Romans 11: Romans 11:35-Paul Cites The Rhetorical Question In Job 41:11 To Support His Praise Of The Father In Romans 11:33

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1 Romans 11:35-36 Romans 11:35-Paul Cites The Rhetorical Question In Job 41:11 To Support His Praise Of The Father In Romans 11:33 In our study of Romans 11:33, we read where Paul praises the Father for His infinite wealth, wisdom and knowledge. He also praises the Father for His unsearchable decrees and incomprehensible ways. Then, in Romans 11:34, he cites the two rhetorical questions that demand a negative response that appear in Isaiah 40:13 to support his exclamation in Romans 11:33. This quotation is related to Paul s praise of the Father s infinite wisdom and knowledge and unsearchable decrees and incomprehensible ways. These rhetorical questions bring out the implication of Paul s doxology in Romans 11:33, which is that God is sovereign over His creatures and is transcendent of His creatures and self-sufficient unlike His creatures. Next, we will Romans 11:35, in which Paul cites freely the rhetorical question that demands a negative response that appears in Job 41:11 to support his exclamation in Romans 11:33. This quotation relates to Paul s praise of the Father s infinite wealth. Romans 11:35, Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? Paul is quoting from Job 41:11. Job 41:11, Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine. Paul is following the original Hebrew of Job 41:11 rather than the Septuagint translation of the passage indicating that he considered the Septuagint translation of this verse as not accurately reflecting the Hebrew. The Hebrew reads: Who has first given to me that I should repay him? Or is the disjunctive or alternative conjunction, that is also called a particle of separation e (h&) (ay), which introduces a quotation from Job 41:11 that is related to the previous quotation in Romans 11:34 that is from Isaiah 40:13. The word introduces a third rhetorical question that appears in Job 41:11 that is related to the quotation from Isaiah 40:13 and indicates that all three rhetorical questions are related to each other. All three rhetorical questions are related to each other because they all serve to confirm the doxology that appears in Romans 11:33. We will translate the word, or. Romans 11:35, Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? WHO is the nominative masculine singular form of the interrogative pronoun tis (tiv$) (tis), which introduces a rhetorical question that demands a negative 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

2 response. This rhetorical question brings out the implication of Paul s doxology in Romans 11:33, which is that God is indeed infinitely wealthy and possesses everything He has created and is transcendent of His creatures. This rhetorical question in Romans 11:35, like the two in Romans 11:34, demands a negative response and supports the doxology in Romans 11:33. This rhetorical question in Romans 11:35 relates to Paul s praise of the Father s infinite wealth. This rhetorical question in Romans 11:35 deals with the way in which the believer experiences God s eternal plan of salvation for mankind. Tis functions as a nominative subject meaning that it is producing the action of the verb prodidomi, HAS FIRST GIVEN. We will translate tis, who. HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM is composed of the third person singular aorist active indicative form of the verb prodidomi (prodivdwmi) (prod-id-o-mee), HAS FIRST GIVEN and the dative masculine singular form of the intensive personal pronoun autos (au)tov$) (ow-tos), TO HIM. The verb prodidomi is a compound word composed of the preposition pro, before and the verb didomi, to give, thus the word literally means to give beforehand. The preposition pro can have a local sense meaning to give in the presence of or it can have a temporal sense meaning to give previously. It has various meanings in classical Greek such as pay in advance, to give up to the enemy, to give one up to death, to forsake or abandon something or someone, to fail or give out such as a river running dry. The word is often used in the sense of betraying someone or one s country. Prodidomi in the Septuagint can mean betray (2 Kings 6:11 [LXX 4 Kings 6:11]). It also means give up as when one gives up his life for his country (2 Maccabees 7:37). The word in the papyri can mean betraying someone to another or giving something previously such as a dowry. Josephus used the betraying idea and Polybius used it of a certain Sosibius who advanced funds to cover all the expenses to rescue Achaeus from the enemy. He even promised a large sum if the mission were successful. Sosibius however also expected a large reward from the king for being so generous (Histories ). The verb appears only once in the Greek New Testament, Romans 11:35 where it means to give first or before or precede in giving and contains the idea of advancing money to God and thus putting Him under obligation to repay. The aorist tense of the verb is a constative aorist describing in summary fashion the entire span of human history in which not one of God s creatures has ever advanced money to God and thus putting Him under obligation to repay. The active voice is stative indicating that the subject exists in the state indicated by the verb. The subject is no particular member of the human race. Therefore, the stative active voice indicates that not one member of the human 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2

