The Justification of God

An Exegetical and Theological Study
of Romans 9:1–23

Second Edition

John Piper

© 1993 by John Piper

Published by Baker Academic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49516-6287

www.bakeracademic.com

Ninth printing, November 2005

First printed by Baker Book House Company in 1983

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN: 0-8010–7079-1

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 88–74139

To Daniel Payton Fuller, priceless friend

Contents

Preface

Abbreviations

I. Introduction

II. My Kinsmen are Accursed! Romans 9:1–5

1. The place of Romans 9:1–5 in the argument

Excursus—The place of Romans 9–11 in the epistle

2. Exegesis of Romans 9:1–5

2.1 The privileges of Paul’s kinsmen: Romans 9:4, 5

2.11 “Who are Israelites”

Excursus—The theological unity of Romans 9 and 11

2.12 “To whom belongs the sonship”

2.13 “And the glory”

2.14 “And the covenants”

2.15 “And the giving of the law”

2.16 “And the service of worship”

2.17 “And the promises”

2.18 “To whom belong the fathers”

2.19 “And from whom is the Messiah …”

2.2 The plight of Paul’s kinsmen: Romans 9:1–3

2.3 Summary

III. The Purpose that Accords with Election: Romans 9:6–13

1. Orientation

2. Romans 9:6a

3. The purpose of God which remains

3.1 God’s means of maintaining his purpose: predestination

Excursus—The time of God’s choice

3.2 Predestination of whom to what? Individuals versus nations, eternal destinies versus historical tasks

3.21 Restating the argument for corporate election to historical tasks

3.22 Critique of the foregoing position and argument for an alternative

3.221 The significance of Romans 9:1–5

3.222 The significance of Romans 9:6b

3.223 The vocabulary and structure of Romans 9:6b–8

3.224 The significance of Romans 9:14–23

3.225 Jewish antecedents of Paul’s teaching

4. Conclusion

IV. Exodus 33:19 in its Old Testament Context

1. The problem

2. The text

3. The context of Exodus 32–34

4. The context of Exodus 33:12–34:9

5. The grammar and vocabulary of Exodus 33:19cd

6. The glory, goodness and name of Yahweh in relation to Exodus 33:19cd

7. Conclusion

V. The Justification of God: Romans 9:14–18 (Part I)

1. The text and the problem

2. “There is no unrighteousness with God, is there?” (Romans 9:14b)

Excursus—Ἀδικία in Paul

3. The defense of God’s righteousness in predestination

VI. The Righteousness of God in the Old Testament

1. The question and method

2. Norm versus relationship

3. Is God’s righteousness always a saving gift?

4. An alternative interpretation

Excursus—Implications for human righteousness

5. Conclusion

VII. The Righteousness of God in Romans 3:1–8

1. Purpose and orientation

2. The text

3. The position of the opponents

4....