Corpus-Paul

["Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

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 ¶ 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