As you read today's chapter you will be faced with the dilemma that has faced theologians for generations when we deal with the apostle Paul's writings. They are amazingly precise and complex! Paul writes like a first century lawyer, and that is in fact what he is. As a Pharisee by training, Saul of Tarsus was a debater and theologian by training and experience. Now as he moves into the life of the new faith community he sits to write the letter to Rome. It is a complicated well reasoned position paper arguing his theological position in typical Rabbinic style.
When I was in college I took 3 years of New Testament Greek. The text for the first year was the Gospel of John. It was exciting to read the Bible in the Greek language! I decided after just over a semester of study to delve into Paul's writings. I was completely lost. When I asked Dr. Gould - my Greek professor - why I was so over matched he explained that John's Gospel was like reading Dick and Jane, and Paul's writings were like reading law texts. I write this as a way to encourage you to hang in there!
In chapter 3 Paul seems to want to continue his argument regarding our sinfulness and God's gift of salvation made available to us through Jesus Christ. Verses 21-26 tell us that all who believe are given the gift of the righteousness of God through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Paul concludes, there is no room for boasting because apart from the law or good works we are justified by the law of faith. So it is not the law for Jews of good works for Gentiles that bring us to a place of peace with God, it is God's gift through faith alone.
Welcome to theology 101, 201, 301 etc.!
About Me
- Pastor Bill
- I am a committed follower of Jesus Christ, a happy husband, father and grandfather!
5 comments:
Well Bill,
I know who to take with me when I go to Greece. Being of Greek origin and never learning Greek, except words from the study bible and non-printable words my Dad used, would leave me at a disadvantage if I ever traveled back to Greece.
Paul indeed was a great writer. His encounter with Jesus changed his life forever. Could we imagine an encounter with Jesus the magnitude of Paul's encounter? This is only going to get better.
You are right in noting Paul's life changing encounter with Jesus. Paul was knocked off his high horse - literally - and everything changed for him.
When we come to meet Jesus everything changes as well. I want to know more and more, and I want the encounter to change me!
Let me know when we head to Greece - or even to Simeons in Ne Hartford - great Greek food!
Bill
I had to read this chapter several times, only to wait for the comments from the Pastor and other bloggers to help me get a grasp on the subject.
After all that, I had to switch to the Amplified Bible to break it down for me.
It appeared that most of it "was Greek to me."
But out of all the legalese, One sentence continued to jump out and comfort me. (verse 23 - 24)
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..."
Thank You, God; thank You Jesus.
Mark,
You are right on task here. Tough to break a leagal document into a useable phrase or two - but that, in my opinion, is what Paul is saying here!
Bill
The poem that Paul quotes reminds me of the saying of Augustine, something like, "If you have understood, what you have understood is not God."
I have to admit I struggle to understand the idea of the Jews first and Gentiles after. I understand how Paul is trying to maintain a careful balancing act, but I imagine how God views(ed) this in God's mind is some what different or maybe at least less linear than how Paul explains things.
My freshman year of college I wrote a paper on 'sola fide' - by faith alone vs. faith and works, etc., and I felt very enlightened at the time. I don't know if Paul and James would have fought on this topic, but I guess I lead towards James - "faith without works is dead." I wonder if Paul means something different, or is just saying the same thing in a different way. I got back and forth on what I think about that.
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