Romans 9:1-8
1. Please include Romans 10:1 in this reading, and then review the story of Moses in Exodus 32-34. In what ways do you think Paul could have been feeling somewhat as Moses did?
2. Here we get a full list of the items that answer Paul’s question way back in Romans 3:1-2, “What advantage has the Jew?” So let’s list those advantages aloud and ponder and honor the work of our forebears.
3. Perhaps we could say Romans 9:6-7 provide the thesis for chapters 9-11, reviving the question, “How can God’s promises be true and yet the Gentiles be included while Jews are excluded?” What is his thesis statement? What first fact does he refer to (Genesis 17:19; 21:12)?
4. Compare and contrast the use of the word “flesh” in Romans 9:8 with the uses of this word in Romans 8:1-13.
5. What joy or excitement comes to you from this text? What questions arise for you out of the reading of this text? What did you learn that was new to you, or a new way of looking at something? What does this text tell you about God and about yourself? About humans in general?
Further Sources
9:3 Exodus 32:32
9:4 Exodus 4:22; Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:1-2
9:7 Genesis 21:12
Outline of Romans 9-11
According to Richard B. Hayes, Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul (New Haven, CT: Yale University P, 1989), 64.
9:1-5 Lament over Israel
9:6-29 Has God’s word failed? Defense of God’s elective purpose.
9:30 - 10:21 Paradox: Israel failed to grasp the word of faith attested by God in Scripture.
11:1-32 Has God abandoned his people? No, all Israel will be saved.
11:33-36 Doxological conclusion.