3 race throughout human history has ever existed in the state of advancing God money and thus putting Him under obligation to repay. The indicative mood is an interrogative indicative and is used with the interrogative pronoun tis, who to form a rhetorical question that demands a negative response since finite man and who is creature at that could ever advanced put God under obligation to repay. We will translate prodidomi, has first given. The intensive personal pronoun autos refers to the Father and functions as a dative of disadvantage meaning that it would be to the Father s disadvantage if His creatures could put Him under obligation to repay them. We will translate autos, to Him putting Him at a disadvantage. Corrected translation thus far of Romans 11:35: Or, who has first given to Him putting Him at a disadvantage? Romans 11:35, Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? THAT is the consecutive use of the conjunction kai (kaiv), which introduces a statement that presents the result of someone in the human race advancing God money. Therefore, we will translate kai, so that. IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN is composed of the third person singular future passive indicative form of the verb antapodidomi (a)ntapodivdwmi) (an-tap-od-ee-do-mee), IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK and the dative masculine singular form of the intensive personal pronoun autos (au)tov$) (ow-tos), TO HIM. The verb antapodidomi is a compound word composed of anti, against and the preposition apo and the verb didomi and means to repay. In classical Greek it can have both a positive and negative sense and occurs in may contexts and could mean to answer or to make return (Liddell-Scott, page 150). The verb translates six Hebrew words in the Septuagint and can mean reward (Psalm 18:20 [LXX 17:20]) or repay (Psalm 103:10 [LXX 102:10]). It appears only seven times in the Greek New Testament (Luke 14:14 twice; Romans 11:35; 12:19; 1 Thessalonians 3:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:6; Hebrews 10:30). Louw and Nida lists the following meanings for the verb: (1) to cause someone ot suffer in turn because of actions which merit retribution to pay back, to pay in return, to repay, to cause retribution (volume 2, page 492) (2) to pay something back to someone as the result of an incurred obligation to repay, to pay back, to give back (volume 2, page 575). A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature-Third Edition: (1) to practice reciprocity with respect to an obligation, repay, pay back, requite (2) to exact retribution, repay, pay back (Page 87). In Romans 11:35, the verb antapodidomi means to pay back and is used with God as the subject and no particular member of the human race as its object William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 3

4 The third person singular form of the verb refers to God. The future tense of the verb is a deliberative future meaning that it asks a question that implies some doubt about the response. It asks a question that implies some doubt as to who in the human race God would be obligated to. The passive voice of the verb means that the subject receives the action of the verb from either an expressed or unexpressed agency. The subject here is no particular member of the human race. Therefore, the passive voice indicates God fulfilling an obligation to a member of the human race. The indicative mood is an interrogative indicative and is used with the interrogative pronoun tis, who to form a rhetorical question that demands a negative response since finite man and who is a creature at that could never put God under obligation to repay him. We will translate the verb antapodidomi, He must repay. The intensive personal pronoun autos that is used with this verb refers to no particular member of the human race. The word functions as a dative advantage indicating that it would be to the advantage of a member of the human race if God were obligated to him so that God would have to repay him. We will translate autos, him. Completed corrected translation of Romans 11:35: Or, who has first given to Him putting Him at a disadvantage so that He must repay him? Here in Romans 11:35, Paul cites a rhetorical question that demands a negative response that appears in Job 41:11 in order to support his praise of the Father that appears in Romans 11:33. This quotation relates to Paul s praise of the Father s infinite wealth. This rhetorical question in Romans 11:35 deals with the way in which the believer experiences God s eternal plan of salvation for mankind. The force of the rhetorical question is to make an emphatic negative statement that no creature of God has put Him under obligation. The creature has neither the merit nor power to do so (Hodge, Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, page 597). Robert Mounce writes, No one has ever advanced anything to Him so as to deserve payment in return. God is debtor to no one. It is God who has set everything in motion by His creative word. He is the source, the agent, and the goal of all that is. All things find their origin in Him. Through Him everything that exists is sustained and directed. All things exist for His glory. (The New American Commentary, volume 27, page 227; Romans, Broadman and Holman Publishers, Psalm 50:10, For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 1 Chronicles 29:10-12, So David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, Blessed are You, O LORD God of Israel our 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 4

