Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

corpus-paul - Re: [Corpus-Paul] The logic connection between Rom 4:1-8 and 9

corpus-paul AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Corpus-Paul

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>
  • To: moon AT mail.sogang.ac.kr, Corpus-Paul <corpus-paul AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Cc:
  • Subject: Re: [Corpus-Paul] The logic connection between Rom 4:1-8 and 9
  • Date: Sat, 3 Apr 2004 07:37:04 -0600

Title: Re: [Corpus-Paul] The logic connection between Rom 4:1-8
Dear Moon,

The question of Rom 4:9a is important to understand Rom 4:

This blessing, then - is it given (only) to the circumcised or
to the uncircumcised also?

This question reminds us of the question of 3:29:
Or, is God the God of Jews only? not the God of Gentiles also?

It indicates that the issue Paul addresses in Rom 4:1-9 is quite
similar to the issue Paul addresses in Rom 3:27-31.

Anyway, my question is how this question is logically connected to the previous
paragraph 4:1-8. I can think of two ways to link 4:9a to the previous
paragraph. I would like to hear comments about each.

(1) The first key to interpretation is to ask:
Is 4:9a a rhetorical question or a genuine question?

Suppose that 4:9a is a rhetorical question. Then
it means that the paragraph of 4:1-8 implies
the answer "also to the uncircumcised" to the question. Then, we can
reasonably assume that by "EX ERGWN" (from works) and "CWRIS ERGWN"
(apart from works), Paul refers to the works of Torah, which can be
done only by the Jews who possess Torah.

If both Abraham and David (or the person whom he refers to) were
justified apart from works of Torah, which only the uncircumcised
can perform, it would imply that the blessing of justification
is given to the circumcised (represented by David) and to the uncircumcised
as well (represented by Abraham).

Rom 4:9b-10 confirms or explain the answer "also to the uncircumcised",
implicit in the paragraph 4:1-8, by means of a clearer argument.

(2) Suppose that 4:9a is a genuine question, whose answer is not implied
in the paragraph 4:1-8 or vaguely implied in it.
Then 4:9b-10 provides the answer to the question. In this case,
"not from works" or "apart from works" does not necessarily
imply that the blessing is also given to the uncircumcised.
That claim should be further argued. Then we do not have
to assume that by "EX ERGWN" (from works) and "CWRIS ERGWN"
(apart from works), Paul refers to the works of Torah, which can be
performed only by the Jews.


HH: I have always read it the second way, that the following verses give the answer to the question in Rom 4:9a:

Rom. 4:9 ΒΆ Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness.
Rom. 4:10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!  (etc.)

                                Yours,
                                Harold Holmyard







Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page