The Anguish of Paul’s Heart and Life:

I tell (you) the truth in Christ, I do not lie, my own conscience testifying in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I am (in) great sorrow and constant distress (in) my heart.

In preparing and considering what could be written about Romans 9:3, I came to realize that to examine the verse in isolation is to be guilty of shaky hermeneutics in the first degree.  Therefore, the series on Romans 9:3 has been change to a series entitled, “The Anguish of Paul’s Heart and Life:  Romans 9:1-5.”  And so you might ask, “How many parts will there be?”  Truly, the answer is “God only knows.”  However, I hope you will enjoy this in-depth look at this passage in which Paul opens up his heart and heartache concerning the eternal condition of his Jewish brothers and sisters.i

Paul begins Romans 9 by detailing the prospect of the Jewish people with an oath, a testimony and an examination of his soul.ii  He also examines the spiritual and eternal condition of the Jewish people.  The destiny of the Jewish people who have rejected Christ is not disguised but brought out to the forefront in the opening verses of chapter 9.  By a deliberate stance of honesty, Paul has indicated the state of perdition for which the Jewish people are heading but yet continues to hold out hope that they will come to know the Messiah before it is too late.iii
    
Therefore, verse one opens as a new thought but with no connecting word to the previous chapter, a chapter which closed with the glorious reality that nothing can separate us, as Christians, from the love of God.iv  This abrupt change of tone has been called a pausev or a point of “solemn emphasis.”vi  The solemnity in this passage is made especially poignant by Paul’s use of the words, ejn Cristw`/ (in Christ).
    
In noting the solemnity of ejn Cristw`/, Charles Hodge sees three possible interpretations:  (1) it is part of an oath formula, (2) it is connected to Paul’s relationship with Jesus, or (3) as evidence of the Christian relationship we as believers can all have in Christ.vii  Any of the options would be appropriate; however, the first option appears to most clearly define the level of grief of Paul’s soul.  The idea of Paul declaring an oath or stating a pledge illustrates the level, and maintains the tone, to which Paul is willing to go (see verse 3) for the salvation of the Jewish people.    

The first option stays consistent to the Jewish tradition as found in Old Testament literature, and one in which Paul would have been extremely familiar.viii  In addition, the oath formula allowed Paul to develop a rhetorical argument that could not be used against him by the Jewish leaders and people who opposed the message of Messiah Jesus.ix  And finally, the pledging of an oath drew the Jewish people to a memory of how Moses (Ex. 32:31-32) was once willing to be “damned” for the sake of the Jewish people.x

Can you imagine the depth of Paul’s love for his nation and people?  My father would say in his sermons that while many would die for close family members and some would die for friends, no one or very few would die for those who consider us an enemy?  However, this is the extent of Paul’s love for the Jewish people?  He was willing to give up heaven for someone else.

Now we know, and as will be examined in coming weeks, this is not possible.  But the love and lament expressed in these few verses should cause all of us to reflect not only upon how much we love God but also how much we love and care for the lost and dying world that is just outside our front door.  Do we love as Paul loved?  Do we look for opportunities to sacrifice a little dignity, a little honor, for the opportunity to discuss Jesus and eternity with someone else?  If not, let’s (all of us) use the next week to ask ourselves two questions – 1) why not?; and 2) how can we become more like Paul?

Next Part - An Examination of Paul’s Oath Statement in Romans 9:1