Romans pt2

Paul quotes the Torah and the Prophets a lot. He's clearly very well versed in them, and actually most of this book seems to be about his quest to reconcile Judaism with Jesus, even though he says he's writing to Gentiles. He also likes his exclamation points!

"We have been released from the law so that we serve in the way of the spirit and not the written code."

The difference between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law is like the difference between etiquette and being nice. Etiquette is elegant, it makes things run more smoothly, it adds class to an event. But even someone who never learned that can still figure out how to be nice.

The letter of the law says that you can't eat an animal doesn't have a split hoof and that doesn't chew its cud. But the spirit of the law means you shouldn't sell dead, diseased horsemeat to someone and tell them it's beef. No, it's not literally spelled out for us but how hard is it to figure out that it's wrong?


I mean, if God really did give us Christians simpler rules, how mad is he going to be that we can't even follow those?

"I told you I was exempting you from the food, farming, money, cleaning and sex laws, because I thought it'd be easier on you. Now I find out that you can't even be trusted with sharp objects. Look what you did! LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID to my nice clean planet! You're going to stay right here and you're going to mop this up and then you're going to go apologize to the rest of the universe!"

Paul says the Law didn't save him but it did give him a roadmap to figure out what's a sin and what isn't.

But then he agonizes, "what I want to do, I do not do, and what I hate I do." Who hasn't been there.

Did God reject Israel?

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, F52 my kindred according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5 to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, F53 who is over all, God blessed forever. F54 Amen.

Paul wants to save his own people, and considers that by being Jewish they are already in a great place, how much better would it be to add Christ to that? He's very torn and upset that he can't convince the other Jews to join him in his new sect. He keeps coming back to it, so I think this is something that really bothers him, as it always bothers the new convert to a new set of beliefs. I've found myself doing the same thing, being so excited about a new religious idea or even just a new fandom, that I really do want to be able to fully share it with others. It's kind of classic, really…

16 If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root F67 of the olive tree, 18 do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 You will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.

Then he turns around and tells the Gentiles not to be arrogant toward the Jews, because without them, there'd be no Jesus and no salvation. Very, very excellent point, Paul.

It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all Israelites truly belong to Israel, 7 and not all of Abraham's children are his true descendants; but "It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you." 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.

All followers of God are Israelites, regardless of genetic makeup. Except when we're asked to do something we don't want to do…of course. But it definitely applies when we want their land, or their cooperation in killing other people or for them to vote for a certain candidate. Especially when you're trying to hold Armageddon in someone's back yard.

"The elder shall serve the younger." 13 As it is written, "I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau."

But in the Jacob/Esau story, Jacob is the chosen one, the father of Israel, not Esau. But here, Paul is treating Esau as if the older brother were the metaphor for Israel. Wait, what? Which one is Esau and which one is Jacob in this scenario? Is Jacob Christianity? What kind of picture does this paint about Christianity? Jacob was awful, and cheated Esau out of his birthright twice, cheated his father in law, and stole his father in law's gods and ran away. Then he gets in a fist fight with God. And in the end, he's the one who has to go to Esau and beg to be forgiven.

Wait, maybe the metaphor is apt turned around this way too. I have more thoughts on this that I'm saving for my posts on the Crucifixion.

25 As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call "my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call "beloved.' " 26 "And in the very place where it was said to them, "You are not my people,' there they shall be called children of the living God." 27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, "Though the number of the children of Israel were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved; 28 for the Lord will execute his sentence on the earth quickly and decisively."

Justification for those people who believe the amount of human souls that will be "saved" is predestined and limited.

There are some hymns that were inspired by the book of Romans.
As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!"
(warning, page a little scary)

I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Interesting. I never knew Paul got so specific about his genealogy. Someone with enough academic skill and resources and determination could probably trace his family. I don't know what the point would be in that, other than an interesting game to play though.

These are what I mentioned before seem to make up some of the emotional guidelines the NT illuminates.

12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. 12:10 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another; 12:11 not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12:12 rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer; 12:13 contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality. 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don't curse. 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Don't set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don't be wise in your own conceits. 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. 12:18 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. 12:19 Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord."

Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head."

Be nice to horrible people. It really freaks them out. It's probably where some of us in the progressive Christianity movement have been falling down. We kind of treat conservatives like offensive alien beings, like contact with them will pollute us. It's totally understandable, they've proven in the past that when given an inch, they will take not a mile but the whole road. But if we start to act "unchristian" toward them just because they are awful people bent on bringing about Armageddon, doesn't that make us just as bad? That's how they fell into the trap they've fallen into- by being so utterly convinced that they're right and everyone else is wrong, and they're not obligated to be nice to those they consider to be sinners.

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8
Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:10.

Sound familiar, neo-pagan, crafty and occultist readers? A really famous magician said something that sounds almost the same, but isn't quite the same. It's such a famous phrase that people go around quoting it without even realizing where it comes from or in what context it was said. The man who said it probably was quite familiar with the Apostle Paul, and what he does here is certainly a work of genius. Take a quote, change it a little, make it mean something else, and inspire generations to base their entire philosophies of life around it.

"Love is the law, love under will. ".

Naturally, neither version of this phrase has made people any better. One version is mentally translated as "I can do whatever I want" and the other version translates mentally as "I can do whatever I want, provided I'm doing it for what I consider to be a good reason." That doesn't mean this is what the authors meant, as you can see, I've provided some links explaining another point of view.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/oto/lib2.htm
http://perdurabo10.tripod.com/id386.html