Romans 11

Romans 11:33-36 Exegesis

The Text Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?” Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things, To him be the glory for ever! Amen.

Genre Belongs to Paul’s LETTER to the Christians in Rome This section is in the form of A DOXOLOGY (Expression of praise)

Context BEFORE

DOXOLOGY

A comprehensive account of the Gospel of salvation precedes the passage

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Analysis and argument give way in this passage to adoration. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AFTER

Practical implications of the Gospel follow.

Structure Shape Oh the depth of the riches EXCLAMATION and wisdom and knowledge of God!

AN ASTONISHED

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How unsearchable his judgements, QUESTION and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?” Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?

A RHETORICAL

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For from him AFFIRMATION and through him and to him are all things,

A THEOLOGICAL

Structure Shape

Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!

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How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?” Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For from him and through him and to him are all things,

TOPICS

GOD’S RICHES

HIS WISDOM HIS KNOWLEDGE HIS JUDGEMENTS HIS WAYS THE MIND OF GOD HIS COUNSEL HIS CREDIT HIS RELATIONSHIP TO CREATION

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To him be the glory for ever! HIS GLORY

Commentary (Stott)

• Paul worships • Humble wonder at God • Utter dependence on him • Wealth and wisdom

– Deep & unfathomable / inscrutable (cf Is 55:8f) – We cannot penetrate into the infinite mind of God!

• Judgements and paths • Revelation and gifts • What He thinks and decides (his mind) • What He does and where He goes (his

Commentary (Stott) • To reverse roles would be to dethrone

God! • Our thinking about God should never be separated from our worship of God – Worship without theology becomes idolatrous – A purely academic interest in God without worship – Where all things come from? (Source) – How all things come into being? (Means) – Where everything is going? (Goal)