Teks -- Romans 9:32 (NET)

9:32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but (as if it were possible) by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Rom 9:32 - We must supply the omitted verb ediōxa (pursued) from Rom 9:31. That explains the rest. @@They stumbled at the stone of stumbling

We must supply the omitted verb ediōxa (pursued) from Rom 9:31. That explains the rest. @@They stumbled at the stone of stumbling ( prosekopsan tōi lithōi tou proskommatos ).

The quotation is from Isa 8:14. Proskoptō means to cut (koptō ) against (pros ) as in Mat 4:6; Joh 11:9. The Jews found Christ a skandalon (1Co 1:23).

Vincent: Rom 9:32 - Not by faith

Not by faith ( οὐκ ἐκ πίστεως )

A.V. and Rev. supply the ellipsis, they sought it not .

Vincent: Rom 9:32 - They stumbled

They stumbled ( προσέκοψαν )

" In their foolish course Israel thought they were advancing on a clear path, and lo! all at once there was found in this way an obstacle upon which they were broken; and this obstacle was the very Messiah whom they had so long invoked in all their prayers" (Godet).

Wesley: Rom 9:32 - And wherefore have they not? Is it because God eternally decreed they should not? There is nothing like this to be met with but agreeable to his argument the apostle gives us this good reason for it, Because they sought it not by faith

Whereby alone it could be attained.

Wesley: Rom 9:32 - But as it were

In effect, if not professsedly, by works.

Wesley: Rom 9:32 - For they stumbled at that stumblingstone

Christ crucified.

JFB: Rom 9:32-33 - Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were

Rather simply, "as"

JFB: Rom 9:32-33 - by the works of the law

As if it were thus attainable, which justification is not: Since, therefore, it is attainable only by faith, they missed it.

JFB: Rom 9:32-33 - for

It is doubtful if this particle was originally in the text.

JFB: Rom 9:32-33 - they stumbled at that stumbling-stone

Better, "against the stone of stumbling," meaning Christ. But in this they only did.

Clarke: Rom 9:32 - Wherefore?

Wherefore? - And where lies their mistake? Being ignorant of God’ s righteousness - of his method of saving sinners by faith in Christ, they went about to establish their own righteousness - their own method of obtaining everlasting salvation. They attend not to the Abrahamic covenant, which stands on the extensive principles of grace and faith; but they turn all their regards to the law of Moses. They imagine that their obedience to that law gives them a right to the blessings of the Messiah’ s kingdom. But, finding that the Gospel sets our special interest in God and the privileges of his Church on a different footing, they are offended, and refuse to come into it.

Calvin: Rom 9:32 - Not by faith, but as it were by works, etc // For they have stumbled at the stone, etc

32.Not by faith, but as it were by works, etc As false zeal seems commonly to be justly excused, Paul shows that they are deservedly rejected, who attempt to attain salvation by trusting in their own works; for they, as far as they can, abolish faith, without which no salvation can be expected. Hence, were they to gain their object, such a success would be the annihilation of true righteousness. You farther see how faith and the merits of works are contrasted, as things altogether contrary to each other. As then trust in works is the chief hinderance, by which our way to obtain righteousness is closed up, it is necessary that we should wholly renounce it in order that we may depend on God’s goodness alone. This example of the Jews ought indeed justly to terrify all those who strive to obtain the kingdom of God by works. Nor does he understand by the works of the law, ceremonial observances, as it has been before shown, but the merits of those works to which faith is opposed, which looks, as I may say, with both eyes on the mercy of God alone, without casting one glance on any worthiness of its own.

For they have stumbled at the stone, etc He confirms by a strong reason the preceding sentence. There is indeed nothing more inconsistent than that they should obtain righteousness who strive to destroy it. Christ has been given to us for righteousness, whosoever obtrudes on God the righteousness of works, attempts to rob him of his own office. And hence it appears that whenever men, under the empty pretence of being zealous for righteousness, put confidence in their works, they do in their furious madness carry on war with God himself.

