Romans 4:3

4:3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited ¹  to him as righteousness.” ² 

Romans 4:6

4:6 So even David himself speaks regarding the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Romans 9:1

Israel’s Rejection Considered

9:1 ³ I am telling the truth in Christ (I am not lying!), for my conscience assures me ⁴  in the Holy Spirit –

Romans 9:15

9:15 For he says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” ⁵ 

Romans 10:16

10:16 But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” ⁶ 

Romans 15:8

15:8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised ⁷  on behalf of God’s truth to confirm the promises made to the fathers, ⁸ 

¹ tn The term λογίζομαι (logizomai) occurs 11 times in this chapter (vv. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 24). In secular usage it could (a) refer to deliberations of some sort, or (b) in commercial dealings (as virtually a technical term) to “reckoning” or “charging up a debt.” See H. W. Heidland, TDNT 4:284, 290-92.

² sn A quotation from Gen 15:6.

³ sn Rom 9:1–11:36. These three chapters are among the most difficult and disputed in Paul’s Letter to the Romans. One area of difficulty is the relationship between Israel and the church, especially concerning the nature and extent of Israel’s election. Many different models have been constructed to express this relationship. For a representative survey, see M. Barth, The People of God (JSNTSup), 22-27. The literary genre of these three chapters has been frequently identified as a diatribe, a philosophical discussion or conversation evolved by the Cynic and Stoic schools of philosophy as a means of popularizing their ideas (E. Käsemann, Romans, 261 and 267). But other recent scholars have challenged the idea that Rom 9–11 is characterized by diatribe. Scholars like R. Scroggs and E. E. Ellis have instead identified the material in question as midrash. For a summary and discussion of the rabbinic connections, see W. R. Stegner, “Romans 9.6-29 – A Midrash,” JSNT 22 (1984): 37-52.

⁴ tn Or “my conscience bears witness to me.”

⁵ sn A quotation from Exod 33:19.

⁷ sn A quotation from Isa 53:1.

⁹ tn Grk “of the circumcision”; that is, the Jews.

¹⁰ tn Or “to the patriarchs.”