All People

After I got back from Israel this summer, I read through the book of Romans.  I decided to copy out the book myself.  I think I got this idea from Andy Sellmann, but the concept is very Biblical as well.  The king of Israel was required by God’s law to write out a copy of the Torah for himself so that he could meditate on it all the days of his life (Deuteronomy 17:18-19).  It was cool because it forced me to spend significant time in the text and consider every word in the book.  As I wrote, I also included my own thoughts and observations in a different color.  One thing I noticed in the first few chapters was the way Paul described the relationship between believers of different cultural and religious backgrounds.  Here’s a sampling of verses with the Greek words in parentheses and some commentary.

Rom 1:5

we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles (εθνεσιν ethnesin) to the obedience that comes from faith.

The Gospel is for all the ethnicities of the world.  Every tribe, tongue, people and nation (Rev 7:9).

Rom 1:13-14

in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles (εθνεσιν ethnesin). ¹⁴ I am obligated both to Greeks (Ελλησίν Ellesin) and non-Greeks (βαρβάροις barbaros), both to the wise and the foolish.

Paul is bringing up a distinction between Greeks and barbarians in addition to the original distinction in his mind between Jew and Gentile.  He is further stressing the universal scope of the Gospel: it is not only for the Romans but for everyone – even those that they feel are inferior.  This reinforces the previous statement about a harvest among the other Gentiles (ethnicities)

Rom 1:15-16

¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. ¹⁶ I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile (Ελληνι Elleni Greek). 

Paul extends the scope of the Gospel from the nations to the very personal and close to home.  Because he is not ashamed, he can take the Gospel to every person.  Why does he go back to his personal cultural distinction?  Possibly to make sure that the Jews are not forgotten in the contextualization of the Gospel to the nations.  He has a lot to say to all parties regarding maintaining unity in the body of Messiah.  He makes a point to prioritize the Jews and immediately include the Greeks and subsequently the barbarians (as seen earlier).  It’s sad that this statement was made to the church in Rome that would eventually be a center of anti-Semitism and forget the Jews except as a nuisance.

Rom 2:9-11

⁹ There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew (Ἰουδαίου Youdaio singular noun), then for the Gentile (Ελληνος Ellenos: Greek, singular); 

We’re back to talking about the inclusivity and universality of the Gospel – both in judgment and salvation.  The Jews who were given the Torah – special revelation from God – are held accountable first.  But note that the Greeks who had no such law – only the law of God made known to them through nature – are not spared from judgment.  The question of those who have never heard brings about a renewed urgency in light of these verses.

¹⁰ but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew (Ἰουδαίῳ Youdaio), then for the Gentile (Ελληνι Elleni: Greek). ¹¹ For God does not show favoritism.

Therefore, the Jews are blessed first as well.  But the point as Paul says in the next verse is that God’s blessing is offered to everyone.

Rom 2:13

¹³ For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

There is no special privilege to being a Jew with the Law.  You must act upon your hearing.

Paul spends the rest of chapter 2 and into 3 addressing both the arrogance of Jewish and Gentile believers and argues that we are one body in Messiah and that there is beauty and purpose to every background God has called us out of.  Barukh HaShem that there is such diversity in the body of Christ.