Chapter 1

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Romans 1:1 Shaul, an eved of gauvh ha Moshiach, called to be a sholiach, set-apart to the Besorah of vuvh. 2 Which He had promised before by His neviim in the Keetvay HaKadosh, 3 Regarding His Son gauvh ha Moshiach our Savior, who was born of the zera of Dawid in the flesh; 4 And ‘declared’ ‘appointed’ to be the Son of vuvh with power ,according to the Ruach of set-apartness, by His resurrection from the dead:

Vs. 3 and 4 was the earliest creed of the ancient believers:  ‘3 The Son, Yahusha  ha Moshiach our Savior, who was born of the zera of Dawid in the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of vuvh with power, according to the Ruach of set-apartness, by His resurrection from the dead.’

Vs. 4.‘horizo’ ‘to designate or appoint’ and slide in ‘declared the Son of God,’

The point of verse 4 isn’t that there was a time when Yahusha wasn’t the Son of Elohim, but rather at His resurrection Yahusha was decisively ‘marked out,’ to be the Son of Elohim. The transition isn’t from human to divine as liberal commentators would have you believe but from Moshiach the Son to Moshiach the reigning and ruling Son in glory!

Crucifixion; signified a failed messiah (Road to Emmaus Luke 24:13), but resurrection reversed that verdict, did it not?

‘Paul or Sha’ul?’: 

He identifies himself as ‘Paulos,’ Diaspora Jews commonly had a Hebrew name and a Roman/Greek name; we know of Shaul’s Roman citizenship from Acts 22:28.

Hellenistic Jews of the First Century were well known for having a ‘praenomen’/ ‘personal name,’ a ‘nomen’ or ‘clan’ name and a ‘cognomen’ ‘family name.’ This was very characteristic of a Roman citizen in the First Century!

‘Paulus’ was his ‘cognomen’ ‘family name’  even the Scriptures state that he was ‘Saul, who was known as Paul’ (Acts 13:9).

Romans 1:5 By whom we have received unmerited favor and the calling of a sholiach, for obedience to the Emunah that bears His Name among all nations. 6 Among whom are you also the called of gauvh ha Moshiach.

David Stern in his CJB is very confused as to whose Shaul’s audience. He writes; ‘Much of what he (Shaul) writes applies to Gentiles, but understanding the Book of Romans properly depends on determining which portions of it apply to everyone and which portions apply directly only to non-Jews.”

He’s saying that only parts o f Romans applies to Jews and other parts apply to Gentiles! This is a divided Kingdom mentality and leads people astray!

‘Gospel’ – ‘Besorah’ – ‘Euangelion’ found in the LXX of Isaiah 40-66 where it’s used in the context of proclaiming Zion’s impending release from exile.

Principal text – Isaiah 40-66.

Acts 1:6 Master, will you at this time restore the ‘gospel’  ‘the Kingdom to Israel.’

Romans 1:7 To all that be in Romiyah, beloved of vuvh, called to be Yisraelite kidushim: unmerited favor to you and shalom from vuvh our Abba, and the Savior gauvh ha Moshiach.

Romans 1:8 First, I thank my tvkt through gauvh ha Moshiach for you all, that your Emunah is spoken of throughout the whole olam. 9 For vuvh is my witness, whom I serve with my ruach in the Besorah of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my tefillot.

Romans 1:10 Making requests, if at all possible that I might have a prosperous journey by the will of vuvh to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established;  12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual Emunah both yours and mine.

Romans 1:13 Now I would not have you ignorant, Yisraelite brothers, that oftentimes I purposed to come to you, but was previously hindered, that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other nations. 14 I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the foreigners; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to proclaim the Besorah to you that are at Romiyah also.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the Besorah of Moshiach: for it is the power of vuvh for salvation to every one that believes; to the Yahudi first, and also to the Greek and Aramean.

Sterns CJB: ‘to the Jew especially, but equally to the Gentile.’

The ‘besorah’ went from Jerusalem > Nations thereby Jews > Gentiles. It’s not taking about Jewish supremacy and gentle denigration, but stewardship and responsibility as that ‘besorah’ spread.

Romans 1:17 For by the Besorah is the tzedakah of vuvh revealed from Emunah to Emunah: as it is written, The tzadik shall live by Emunah.

‘Dikaiosune’ ‘Righteousness of Elohim’

Three common interpretations of ‘dikaisune.’

1. Elohim’s justice and faithfulness to his covenant with Israel.
2. A new positional standing imparted to the sinner who believes.
3. The activity of Elohim as He intercedes on behalf of His people.

Isaiah 46:12 defines tzedakah perfectly. Yahusha won’t delay in bringing Israel back from the nations and placing them in Zion for his glory – the gospel message!

Isaiah 46:12 Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, that are far from tzedakah: 13 I bring near My tzedakah; it shall not be far off, and My Yahshua shall not tarry: and I will place Yahshua in Tzion for Yisrael My tifereth.

V. 17 ‘From Emunah to Emunah.’ means either from the faith of the patriarch’s to the faith of the talmadiim, or is used as a metaphor for a high degree of faith; right standing with יהוה is from faith from start to finish!

John Calvin and Martin Luther took this verse to mean based upon 1 Cor. 3:18, believers growing and maturing in their faith; ‘we all with an unveiled faith, beholding as in a mirror the glory of יהוה, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.’

Habakkuk 2:4. See, the being who is puffed up is not upright: but the just by his faith shall live.   ‘b’emunato yichyeh’ ‘in his faith live’ LXX = ‘out of my faith will live.’

‘Out of faith shall live’ or ‘faith brings life to be lived.’

