Romans 9: 20 Commentary

This is Paul’s reply to the perceived response of a racist Jewish Calvinist who believed in unconditional (i.e. not based on faith) election of all Jews to salvation and unconditional (i.e. not based on faith) reprobation of all Gentiles to damnation. Paul anticipates what such an opponent will say next. “Thou wilt say then unto me, ‘Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will’?”

Paul’s answer to such a blasphemous assertion (properly rendered into English) is, “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, ‘Why [dost thou still find fault]? Thou hast made me thus!’ ?”

That is, the “why?” in verse 20 is intended as a repetition of the question asked by the opponent in verse 19 ‘Why doth he yet find fault?’

Thus, Paul’s reply to the opponent is NOT “Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” But is rather “Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, ‘Why [dost thou still find fault]? Thou hast made me thus!’ ?”

Paul is not teaching that is is blasphemy to deny that God is a malevolent freak that made us sinful as Calvinism asserts. Quite the opposite, he is teaching that accusing God of such is the blasphemy. The blasphemy is in blaming your sins on God, saying ‘Why dost thou still find fault when thou hast made me thus?’ Thus, even if were were to allow the translation “Why hast thou made me thus?” it would not so much be the “why” that is the problem as the “thou made me thus” accusation. Hence the beginning of Paul’s reply “who art thou that repliest against God?” or that is “who are you to ACCUSE God?” You cannot accuse God of having made you a sinner.

By rey (wrote 36 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 12/18/2008 04:44 am

Who do you think you are claiming that God made you sin? You sinned by your own free choice.

By rey (wrote 36 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 10/5/2008 19:33 pm