KJV: What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
YLT: What, then, shall we say? that nations who are not pursuing righteousness did attain to righteousness, and righteousness that is of faith,
Darby: What then shall we say? That they of the nations, who did not follow after righteousness, have attained righteousness, but the righteousness that is on the principle of faith.
ASV: What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:
| ἐροῦμεν | will we say |
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Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural Root: λέγω Sense: to utter, speak, say. |
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| ὅτι | That |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: ὅτι Sense: that, because, since. |
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| ἔθνη | Gentiles |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural Root: ἔθνος Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together. |
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| τὰ | - |
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Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Plural Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| διώκοντα | pursuing |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Neuter Plural Root: διώκω Sense: to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away. |
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| δικαιοσύνην | righteousness |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: δικαιοσύνη Sense: in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God. |
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| κατέλαβεν | have attained |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: καταλαμβάνω Sense: to lay hold of. |
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| δὲ | now |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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| τὴν | that [is] |
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Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| πίστεως | faith |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: πίστις Sense: conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it. |
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Greek Commentary for Romans 9:30
Second aorist active indicative of καταλαμβανω katalambanō old verb, to grasp, to seize, to overtake (carrying out the figure in διωκω diōkō (to pursue). It was a curious paradox. [source]
As Paul has repeatedly shown, the only way to get the God-kind of righteousness. [source]
See on perceived, Acts 4:13, and see on taketh, Mark 9:18; see on John 1:5. Compare attained ( ἔφθασεν , Romans 9:31). Rev., arrive at. See on Matthew 12:28. The meaning is substantially the same, only the imagery in the two words differs; the former being that of laying hold of a prize, and the latter of arriving at a goal. The latter is appropriate to following after, and is carried out in stumbling (Romans 9:32). [source]
or and that. Subjoining something distinct and different from what precedes, though not sharply opposed to it. Attained righteousness, that is not that arising from these works, but from faith. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 9:30
Rev., apprehended. Wyc., took not it. See on Mark 9:18; see on Acts 4:13. Comprehended, in the sense of the A.V., understood, is inadmissible. This meaning would require the middle voice of the verb (see Acts 4:13; Acts 10:34; Acts 25:25). The Rev., apprehended, i.e., grasped or seized, gives the correct idea, which appears in John 12:35, “lest darkness come upon you,” i.e., overtake and seize. The word is used in the sense of laying hold of so as to make one's own; hence, to take possession of. Used of obtaining the prize in the games (1 Corinthians 9:24); of attaining righteousness (Romans 9:30); of a demon taking possession of a man (Mark 9:18); of the day of the Lord overtaking one as a thief (1 Thessalonians 5:4). Applied to darkness, this idea includes that of eclipsing or overwhelming. Hence some render overcame (Westcott, Moulton). John's thought is, that in the struggle between light and darkness, light was victorious. The darkness did not appropriate the light and eclipse it. “The whole phrase is indeed a startling paradox. The light does not banish the darkness; the darkness does not overpower the light. Light and darkness coexist in the world side by side” (Westcott). [source]
The word, meaning originally to seize upon or lay hold of, occurs frequently in the New Testament in different phases of this original sense. Thus, to apprehend or grasp, Ephesians 3:18; Philemon 3:12, Philemon 3:13; Romans 9:30: of seizure by a demon, Mark 9:18: of something coming upon or overtaking, John 12:35; 1 Thessalonians 5:4: of comprehending, grasping mentally, as here, Acts 10:34; Acts 25:25. [source]
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]
That mentioned in Romans 9:30. Compare Philemon 3:9; Romans 1:16, Romans 1:17; Romans 3:20-22. [source]
They had knowledge of God and so were superior to the Gentiles in privilege (Romans 2:9-11), but they sought God in an external way by rules and rites and missed him (Romans 9:30-33). They became zealous for the letter and the form instead of for God himself. [source]
