I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

What could bring Paul such sorrow? Why would Paul feel as though he needed to defend himself in his words, “I am not lying?”

Up until this point in his ministry, Paul visited many Jewish communities as well as Gentile communities.* When going into a town, Paul would intentionally bring the Gospel to the Jews first in the town. After sharing the Gospel, he would then continue to the Gentiles.* Over the course of this time, Paul saw a much greater reception to the Gospel by the Gentiles than the Jews.* Because of this, and his attention on the Gentiles, many Jews began to question Paul’s allegiance to his own people, thus calling him a traitor (Paul was Jewish).*

In Roman’s 9, Paul attempts to address any suspicions that his arguments in chapters 1-8 of Romans mean he is any way against the Jewish people.* In the verse above and those that follow it, Paul is sharing how much love he has for the Jewish people... so much love that he experiences anguish and would give up himself for them (he shares this in the verses that follow the one above).

We, like the Jews of the time of Paul, may misunderstand his actions and words when taken in part. When taken out of context, chapter 9 of Romans may seem to communicate some things, but we have to view chapters 9-11 together to understand Paul’s position regarding the role of the law, Christ, and the Jewish people. In fact, Paul works in chapters 9-11 to counteract the tendency of the Gentiles in Rome to look down on Jewish believers and on Jews.* To Paul, and to God, Jews and Gentiles are both sinners in need of grace through Christ.*

Furthermore, chapter 9 taken out of context from chapters 10 and 11 may seem to present a strong case for predestination, but chapter 11 speaks of the choice that the Jewish people have to accept Jesus Christ as Messiah.*

Chapter 9 taken out of context may make room for some to decide that Israel has been replaced by Gentiles who believe in Christ.* This too is refuted from Paul’s own lips in chapter 11 by explicitly stating that God has not rejected His people.*

The work Paul does in chapters 9-11 of Romans seeks to provide a connection between the Old and New Testaments, explaining the purpose of Christ in each.* Paul seeks to point out to the Jews that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament.* He seeks to point out to Jewish Christians that they need not give up their Jewish roots.* He desires to share with Gentile believers the connection between the Old and New Testaments in the plan of salvation.*

As Paul points out in chapter 9, God is in charge of it all.

What is my point? Chapters 9-11 of Romans serve as a powerful reminder to avoid taking Scripture out of context. Taking some of these verses out of context has caused unnecessary generational divisions between Christians and between Christians and Jews.

How often do we read something in the Bible and create an entire belief system around it, only to have that incomplete belief system fall apart at the appearance of truth? When we take Scripture out of context, we may come to believe falsehoods such as “life should never be hard,” that “good guys always win,” and that “pain and suffering are only reserved for those who do not believe enough.” When we take Scripture out of context, we may find division within the family of God.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to remember that He is sovereign over the story of humanity and your life too. Perhaps God wants you to look back at some of the divisions that you have experienced in relationships to see what His Word says about it… in context. Maybe God wants you to explore some verses that you know to be sure that you have heard what He wants to say to you. Perhaps God wants to remind you of those that you anguish for out of love and desire for their salvation.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

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*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 341, 366–367). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 232–235). InterVarsity Press;
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 343–345). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 290–294). Zondervan Publishing House.