Zeal without Knowledge

With today’s study, we plunge into a new chapter of Paul’s great epistle to the Romans. But Paul’s theme has not changed. We are still in the second main section of the book, chapters 9–11. In this section, Paul is addressing the notion that the large-scale Jewish rejection of Christ represents some sort of failure of God’s redemptive plan, which calls his teaching on the Christian’s eternal security into question. He presents seven arguments against this view throughout the course of these chapters. In the verses we examined last month, the apostle showed that God’s redemptive purposes have not failed because all who are elected to salvation (but only those) are saved (Rom. 9:6–24) and because God had declared that He did not intend to save every Israelite or condemn every Gentile (9:25–29). Then, in 9:30, he began his third point, bluntly asserting that the Jews’ failure to believe is their fault, not God’s. They sought to commend themselves to God by rigorous obedience to His law, and they were so committed to that approach they were offended when Christ came preaching the ancient gospel of justification by faith. As we open our studies this month, Paul is continuing to build this case, and he will do so through 10:21.

It is important to note that Paul is not simply washing his hands of the Jews. In 9:1–3, he affirmed that he loved the Jews so much that he would accept damnation if it would effect their salvation. Chapter 10 opens in a similar way, with Paul declaring that his “heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.” Dr. James M. Boice points out that the Greek word translated as “desire” suggests “delight.” Paul is saying he would be delighted to see the Jews reverse their ways and accept Christ. Furthermore, he is praying that God will cause them to do just that. Neither the facts of divine election and reprobation nor the reality of stubborn human unbelief deter him from pleading with God to choose and call the Jews. He does not yet know the secret counsel of God concerning their final destination, and so he continues to wrestle with God in prayer for them.

The problem, as Paul sees it, is that the Jews lack understanding. They certainly have zeal—if human effort could save anyone, it would be the Jews. But all their striving is based on faulty knowledge. They need true knowledge, biblical knowledge. And so do we all.