Romans 11:34 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"

NIV: "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"

NASB: For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE Lord, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR?

CSB: For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?

NLT: For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?

KJV: For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

NKJV: “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?”

Paul's hymn of praise and adoration for the God who is beyond us continues here. He asks two questions, quoted from Isaiah 40:13, to illustrate just how little God needs from us.

First, who has known the Lord's mind? The answer is so obvious that Paul does not bother to respond. Nobody has ever known God's mind. As beings created by Him, we lack any capacity to fully grasp His thoughts (Isaiah 55:8–9). To assume that we could possibly know anything about God's thinking processes beyond what He has revealed in His Word is foolish arrogance. To recognize His mind as unknowable to us is cause for worship.

The second question is as ridiculous as the first. Who has been God's counselor? Who has God gone to for counselling, or moral support, or for relationship advice? Who has He asked for ideas about creation or the care of His creatures? God doesn't need us to help Him think things through, no matter how eager we sometimes feel to do exactly that. As we begin to understand the difference between His vast mind and our own, the only response that makes sense is to worship Him and accept His decisions as right and true.

Romans 11:33–36 is Paul's poetic, hymn-like praise of God and His amazing wisdom. He quotes Old Testament texts such as Isaiah and Job. The prior passage explained how God's intent for Israel came with some level of mystery. As limited, created people, we will never be able to fully grasp the mind of God. The proper response, when we realize how beyond our understanding He is, is praise and worship.

In Romans 11, Paul concludes his exploration of God's plan for His chosen people Israel. It's true that as a nation, Israel has rejected faith in Christ, but a remnant of Israelites has believed in Jesus. God has hardened the rest in unbelief, but will bring Israel back to faith when enough Gentiles have come to Him through Christ. Then many Israelites will trust in Christ, as well, and God will renew His covenant with His people. Paul concludes this section with a powerful poem or hymn about God's independence and how He is beyond our full comprehension.

Romans 11 concludes Paul's discussion about God's plan for the Israelites begun in Romans 9 and 10. Paul insists that, though Israel as a nation has rejected Christ, a remnant of Jewish Christians exists by God's grace. God has hardened the rest in their unbelief until enough Gentiles have come to Him through Christ. Then God will release Israel to believe in Christ and restore His covenant with her as many individual Jews come to faith in Christ, as well. Paul stands in awe of God's vast and unknowable mind and complete ownership of all things.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.