Present active indicative of αποτολμαω apotolmaō old word, to assume boldness Paul cites Isaiah 65:1 in support of his own courage against the prejudice of the Jews. See on Romans 9:30-33 for illustration of this point. [source]
Abstract for concrete (the elect). Obtained (επετυχεν epetuchen). Second aorist active indicative of επιτυγχανω epitugchanō old verb, to hit upon, only here in Paul. See Romans 9:30-33 for the failure of the Jews. Were hardened First aorist passive indicative of πωροω pōroō late verb, to cover with thick skin See note on 2 Corinthians 3:14 and note on Mark 3:5. [source]
Second aorist active indicative of επιτυγχανω epitugchanō old verb, to hit upon, only here in Paul. See Romans 9:30-33 for the failure of the Jews. [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]
The Holy Spirit who inspires our faith. Not as Lightfoot, spiritually. The words πνεύματι ἐκ πίστεως are not to be taken as one conception, the Spirit which is of faith, but present two distinct and coordinate facts which characterize the waiting for the hope of righteousness; namely, the agency of the Holy Spirit, in contrast with the flesh (comp. Romans 7:6; Romans 8:4, Romans 8:15, Romans 8:16; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 2:22), and faith in contrast with the works of the law (comp. Galatians 3:3, and see Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:3; Romans 1:17; Romans 3:22; Romans 9:30; Romans 10:6). [source]
Ἑκ πίστεως fromor out of faith, is found with the verb to justify (Romans 3:26, Romans 3:30; Romans 5:1): with other verbs, as live (Romans 1:17); eat (Romans 14:23): with the noun δικαιοσύνη righteousness(Romans 1:17; Romans 9:30; Romans 10:6): with other nouns, as promise (Galatians 3:22), law (Galatians 3:12). For parallels to the phrase οἱ ἐκ πίστεως , see Romans 3:26; Romans 4:16; Romans 14:23; Galatians 3:9. It denotes believers as sprung from, or receiving their spiritual condition from that which specially characterizes them. Comp. οἱ ἐξ ἐριθίας theywho are of faction, Romans 2:8; οἱ ἐκ νόμου theywho are of the law, Romans 4:14; ὁ ἐκ τῆς ἀληθείας hewho is of the truth, John 18:37. [source]
Rather, “I did already obtain,” constative second aorist active indicative of λαμβανω lambanō summing up all his previous experiences as a single event. Or am already made perfect (η ηδη τετελειωμαι ē ēdē teteleiōmai). Perfect passive indicative (state of completion) of τελειοω teleioō old verb from τελειος teleios and that from τελος telos (end). Paul pointedly denies that he has reached a spiritual impasse of non- development. Certainly he knew nothing of so-called sudden absolute perfection by any single experience. Paul has made great progress in Christlikeness, but the goal is still before him, not behind him. But I press on He is not discouraged, but encouraged. He keeps up the chase (real idea in διωκω diōkō as in 1 Corinthians 14:1; Romans 9:30; 1 Timothy 6:11). If so be that (ει και ei kai). “I follow after.” The condition (third class, εικαταλαβω ei̇̇katalabō second aorist active subjunctive of καταλαμβανω katalambanō) is really a sort of purpose clause or aim. There are plenty of examples in the Koiné{[28928]}š of the use of ει ei and the subjunctive as here (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1017), “if I also may lay hold of that for which (επ ωι Ephesians' hōi purpose expressed by επι epi) I was laid hold of (κατελημπτην katelēmphthēn first aorist passive of the same verb καταλαμβανω katalambanō) by Christ Jesus.” His conversion was the beginning, not the end of the chase. [source]
He is not discouraged, but encouraged. He keeps up the chase (real idea in διωκω diōkō as in 1 Corinthians 14:1; Romans 9:30; 1 Timothy 6:11). If so be that (ει και ei kai). “I follow after.” The condition (third class, εικαταλαβω ei̇̇katalabō second aorist active subjunctive of καταλαμβανω katalambanō) is really a sort of purpose clause or aim. There are plenty of examples in the Koiné{[28928]}š of the use of ει ei and the subjunctive as here (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1017), “if I also may lay hold of that for which (επ ωι Ephesians' hōi purpose expressed by επι epi) I was laid hold of (κατελημπτην katelēmphthēn first aorist passive of the same verb καταλαμβανω katalambanō) by Christ Jesus.” His conversion was the beginning, not the end of the chase. [source]
Comp. 1 Timothy 5:24. Ἑπὶ afteror close upon. oP. Once in the disputed verses at the end of Mark (Mark 16:20), and 1 Peter 2:21. Comp. the use of διώκειν pursue Romans 9:30; Romans 12:13; 1 Corinthians 14:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:15. [source]
Pursue. Stronger than follow. A favorite word with Paul to denote the pursuit of moral and spiritual ends. See Romans 9:30, Romans 9:31; Romans 12:13; 1 Corinthians 14:1; Philemon 3:12. [source]
Comp. lxx, Romans href="/desk/?q=ro+14:19&sr=1">Romans 14:19; 1 Peter 3:11. The verb is used of the pursuit of moral and spiritual ends, Romans 9:30, Romans 9:31; Romans 12:13; 1 Corinthians 14:1; Philemon 3:12, Philemon 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22. [source]