 |
|
     |
|
|
|
"To the Jew first": The first time this is used in Romans, it's good news for Jews, because Paul says that the gospel is the power of God to salvation to the Jew first (1:18). The next time he uses the phrase, things are a bit different. He has been exploring and explaining the judgment of God against those who practice evil, and says there will be "tribulation and distress" for evil-doers, "to the Jew first." With privilege comes heightened responsibility, and the Jews were the recipients of all the privileges that Paul enumerates in 3:1-2 and in 9:1ff. The two uses of the phrase are related in another way as well. Salvation is announced to the Jew first because the Jews are the ones who MOST NEED to hear the gospel, being as they are the ones under greatest threat of the divine judgment. Gentiles could wait a bit; but Jews needed to hear the gospel because the hosts of Yahweh were massed outside Jerusalem, ready to avenge the blood of every prophet spilled on the earth from Abel to Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Saturday, November 01, 2003 at 04:49 PM
Permission is given to use material on this site, provided the source is cited, blog entries are republished in full, and the author is notified in advance.
1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary
The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter
A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons
Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature
Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen
The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism
A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel
From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution
Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy
Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper
A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament
Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature
Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays
Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life
The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
