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Did Not Subject Themselves - Romans 10
Did Not Subject Themselves - Romans 10
Words have meaning! They must also be understood in the context of which they are used. Here is a word-study of the main words in two verses that bracket Paul’s discussion in Romans 10.
Romans 10:3 For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
Romans 10:16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"
Paul uses two related words to describe the majority response of the Jewish people in the 1st century as the gospel was spreading through the world. “they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God (i.e., God’s way of being right with Him through discipleship to Jesus the Son of God and Lord of Lords). THEN, here in vs. 16, the did not ‘heed the good news’, followed by a quote from Isaiah about ‘believing the report (i.e., the gospel/good news).
Let me list the definitions of these various words so you can grasp the whole of the picture Paul is painting here.
10:3 – ‘not subject themselves’ from upotasso -
· Louw Nida: to obey on the basis of having paid attention to—‘to obey, obedience.’
· ESL: 40 occurrences; AV translates as “put under” six times, “be subject unto” six times, “be subject to” five times, “submit (one’s) self unto” five times, “submit (one’s) self to” three times, “be in subjection unto” twice, “put in subjection under” once, and translated miscellaneously 12 times [ESL = enhanced Strong’s Lexicon]
10:16 – ‘did not heed’ the good news:
· Louw Nida: 36.15 ὑπακούωa; ὑπακοή, ῆς f; εἰσακούωb: to obey on the basis of having paid attention to—‘to obey, obedience.’
· ESL: 21 occurrences; AV translates as “obey” 18 times, “be obedient to” twice, and “hearken”
AND then Paul concludes that many/most of Israel in his day ‘did not believe’ the report (the good news, the gospel). Not Believe: according to Louw Nida:
· 4100 πιστεύω [pisteuo /pist·yoo·o/] v. From 4102; TDNT 6:174; TDNTA 849; GK 4409; 248 occurrences; AV translates as “believe” 239 times, “commit unto” four times, “commit to (one’s) trust” once, “be committed unto” once, “be put in trust with” once, “be commit to one’s trust” once, and “believer” once. 1 to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in. 1a of the thing believed. 1a1 to credit, have confidence. 1b in a moral or religious reference. 1b1 used in the NT of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul. 1b2 to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving faith. 1bc mere acknowledgment of some fact or event: intellectual faith. 2 to entrust a thing to one, i.e. his fidelity. 2a to be intrusted with a thing.
These all describe the response of many of the people of Israel. These are not all just separate actions, but are an all conclusive description: They did not believe, they did not heed, they did not subject themselves to the gospel. They rejected Jesus and God’s offer of forgiveness and blessing. There is no other way now to be right with God except through our response to Jesus. Do these words describe YOUR continued response to Jesus? Examine yourself.
Hugh DeLong
