Paul of Tarsus was a complex thinker

When I read Romans in the Bible, I am reminded what a complex thinker Paul of Tarsus who preached the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles was a complex thinker. His arguments about Christ and who he is are complex. It makes me wonder if the people Paul was writing were more intelligent than we are today, or if the translations of his letter make his arguments more complicated. 

Seriously, I feel really uneducated reading Romans. I have to read passages over and over again. I have a friend who reads and write Greek fluently, even though he is French. My friend is the most studied and intelligent men I have ever met. Paul wrote in Greek, and I wonder if my friend has read the original letters of Paul in the Greek language. It wouldn't surprise if he did because my friend is just that nerdy. I mean, who reads and writes in fluent Greek if you aren't Greek? I'm going to have to ask him.

When I went to college, my professors drilled into our heads to always try to read the original source material in the original language if you can because translators bring their bias to any translation. I would love the read Paul's letters in the original Greek, which would be a lifetime task. I also still want to learn to read Latin, another lifetime task. 

Many bible commentaries recommend reading a passage you want to study in the many versions of the Bible, so you can compare the different translations and get a better understanding of the verses you wan to understand. This recommendation may be the way I go, and reading Bible commentaries of course. 

People are right. You have to study the Bible yearly to really understand it for yourself. 

Day 198 Bible Readings for July 18 – Amos 5: 21-24 (ESV)

Amos 5, Romans 6: 1-15, Psalm 106: 40-48

Amos 5: 21-24 (ESV)

“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

Verses 21 through 24 from Amos 5 show God speaking through Amos about how he did not like people giving me offering and feast and songs because of the injustice that was being done. Amos was a prophet during the time of King Jeroboam I in Israel. God sent Amos to deliver a message to the people of the northern kingdom of Israel to stop abusing its own people and worshipping new idols. Many bible commentaries have noted that Amos was saying the same things Jesus said referred to in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said to be reconciled against those who have wronged you before you bring gifts to God.

I find these verses interesting because it does make wonder if this is truly God’s reaction to people in church who worship, but have not repented to God of their sins. It’s almost like Amos is saying God will let people worship God all they want thinking God has forgiven them all of their sins, but God will not accept their worship. God will still bring justice on people for the wrongs they have done if they do not repent. It is not enough to just worship God, we need to ask God for repentance of our sins. Even if we have faith in Christ, it’s not a free pass to sin all we want thinking that God will always forgive us. We must always make a sincere attempt to follow God’s law, and always ask God for forgiveness of our sins.

Day 197 Bible Readings – Romans 3: 21-22 (ESV)

Amos 3 & 4, Romans 3: 9-31, Psalm 106: 32-39

Romans 3: 21-22 (ESV)

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.”

Verses 21 through 22 from Romans 3 shows Paul’s argument that we are saved from our sinful nature because of our faith in Christ Jesus. We are not saved by knowing the law, because our sinful nature will always lead us to break God’s laws. Paul also says we cannot be saved by our deeds. God’s righteousness is apart from the law of the first covenant God made with Abraham. God’s righteousness will only come from our faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot earn righteousness by our faith in Christ. Our righteousness comes through Christ. The gift of righteousness is freely given to all who believe in Jesus Christ, because Christ paid for sins by his death on the cross and resurrection.

Paul lays out a complex argument explaining that God’s first covenant with Abraham never worked, because of our sinful nature. Even when we know God’s laws and try to follow them, our sinful nature will always lead us to break God’s laws. God’s new covenant with his people through the sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ, ensures that grace is freely given to us despite our sinful nature because Christ paid for ours sins in advance with his death. Leon Morris from his book “The Epistle of the Romans” writes that “Through faith points to the fact that faith is not a merit, earning salvation. It is no more than the means through which the gift is given.”

Day 196 Bible Readings – Romans 2: 22-23 (ESV)

Amos 1 & 2, Romans 2: 17-29, Romans 3: 1-8, Psalm 106: 16-31

Romans 2: 22-23 (ESV)

“You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.”

Verses 22 through 23 from Romans 2 shows Paul reminding us that all people will be judged by God whether they know God’s laws or not. In David Guzik’s bible commentary, he says that “God applies his law to both our actions and our attitudes…God will hold us accountable for both our motives and actions.” We cannot just teach God’s law. We need to constantly examine our actions and our attitudes to make sure we are also obeying God’s laws. If we only preach the law to other people and not follow it ourselves, then we are hypocrites in the sight of God. I think for Paul this might even mean that God will judge even more harshly those who point out people who break the law, while they themselves are guilty of doing the same thing. While Jesus was alive, he constantly pointed out the rabbis who told people they were sinning by disobeying God while they themselves were guilty of doing the same thing.