The Word of God Has Not Failed

Paul’s Use of the Old Testament in Romans 9

AARON SHERWOOD

studies in scripture & biblical theology

The Word of God Has Not Failed: Paul’s Use of the Old Testament in Romans 9

Studies in Scripture & Biblical Theology

Copyright 2015 Aaron Sherwood

Lexham Press, 1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are the author’s translation.

Scripture quotations marked (nrsv) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Print ISBN 9781577996620

Digital ISBN 9781577996835

Lexham Editorial Team: Elliot Ritzema, Lynnea Fraser

Cover Design: Christine Gerhart

Back Cover Design: Brittany VanErem

Contents

Acknowledgments

List of Figures

List of Abbreviations

Introduction

Previous Studies on Paul’s Use of Scripture in Romans 9:6–29

Orientation of the Present Study

1. The Context and Structure of Romans 9:6–29

The Historical Context and Occasion of Romans

The Literary Placement, Theme, and Structure of Romans 9–11

The Structure of Romans 9:6–29

2. Paul’s Use of Scripture in Romans 9:6–13

Introduction to Romans 9:6–13

Genesis 18:14 and 21:12 in Romans 9:6–9

Genesis 25:23 and Malachi 1:2–3 in Romans 9:10–13

Summary of Romans 9:6–13 in Light of Paul’s Use of Scripture

3. Paul’s Use of Scripture in Romans 9:14–18

Introduction to Romans 9:14–18

Exodus 9:16 and 33:19 in Romans 9:14–18

Summary of Romans 9:14–18 in Light of Paul’s Use of Scripture

4. Paul’s Use of Scripture in Romans 9:19–29

Introduction to Romans 9:19–21

Isaiah 29:16 in Romans 9:19–21

Introduction to Romans 9:22–29

The Use of Hosea and Isaiah in Romans 9:22–29

Summary of Romans 9:19–29 in Light of Paul’s Use of Scripture

5. Conclusions

Paul’s Argument in Romans 9–11 in Light of 9:6–29

Implications of the Study

Bibliography

Index of Subjects and Authors

Index of Scripture and Other Ancient Literature

Acknowledgments

I would like to recognize two of my mentors, Gordon D. Fee and Rikki E. Watts. The best ideas in this work should all be credited to them, and I am grateful for their investment into my training and their sufferance to bring their wisdom to bear on such a modest passage. I also want to thank the publishing staff at Lexham Press and particularly Brannon Ellis for bringing this work to publication.

List of Figures

1. Structural Analysis of Romans 9:6–13

2. Literary Structure of Genesis 25:19–26

3. Occurrence of Hardening Terminology in Exodus 3–14

4. Structure of the Plague Narrative

5. Structural Analysis of Romans 9:14–18

6. Structural Analysis of Romans 9:19–29

7. Literary Structure of Isaiah 1–39

8. Thematic Structure of Romans 9:22–29