Friday 06 June 2008
- Bible Book:
- Romans
"What then? Are we any better off? No, not at all; for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin ..." (v.9)
Background
The letter to the Romans was written by Paul about 25 yearsafter the crucifixion. It was sent to the Christians at Rome, whowere predominantly non-Jews (referred to here as Greeks andelsewhere as Gentiles), but who also contained a significantelement of Jewish believers. Our passage comes at the end of Paul'sopening argument, where he seeks to show that both non-Jews andJews alike need to be saved from their sins.
Paul quotes (verses 10-18) what looks like one single section fromthe Jewish Scriptures (we must remember that Paul is writing beforeany New Testament existed). Actually, Paul has run togetherselected verses from eight or nine different psalms and some otherOld Testament books. The climax is in the words "there is no fearof God before their eyes". They have abandoned the way ofWisdom.
The "Law" Paul refers to is a translation of the Hebrew word Torah,which means 'God's guiding way of life'. This is contained in thefirst five books of the Jewish Scriptures, the so-called books ofMoses. It is here where Jews looked to discover the will of God.But all they will find, according to Paul, is knowledge of theirsin with no way of dealing with it.
Never one to pull his punches Paul argues that everybody under thesun has sinned and therefore stands in need of the gift of God'sgrace in Jesus Christ. It is the only remedy for theirsickness.
To Ponder
Do you recognise Paul's description of the humancondition? In what ways is it realistic or overly pessimistic?
Where, if anywhere, do you identify yourself inPaul's description of the unrighteous?