Romans 9:32 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,

NIV: Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.

NASB: Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though they could by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,

CSB: Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.

NLT: Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path.

KJV: Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

NKJV: Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

In the previous two verses, Paul has stated his bottom-line truth about Gentiles and Jews in the form of a long question. Although the Gentiles never lived under the law of Moses and never pursued God's righteousness in that way, they have received righteousness, and God's mercy with it, through faith in Christ. And, although the Jewish people have endeavored to follow the law for generations, seeking to be made right before God, they have not succeeded in keeping the law nor being made righteous.

Now Paul answers the simple question "why?" with an equally simple answer. He writes that the Jewish people did not seek to be made righteous by faith. They wanted God to declare them righteous based on their works, on their ability to keep the law. As Paul has shown throughout Romans, nobody can keep the law (Romans 3:10; 3:23), so nobody can demonstrate their righteousness to God in that way.

In seeking to be justified by their own works, by their own behavior, Paul writes that most Israelites have "stumbled over the stumbling stone." Paul will make clear in the following verse that this stumbling stone is Jesus Christ.

Romans 9:30–33 finds Paul declaring that though the Gentiles did not seek God's righteousness, it has been given to them by faith. Meanwhile, Israel pursued righteousness through following the law and did not reach it because they did not pursue it by faith. They stumbled over Christ, the stumbling stone. All who believe in Him will never be put to shame.

Romans 9 begins with Paul describing his anguish for his people Israel in their rejection of Christ. After describing all the privileges God has given to the Jewish people as a nation, Paul insists that God will keep those promises. However, not every person born to Israel belongs to Israel, he writes. God reserves the right to show mercy to some and not others, as Paul demonstrates from Scripture. God is like a potter who creates some vessels for destruction and others for glory. God has called out His people from both the Gentiles and the Jews to faith in Christ, the stumbling stone.

Romans 8 ended with Paul's grand declaration that nothing can separate those who are in Christ Jesus from the love of God. Romans 9 turns a sharp corner and finds Paul heartbroken that his people, the Jews, have rejected Christ. He insists that God will keep His promises to Israel, but that not everyone born to Israel is truly Israel. God will show mercy to whomever He wishes, calling out His people from both the Jews and the Gentiles to faith in Christ. Romans 10 will find Paul discussing how Jewish people can be saved.

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.