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Title: Paul’s Exegesis
Last week I attempted to explain a bit about the origins of the word “Theology.” This week I want to deal with another big, fancy word, that isn’t nearly as intimidating as it sounds. “Exegesis.”
v9 (read) I believe there are two possible interpretations of this verse. Neither interpretation changes or minimizes the point that Paul is making.
Option One: “They” refers to those who are slandering Paul. The argument here is that if we ignore the verse markers Paul’s language reads “ Their condemnation is just. What then? Are we better than they? Not at all.”
Here you can see the continuity of Paul’s thought. He just gets done defending himself and His ministry against these false accusations that are accusing Paul of teaching a doctrine of sinning more so that God’s glory is shown more through His mercy to us. Paul then says that for these accusers, their condemnation is just.
Yet immediately he stresses that “we” (the saved) are still no better than “they” (the accusers) because we are all under sin. Paul’s point: We are all under sin. The “advantage” to understanding the verse this way would certainly put a premium on humility, because Paul won’t let us think we are better at all, then even the most vile of sinners. Whenever I am feeling pretty good about myself, I just remind myself that perfect justice would dictate that a Pastor like me deserves the same sentence as Adolph Hitler. That tends to quiet my need for self-praise.
Option Two: “They” refers to gentiles, or Greeks. The linguistic arguement here is that often Paul focuses his message on the Jews’ understanding of how the Gospel works for the Gentiles, and the evidence here is that Paul immdiatly says, “both Jews and Greeks are under sin.”
If we accept this notion then we are saying that Paul’s primary audience, at least in this part of his letter to the Romans, is aimed at the Jews. The “advantage” to this interpretation is that it re-inforces two recurring central themes in this letter. The first is that all, no matter of heritage or ethnicity, are sinners, and, secondly, that all, no matter or heritage or ethnicity, can receive forgiveness of sins through Christ Jesus.
Whatever your understanding of verse nine, the point is the same: Everyone is a sinner.
V10 “As it is written” This is the common wording found in the New Testament when an author is making an appeal to the Old Testament as evidence for their argument. We can further understand that Paul’s references that he quotes here is referring to all of the Old Testament cannon because of where he draws his quotations from. In verses 10-18 Paul quotes Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Isiah, none of which is the O.T. “Law” of the Pentateuch.
So let’s look a bit more closely at what exactly Paul is quoting and why he might be choosing the passages that he does. I don’t want to overburden you with written quotations from the O.T. this morning so I’m not going to ask that you turn there, just write down the quotation and listen to my voice as you here the similarities in these passages that Paul draws from:
1. (Read Psalm 14:1-3)
2. (Read Psalm 53:1-3)
3. (Read Ecc. 7:20)
Then Read Romans 3:10-12
Point: Everyone has turned away from God. Everyone.
I have said this at least 50 times from this pulpit and will say it 50 more before 2006 is up: We cannot tell the world they need a savior until they understand what they must be saved from. In other words, the Gospel is no Gospel if personal sin is not discussed. A person needs to know how they, individually, and uniquely, has sinned against God before they will understand a need for Jesus.
4. (Read Pslam 5:9)
5. (Read Psalm 140:3)
6. (Read Pslam 10:7)
Then Read Romans 3:13-14
Point: Not only have we sinned against a Holy God, but with our mouths we make our sin worse by deceiving both eachother and ourselves by denying the Truth of the one, true God.
The most dangerous of men is not the seeker, or the athiest, or scientist. These people are simply in the dark. Rather, the most dangerous of men is the hypocrite. The one who claims to know truth, but who tongue betrays him.
7. (Read Prov. 1:16)
8. (Read Is. 59:7-8)
9. (Read Ps. 36:1)
Then Read Romans 3:15-18
Point: Because we do not fear God, we have no peace. If left to ourselves, we will destroy not only ourselves as a species, but the world God created for us to live in.
(If you doubt this conclusion, read Genesis 6 and ask yourself this question: “Why? Why did God choose to send a flood. What was God’s motivation for wiping out mankind?)
So what overall conclusions can we draw from this passage: It think there are some worth writing down.
1. Paul had a mastery of the scriptures. When he made a claim, he had the chapter and verse to back up that claim. So should we.
2. All are equal, all are doomed.
3. We musn’t underestimate the damage our mouths can do.
4. We are violent and destructive by nature. Only Christ can change this.
You shouldn’t leave here feeling too good about yourself. But you should have hope. And when you spend time in prayer this week, you certainly should have plenty to discuss in terms of what to thank God for. Just looked at what he has delivered you from.