But how they stumble at Christ, who trust in their works, it is not difficult to understand; for except we own ourselves to be sinners, void and destitute of any righteousness of our own, we obscure the dignity of Christ, which consists in this, that to us all he is light, life, resurrection, righteousness, and healing. But how is he all these things, except that he illuminates the blind, restores the lost, quickens the dead, raises up those who are reduced to nothing, cleanses those who are full of filth, cures and heals those infected with diseases? Nay, when we claim for ourselves any righteousness we in a manner contend with the power of Christ; for his office is no less to beat down all the pride of the flesh, than to relieve and comfort those who labour and are wearied under their burden.

The quotation is rightly made; for God in that passage declares that he would be to the people of Judah and of Israel for a rock of offence, at which they should stumble and fall. Since Christ is that God who spoke by the Prophets, it is no wonder that this also should be fulfilled in him. And by calling Christ the stone of stumbling, he reminds us that it is not to be wondered at if they made no progress in the way of righteousness, who through their wilful stubbornness stumbled at the rock of offence, when God had showed to them the way so plainly. ³¹⁶ But we must observe, that this stumbling does not properly belong to Christ viewed in himself; but, on the contrary, it is what happens through the wickedness of men, according to what immediately follows.

TSK: Rom 9:32 - Because // they stumbled

Because : Rom 4:16, Rom 10:3; Mat 19:16-20; Joh 6:27-29; Act 16:30-34; 1Jo 5:9-12

they stumbled : Rom 11:11; Mat 13:57; Luk 2:34, Luk 7:23; 1Co 1:23

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Rom 9:32 - As it were by the works of the law // They stumbled at that stumbling-stone

Here is the reason of the foregoing seeming paradox; why they, who followed after the law of righteousness, should not attain it, rather than other.

Because they sought it not aright; they sought it not in a way of believing, but of working. These two are opposed in the business of justification, as before at large, in Rom 9:3,4 .

As it were by the works of the law i.e. as if they could have attained righteousness or justification in that way, which it was impossible to do.

They stumbled at that stumbling-stone i.e. the true Messiah: q.d. So far were they from seeking righteousness by Christ, that, on the contrary, they took offence at him, to their own destruction, Mar 6:3 1Co 1:23 . They thought it impossible that he should give them a righteousness better than their own. This happened to them according to the prophecy that went before them: so it followeth;

Haydock: Rom 9:30-32 - What then shall we say?

What then shall we say? Or what shall we conclude from these testimonies of the Scripture, but this paradox, as St. John Chrysostom calls it, that they who sought for justice, or sanctification, found it not, and they who did not seek it, found it; that is, the Jews, who sought for this justice by the works of their law, which they magnified so much, have not attained to that law that could make them just; whereas the Gentiles, who had no such written law to confide in, have only sought to be justified by the faith and law of Christ, by which they have met with justice, and sanctification? (Witham) ---

Behold what was wanting to the justice of the Jews! Scrupulous observers of the ceremonial law: esteeming too much their power, and pretended justice, they regarded the gospel and faith in Christ as of no advantage. Running in the path of the commandments with zeal, but without circumspection, they struck against Jesus Christ, who became to them a stumbling-block. They rejected him: they refused to believe. Thus did their works become dead works, without any fruit for eternity. (Calmet)

Gill: Rom 9:32 - Wherefore? because they sought it not by faith // but as it were by the works of the law // for they stumbled at that stumbling stone

Wherefore? because they sought it not by faith,.... The question is asked, why they did not attain to that, which with so much diligence they pressed after? the answer is, because, as they did not seek for righteousness in a right place, or object, they sought for it in the law, and the works of it, where it is never to be found by a sinful creature, and not in Christ, in whom only are righteousness and strength; so they did not seek for it in a right way, by faith in Christ, without which it is impossible to please God, and by which only true righteousness is discerned and received:

but as it were by the works of the law; not by works which looked like works of the law, and were not; but they sought it as if they expected their justification before God was to be by works of righteousness done by them; or as if it was partly by their own works, and partly by the goodness of God, accepting of them for a justifying righteousness. The Alexandrian Copy, and some others, read only, "as it were by works"; and so does the Vulgate Latin version: another reason, or else a reason of the former is,

for they stumbled at that stumbling stone; meaning the word of the Gospel, at which Peter says they stumbled, and particularly the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of Christ; or rather Christ himself, who was "to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness", 1Co 1:23.