Bible Study on Romans Session 18

Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans;

A Bible Study Based upon the Homilies of St John Chrysostom (SJC)

Study Guide – October 1, 2019 – Romans 10.1-13 – Homily 17

Prayer before reading of the Holy Scriptures: Shine within our hearts, loving Master, the pure light of Your divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our minds that we may comprehend the message of Your Gospel. Instill in us also reverence for Your blessed commandments so that, having conquered sinful desires, we may pursue a spiritual life, thinking and doing all those things which are pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are the light of our souls and bodies, and to You we give glory, together with Your Father who is without beginning and Your all holy, good and life giving Spirit, always now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Chapter 10, Verses 1-4

  • Paul again offers strong apology before he rebukes the Jews SJC “For it is not a characteristic of one and the same man to desire that the Jews be saved–not only to desire their salvation but to pray for it as well–and at the same time to hate them and turn his back on them.” (Pg 1 #1)
  • Paul express the agony he feels trying to save the Jews.
  • The Jews deserve pitty rather than punishment since they were still zealous. SJC “He spoke these words to show that they wandered from the path of righteousness more from obstinacy and desire for power than from ignorance.” (Pg 1 #4)
  • Translation note: Τέλος νόμου as used in 10.4 must be further explained. On the surface τέλος is translated as “end” in OSB. Fr Panagiotis includes “and fulfillment” in our homily translations. The is not the end of the law as if the Law no longer exists, but the fulfillment of the Law because He brought it to its fullness.
    • Original Greek: Τέλος γαρ νόμου Χριστός εις δικαιοσύνην παντί τω πιστεύοντι.
    • Modern Greek: Γιατι ο Χριστός είναι το τέλος του νόμου, αφού εκπληρώνει το σκοπό του…
    • Fr Panagiotis: For Christ is the end and fulfillment for justification…
    • New Living Translation: For Christ has accomplished the whole purpose of the law.
    • OSB: For Christ is the end of the law…
  • The purpose of the Law was to make man just, but since nobody obeyed the Law, it did not accomplish its purpose. SJC “And he shows that the man who has accepted this one justification by faith, has fulfilled the other as well. But he who has rejected justification by faith also falls short of justification by the Law. For if Christ is the fulfillment of the Law, whoever does not have Christ, does not have that justification, even if he seems to possess it. Whoever does have Christ has received everything–even if he has not fulfilled the Law.” (Pg 2, #8)
  • Do not fear transgressing the Law if you have faith. SJC “What Paul is saying is that you should not be afraid that you were transgressing the Law when you were converted to the faith. You were transgressing the Law when, because of the Law, you did not believe in Christ. When you believe in him, you have fulfilled the Law and you have done far more than it enjoined on you.” (Pg 2. #11)

Chapter 10, Verses 5-13

  • Moses spoke of the righteousness of the Law but not man. SJC “Therefore this justification has failed. But Paul tells us of the other justification, namely, that which comes from grace.” (Pg 3, #13)
  • Salvation by grace is not easy even if it seems easy. SJC “Then, again, so that you may not seem to be making this justification something to be despised by showing that it is easily gotten and requires little exertion, see how Paul amplifies his description of it.” (Pg 3 #15)
  • We need a vigorous soul because we believe what is beyond nature. SJC “18. Paul has shown that we need a strong and lofty soul which accepts what is beyond hope and does not stumble over the things which are visible and expected. However, he does this not only by citing the case of Abraham, but he also points out the need for a wise mind and a great understanding which reaches up to heaven. He does not merely tell us not to say but, “do not say in your heart,” that is, do not even think of doubting and saying to yourself: “How is this possible?” (Pg 4, #18)
  • Salvation is near you. SJC “Being saved does not require that you have traveled a long journey nor after you have sailed over the sea nor after crossing the mountains.” (Pg 4, #22)
  • There are no more excuses. SJC “Since, then, the justification which is easy and readily received is the greater and, since it is impossible to be justified in any other way, is it not the mark of the ultimate obstinacy to reject what is light and easy and to try to do what is impossible? For the Jews could not say that they declined this justification because it was burdensome. … Law does not bring salvation. Grace provides the justification which comes from itself as well as whatever the Law can offer. What word will set free those who are stubbornly disposed against this justification but who cling vainly to the Law, which will do nothing for them?” (Pg 5, #24, 26)

