The apostle first flatly denied the charge that God is unjust. God cannot be unjust because He is God. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Romans 9:14-24 - The Righteousness Of God's Choices
God desires to do His best for every man. But, as in the case of Esau, who wantonly sold his birthright, and of Pharaoh, who turned all God's revelations into occasions of aggravated resistance and stronger revolt, the Heavenly Father is sometimes compelled to cast away those who might assist in the execution of His purposes, and use inferior vessels made from common clay. In the earlier part of the conflict with the proud Egyptian monarch, it is said that he hardened his heart, and afterward that God hardened it, Exodus 8:15; Exodus 10:20. To the froward God becomes froward; that is, the means that He takes to soften and save will harden, just as the sun which melts wax hardens clay.
The same power which was thwarted and resisted by the unbelief and stubbornness of the Chosen People, has taken up us Gentiles, who have had none of their advantages, and what wonderful mercy has He shown to us! Riches of glory on vessels of mercy! Romans 9:23. What an argument for us all not to resist the grace of God, which strives with us so earnestly and continually! God can make saints out of the most unlikely material. Let us see that He has full opportunity. [source]
Chapter Summary: Romans 9
1Paul is sorry for the Jews 7All of Abraham not of the promise 18God's sovereignty 25The calling of the Gentiles and rejecting of the Jews, foretold 32The cause of their stumbling
Greek Commentary for Romans 9:14
Is there unrighteousness with God? [μη αδικια παρα τωι τεωι] Paul goes right to the heart of the problem. Μη Mē expects a negative answer. “Beside” (παρα para) God there can be no injustice to Esau or to any one because of election. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 9:14
Romans 4:1What shall we say? [τι ἐροῦμεν] See Romans 4:1; Romans 6:1; Romans 7:7; Romans 8:31; Romans 9:14,Romans 9:30. The phrase anticipates an objection or proposes an inference. It is used by Paul only, and by him only in this Epistle and in its argumentative portions. It is not found in the last five chapters, which are hortatory. [source]
Romans 1:18Ungodliness [ασεβειαν] Irreligion, want of reverence toward God, old word (cf. 2 Timothy 2:16). Unrighteousness (αδικιαν adikian). Lack (α a privative and δικη dikē) of right conduct toward men, injustice (Romans 9:14; Luke 18:6). This follows naturally from irreverence. The basis of ethical conduct rests on the nature of God and our attitude toward him, otherwise the law of the jungle (cf. Nietzsche, “might makes right”). Hold down the truth Truth (αλητεια αλητης alētheiaα alēthēs from λητω a privative and λαντανω lēthō or κατεχω lanthanō to conceal) is out in the open, but wicked men, so to speak, put it in a box and sit on the lid and “hold it down in unrighteousness.” Their evil deeds conceal the open truth of God from men. Cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:6. for this use of katechō to hinder. [source]
James 1:17From the Father of lights [ουκ ενι] “Of the lights” (the heavenly bodies). For this use of εν patēr see Job 38:28 (Father of rain); 2 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:17. God is the Author of light and lights.With whom (ενεστι par' hōi). For ενι εν para (beside) with locative sense for standpoint of God see εινε para tōi theōi (Mark 10:27; Romans 2:11; Romans 9:14; Ephesians 6:9.Can be no This old idiom (also in Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11) may be merely the original form of παραλλαγη en with recessive accent (Winer, Mayor) or a shortened form of παραλλασσω enesti The use of παραλλαχις eni en in 1 Corinthians 6:5 argues for this view, as does the use of τροπης αποσκιασμα eine Old word from Αποσκιασμα parallassō to make things alternate, here only in N.T. In Aristeas in sense of alternate stones in pavements. Dio Cassius has αποσκιασμος parallaxis without reference to the modern astronomical parallax, though James here is comparing God (Father of the lights) to the sun (Malachi 4:2), which does have periodic variations.Shadow that is cast by turning απο σκια Tropē is an old word for “turning” (from αποσκιαζω trepō to turn), here only in N.T. η τροπης αποσκιασματος Aposkiasma is a late and rare word Ropes argues strongly for this reading, and rather convincingly. At any rate there is no such periodic variation in God like that we see in the heavenly bodies. [source]
Greek Commentary for Romans 9:14
Paul goes right to the heart of the problem. Μη Mē expects a negative answer. “Beside” (παρα para) God there can be no injustice to Esau or to any one because of election. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 9:14
See Romans 4:1; Romans 6:1; Romans 7:7; Romans 8:31; Romans 9:14, Romans 9:30. The phrase anticipates an objection or proposes an inference. It is used by Paul only, and by him only in this Epistle and in its argumentative portions. It is not found in the last five chapters, which are hortatory. [source]
Irreligion, want of reverence toward God, old word (cf. 2 Timothy 2:16). Unrighteousness (αδικιαν adikian). Lack (α a privative and δικη dikē) of right conduct toward men, injustice (Romans 9:14; Luke 18:6). This follows naturally from irreverence. The basis of ethical conduct rests on the nature of God and our attitude toward him, otherwise the law of the jungle (cf. Nietzsche, “might makes right”). Hold down the truth Truth (αλητεια αλητης alētheiaα alēthēs from λητω a privative and λαντανω lēthō or κατεχω lanthanō to conceal) is out in the open, but wicked men, so to speak, put it in a box and sit on the lid and “hold it down in unrighteousness.” Their evil deeds conceal the open truth of God from men. Cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:6. for this use of katechō to hinder. [source]
Paul is fond of this rhetorical question (Romans 4:1; Romans 6:1; Romans 7:7; Romans 8:31; Romans 9:14, Romans 9:30). [source]
“Of the lights” (the heavenly bodies). For this use of εν patēr see Job 38:28 (Father of rain); 2 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:17. God is the Author of light and lights.With whom (ενεστι par' hōi). For ενι εν para (beside) with locative sense for standpoint of God see εινε para tōi theōi (Mark 10:27; Romans 2:11; Romans 9:14; Ephesians 6:9.Can be no This old idiom (also in Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11) may be merely the original form of παραλλαγη en with recessive accent (Winer, Mayor) or a shortened form of παραλλασσω enesti The use of παραλλαχις eni en in 1 Corinthians 6:5 argues for this view, as does the use of τροπης αποσκιασμα eine Old word from Αποσκιασμα parallassō to make things alternate, here only in N.T. In Aristeas in sense of alternate stones in pavements. Dio Cassius has αποσκιασμος parallaxis without reference to the modern astronomical parallax, though James here is comparing God (Father of the lights) to the sun (Malachi 4:2), which does have periodic variations.Shadow that is cast by turning απο σκια Tropē is an old word for “turning” (from αποσκιαζω trepō to turn), here only in N.T. η τροπης αποσκιασματος Aposkiasma is a late and rare word Ropes argues strongly for this reading, and rather convincingly. At any rate there is no such periodic variation in God like that we see in the heavenly bodies. [source]
For ενι εν para (beside) with locative sense for standpoint of God see εινε para tōi theōi (Mark 10:27; Romans 2:11; Romans 9:14; Ephesians 6:9. [source]