5 father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Haggai 2:8, The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,' declares the LORD of hosts. Man is dependent upon God and not vice versa because God is self-sufficient in Himself and does not need man like man needs God for his existence. Romans 11:35 teaches that God is under obligation to no one because no one has given Him anything. By way of implication, this passage teaches that it is only by God s grace policy that members of the human race can experience God s infinite wealth, which is what is communicated in the gospel by the Holy Spirit William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 5

6 Romans 11:36-The Father Will Receive Praise And Thanksgiving Throughout Eternity Because All Things Originate From Him Through Him And For Him We will complete our study of the doxology that appears in Romans 11:33-36 by noting verse 36, which teaches that the Father will receive praise and thanksgiving throughout eternity because all things exists from Him and through Him and for Him. For is the conjunction hoti (o^ti) (hot-ee), which is employed with the indicative mood of the verb eimi, are, which is omitted due to the figure of ellipsis though clearly implied in order to form a dependent causal clause that presents the reason for the preceding paragraph in Romans 11: In Romans 11:33, Paul praises the Father for His infinite wealth, wisdom and knowledge as well as His unsearchable decrees and incomprehensible ways. Romans 11:33, Oh, God s infinite wealth and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable, as an eternal spiritual truth, are His decrees and in addition, how incomprehensible, as an eternal spiritual truth, are His ways! Then, in Romans 11:34, Paul cites the two rhetorical questions that demand a negative response that appear in Isaiah 40:13 to support his exclamation in Romans 11:33. Romans 11:34, Indeed, who has fully comprehended the Lord s mind or who became His advisor? This quotation is related to Paul s praise of the Father s infinite wisdom and knowledge and unsearchable decrees and incomprehensible ways. This rhetorical question brings out the implication of Paul s doxology in Romans 11:33, which is that God is sovereign over His creatures and is transcendent of His creatures and self-sufficient unlike His creatures. The two rhetorical questions in Romans 11:34 deals with the believer s knowledge of God s eternal plan of salvation for mankind, both Jew and Gentile. Next, in Romans 11:35, Paul cites the rhetorical question that demands a negative response that appears in Job 41:11 to support his praise of the Father in Romans 11:33. Romans 11:35, Or, who has first given to Him putting Him at a disadvantage so that He must be repay him? This quotation relates to Paul s praise of the Father s infinite wealth. This rhetorical question in Romans 11:35 deals with the way in which the believer experiencing God s eternal plan of salvation for mankind. The quotations from Isaiah 40:13 and Job 41:11 that appear in Romans 11:34-35 serve to confirm Paul s doxology or praise of the Father in Romans 11: William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 6

7 Now, in Romans 11:36, the apostle Paul employs the conjunction hoti with the indicative mood of the verb eimi, are, which is omitted due to the figure of ellipsis in order to introduce a causal clause that presents the reason for the preceding paragraph in Romans 11: Romans 11:33-35 is doxology or in other words a praise of the Father for His infinite wealth, wisdom and knowledge and unsearchable decrees and incomprehensible ways. Therefore, the statement that hoti introduces presents the reason for the doxology in Romans 11: We will translate hoti, because. All things is the articular nominative neuter plural form of the adjective pas (pa~$), which has a three-fold sense. First of all, pas refers to every spiritual blessing that the Christian possesses as a result of being in union with Christ and identified with Him in His death, burial, resurrection and session since Paul is praising God the Father for His infinite wealth in relation to the salvation of mankind. It refers to those blessings connected to the believer s salvation or deliverance from the sin nature, the devil and his cosmic system as well as those blessings connected to the believer s sanctification. The word speaks of the Christian s spiritual prosperity that is the result of his union and identification with Christ. That pas refers to the blessings of the Christian s salvation is indicated by Paul praising the Father in Romans 11:33-35 for His infinite wealth. Romans 8:32, Indeed, He by no means spared His own Son but rather He delivered Him over to death for each and every one of us, how will He unequivocally not also, as a certainty, with Him graciously give all things for the benefit of all of us. Secondly, pas also refers to the various circumstances in life, both adversity and prosperity since Paul in Romans 11:33-35 is praising the Father for His infinite wisdom and knowledge as well as His unsearchable decrees and incomprehensible ways. Romans 8:28, In fact, we know without a doubt that for the benefit of those who are characterized as divinely loving God the Father, He (the Spirit), as an eternal spiritual truth, always works each and every circumstance together for the good, for the benefit of those who are, as an eternal spiritual truth, the chosen ones, in accordance with His predetermined plan. The adjective pas in Romans 11:36 is related to the noun sophia, wisdom that appears in Romans 11:33, which denotes God s ability to perfectly execute His plan of salvation and as a result glorify Himself William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 7