Life Application – Nothing is worse than vainglory

  • Nothing costs more than vainglory “What, then, is more costly than this vainglory? What could be more disgraceful or more offensive? For that this sickness is a costly one is quite clear from the money spent idly and to no purpose on theaters and horse races and other such untimely ostentations. This is also made clear by those who build fine and expensive houses and furnish them with everything which is useless and expensive.” (Pg 6, #32)
  • Vainglory gives birth to Gehenna”For vainglory is the mother who gives birth to Gehenna; it fuels the fire beyond control and inflames the venomous worm. You might see that it has strength and power even among the dead. And what could be worse than that? For death destroys all the other passions, but vainglory shows its power even after death and strives to display its nature even in a body which has expired. At the hour of their death, vainglorious men give solemn orders that there be raised up for themselves glorious monuments which will use up all their resources. They are eager to put aside before they die prodigal amounts of money for their burial. While they were still alive, they heaped ignominy on the poor who came to them for a small coin or a crust of bread. Now that they are dead, they are providing a rich banquet for the worms.” (Pg 6, #34, 35)
  • It would be better to be a slave to 10,000 than to have vainglory “I would prefer to be the slave of ten thousand barbarians one after another than to be a slave of vainglory just once. For those barbarians do not give such orders to their captive slaves as that vice enjoins on its subjects. For that vice says to its captives: “Be slaves to every man whether he happens to be nobler than you or of a meaner birth. Despise your soul, have no care for virtue, scorn your free will, offer up your salvation as a sacrificial victim. If you do some good deed, do not do it to please God but to make a show of it to the common herd, so that you may destroy the victory crown owed to such deeds. If you give alms or if you fast from food, undergo the labor, but be sure to lose the gain.” (Pg 7, #36)
  • Only chance of avoiding vainglory is to admit sickness “You will avoid it first and foremost if you thoroughly convince yourself that this sickness is a grievous ailment. If you do this, you will have taken the first and best step toward correcting it. For when a sick man first learns that he has an illness, he will be quick to send for a physician. But if you are also looking for another way of escape from the passion of vainglory, look constantly to God and be content with the glory which comes from him.” (Pg 7, #38)
  • Deflect ALL praises away “Therefore, let us write this text on our walls, and doors, and hearts. Let us constantly repeat to ourselves: “Woe to us when all men speak well of us.” For those very men who speak well of a person, at a later date, they slander him for being vainglorious, fond of honors, and a lover of the words of praise these men spoke before. But God does not act like that. When he sees that the glory you love is the glory that comes from him, then especially will he praise you, then will he honor you, then will he proclaim you as winner of the crown of victory.” (Pg 8, #42)
  • Even harlots despise those who use them “Just as a harlot stands before her doorway and rents out her whole self, so, too, do those enslaved by vainglory. Rather, these slaves are more disgraceful than the harlot. For women of her profession in many cases look with scorn on some of those who have desired their services. But you offer yourself to everyone, even if they be runaway slaves, thieves, or pickpockets. For the theater audience which applauds you consists of these and men like them. When those who praise you are taken one by one, even you consider them to be worthless. But when they come in crowds, you honor them more than your own salvation and show yourself to be less deserving of honor than all of them together.” (Pg 8-9, #46)
  • Innumerable praises by men are no better than a bunch of crows “Therefore, since you recognize how cheap a thing this crown is, run away from the damage it does. How many people do you want to have singing your praises? A hundred? Or twice or three times or four times as many? Rather, if you wish, put the number at ten or twenty times as many. Let there be two or four thousand. If you prefer, let the number of those who applaud you be beyond all counting. They will in no way differ from screeching jackdaws or crows. But if you take into consideration the throngs of the angels, those who applaud you on earth will seem cheaper and more worthless than worms; their words of praise will have less substance than smoke and dreams.” (Pg 9-10, #52)
  • Be like John the Baptist “Emulate John the Baptist, that citizen of the wilderness. Learn how he paid no heed to the crowds and did not turn around to look at flatterers. When he saw that all those who dwelt in Palestine had poured out to stand around him, to marvel and be astounded at him, he was not puffed up by such great honor. He rose up against them and speaking to this huge crowd, as if he were talking to a single lad, he rebuked them with these words: “You serpents, you offspring of vipers,” However, even though it was because of him that they left their cities and rushed out in throngs so as to see his sacred person, not one of these things softened his resolve, because he was free from all the vanity which seeks for glory.” (Pg 10, #56-57)

Send Off – Flee from human gloryTherefore, let us look to the heavenly glory and consider it carefully so that, as we marvel at its celestial beauty, we may flee from the ugliness of human glory, which can bring us such shame. Let us then enjoy the great pleasure and find constant delight in the glory which heaven brings to us. (Pg 11, #60)