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of vuvh is revealed from the shamayim  against all wickedness and all unrighteousness of men, who suppress the emet in unrighteousness;

Romans 1:19 Because that which could be known about vuvh is manifest in them; for vuvh has shown it to them. 20 For the invisible things coming from Him from the creation of the olam hazeh are clearly seen, being  understood by the things of creation, even His eternal power, and divine nature; so that they are without excuse:

יהוה as Creator has revealed enough of Himself in the glory of His creation, even placing onto mankind his image bearers that we’re all without excuse when we stray from the Creators divine standards of morality.

Sha’ul’s point is mankind; wherever he is, has enough of the Divine knowledge placed within in him to know that the base sins are an affront to the Creator – idolatry and sexual immorality.  But their foolish hearts have become darkened. Show me a native that’s not involved in and fallen to the base sins of either idolatry or sexual immorality and I’ll show you an unjust Elohim.

Psalms 97:7 Put to shame are all they that serve carved images, who boast themselves in idols: worship Him, all you Elohim.

Mankind attempting to hold back the truth of the One Elohim, and because of YHWH’s natural revelation mankind is held responsible, but don’t be delusional in thinking that YHWH’s natural revelation is sufficient to accomplish His salvation, it’s not,  it’s purpose has always been to convict and seek.

יהוהs self revelation has always been present since creation but because mankind has chosen not to honor Him they’ve fallen into sin.

Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew vuvh, they esteemed Him not as tvkt, neither did they show hodu; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish lev became darkened. 22 Claiming themselves to be wise, they became  fools, 23 And changed the tifereth of the incorruptible tvkt into an image made like corruptible man, such as birds, and four footed beasts, and other creeping things. 

Romans 1:24 Therefore vuvh also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own levavot, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:  25 Who changed the emet of vuvh into a lie, 12 and worshiped and served the creation more than the Creator, baruch shemoh. 

V.24 יהוה won’t just let your ship of sin sail downstream.

Romans 1:26 For this cause vuvh gave them up to vile affections: for even their women did change the natural sexual relations into that which is against nature:  27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural sexual relationship with the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men committing shameful acts, and receiving back in their own selves repayment for their error.

All sexual perversion is rooted in the denial of יהוה as Creator – you sow that… you can’t reap eternal life!

In the Apocrypha;  Wisdom 14:12 “For the idea of making idols was the beginning of fornication, and the invention of them was the corruption of life.”   

Homosexual activity is labeled by Sha’ul as ‘para phusin.’   ‘against nature.’

The cultural and historical excuse used by liberal commentators isn’t valid. You can’t say that Sha’ul’s verdict on homosexuality is to be viewed within a historically, culturally conditioned vacuum and therefore not morally valid.

Shaul condemnation of homosexuality isn’t primarily moral it’s primarily theological… “they worshiped and served the creation more than the Creator.”

“Tolerance doesn’t require abandoning biblical commandments or one’s opinions on political or public policy choices. Tolerance is how we choose to react toward humanities diverse groups. With love without condoning unbiblical behavior….or, conversely with violence and belligerence.

When people say that condemning homosexuality is wrong, they don’t realize that’s a moral statement, not a legal statement. There’re many laws down the annuls of history, more recently for, but largely against homosexuality, but saying that condemning homosexuality is wrong is a moral issue. By whose standard is something right or wrong, and what justifies that standard as being valid?

As believers, because this is a moral standard it’s set by יהוה through His Word. If it were a legal standard that would be different but it’s not, and never will be in the hearts and minds of His people. Men don’t legislate morality, when they do, it’s the fall of the Republic, Roman or otherwise.

Don’t be intimidated, condemning homosexual practice as a sin is not discriminatory in a legal sense, but it is one in a spiritual and moral sense, and as such you are free to condemn it.

Homosexual activity; according to the Bible is a violation of YHWH’s created order, a departure from the true knowledge and worship of Elohim, conclusively, homosexuality is idolatry as men and women worship themselves.

It’s decreed ‘toevah’ an ‘abomination’ because by their homosexuality they’ve rejected YHWH’s creative authority, thereby committing idolatry against Him as an act of gross self-worship!

‘Para phusin’ ‘against nature.’

Philo in his Special Laws 3:39 describes homosexuality perfectly:

“And let the man who is devoted to the love of boys submit to the same punishment since he pursues that pleasure which is contrary to nature, and since, as far as depends upon him, he would make the cities desolate, and void, and empty of all inhabitants, wasting his power of propagating his species, and moreover, being a guide and teacher of those greatest of all evils, unmanliness and effeminate lust, stripping young men of the flower of their beauty,  and wasting their prime of life in effeminacy, which he ought rather, on the other hand, to train to vigor and acts of courage; and last of all, because, like a worthless husbandman, he allows fertile and productive lands to lie fallow, contriving that they will continue barren, and labors night and day at cultivating that soil from which he never expects any produce at all.”

It is evident that even approval of the homosexual lifestyle falls under the category of sin. Colossians 3:5 says, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” Sexual lust and fantasy, both homosexual and heterosexual, are sinful according to YHWH’s Word. On the other hand, 1 Corinthians 10:13 assures us that temptation is not sin: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.”

Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain vuvh in their da’at, vuvh released them to a wasted mind, to do those things that are improper; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication,

Romans was written against a backdrop of either Corinth or Achaia where gross sexual sin was prevalent; we see the need why Shaul addressed it head on.

wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, fighting, deceit, evil thinking; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of vuvh, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without binah, or discernment, brit breakers, cold and without ahava, unforgiving, ruthless:

Romans 1:32 Who knowing the mishpat of vuvh, that those who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also take pleasure in others that do them.