time to do all this. It is now available to you online, so you can press on when you are good and ready.
Stop rehearsing your beginnings and write the rest of your story.
Anon
Obstacles won’t destroy your vision, but your attitude will.
Anon
God isn’t a God of the edges, with only an interest in beginnings. He is God of the whole show.
John Polkinghorne (Quarks, Chaos & Christianity)