8 Romans 11:33, Oh, God s infinite wealth and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable, as an eternal spiritual truth, are His decrees and in addition, how incomprehensible, as an eternal spiritual truth, are His ways! The wisdom of God is expressed through the gospel of Jesus Christ, which presents God s provision of eternal salvation for the entire human race through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The adjective pas in Romans 11:36 is related to the noun gnosis, knowledge, which refers to God s omniscience. The nouns sophia, wisdom and gnosis, knowledge are described by the noun bathos, infinite indicating that God s wealth, wisdom and knowledge are infinite meaning that they are immeasurably great, indefinitely or exceedingly great, unbounded, unlimited, endless or immeasurable and inexhaustible. The adjective pas in Romans 11:36 is related to the noun krima, decrees, which refers to the divine decrees, which are actually one decree but because of the limitations of our human brain we often use the plural, decrees, to express the many facets of God s plan. The one decree was given in eternity past before anything or anyone was created in less than a second and covering everything in all of what to us is past, present, and future history (Ps. 2:7; 148:6; Dan. 9:24). The decree of God is the chosen and adopted plan of all God s works. It is His eternal purpose according to the counsels of His own will, whereby for His own glory He has foreordained whatever comes to pass. The decree of God is the sovereign choice of the divine will (His sovereignty) and mentality (His omniscience) by which all things are brought into being and controlled, made subject to His pleasure, and producing His glorification. It is His eternal, holy, wise and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be in their causes, courses, conditions, successions, and relations and determining their certain futurition (i.e., that they will certainly take place). The decree of God is His eternal and immutable will regarding the future existence of events, which will happen in time and regarding the precise order and manner of their occurrence. The adjective pas in Romans 11:36 is related to the noun hodos, ways refers to God s manner of accomplishing His eternal purpose. The word refers to the policies that God establishes in eternity past and carries out in time and His decisions in eternity past that are manifested in time and actions that He performs that fulfill His eternal purpose. Hodos refers to the Father s manner of doing things through His policies, decisions and actions that bring to realization His decree or eternal purpose. The adjective anexereunetos, unsearchable asserts that God s decrees are unsearchable in the sense that they are impossible for both men an angels to understand on the basis of careful examination or investigation. They are 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 8

9 unsearchable unless God the Holy Spirit provides revelation, which He has by inspiring the Scriptures. They are unsearchable unless the Spirit provides illumination, which He does by giving understanding to the believer when he or she studies the Scriptures. The adjective anexichniastos, incomprehensible asserts that God s ways are incomprehensible in the sense that they cannot be understood or comprehended by the human mind apart from revelation that is received from the Holy Spirit in the pages of Scripture. This praise of God s infinite wealth, wisdom and knowledge and unsearchable decrees and incomprehensible ways is the result of Paul s teaching in Romans 9:1-11:32. Thirdly, the adjective pas in Romans 11:36 refers to the totality of animate (living) and inanimate (non-living) objects that are contained in the first, second and third heavens and the earth. This would include: (1) Stars, satellites, and planets that compose the stellar universe. (2) Earth s sun and moon. (3) Vegetation on the earth (4) Marine life (5) Bird life (6) Terrestrial life (7) Unregenerate human beings (8) Non-elect angels (9) Regenerate human beings (10) Elect angels. Proverbs 16:4, The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil. Acts 17:24-25, The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things. Romans 8:32, Indeed, He by no means spared His own Son but rather He delivered Him over to death for each and every one of us, how will He unequivocally not also, as a certainty, with Him graciously give all things for the benefit of all of us. 1 Corinthians 8:1-6, Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are socalled gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. 1 Corinthians 11:12, For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God. 1 Timothy 6:13-16, I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 9

10 Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time -- He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. Hebrews 1:1-3, God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Hebrews 2:5-8, For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. But one has testified somewhere, saying, WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM? YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. Hebrews 2:10, For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. Revelation 4:11, Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created. Therefore, in Romans 11:36, the adjective pas refers to the following: (1) Unmerited blessings related to salvation (2) Circumstances in life (3) Totality of animate and inanimate objects. It functions in a distributive sense meaning each and every thing. The article preceding the adjective pas is a substantiver meaning it is converting the adjective into a substantive. Pas functions as a nominative subject meaning that it is performing the action of the verb eimi, are, which is omitted due to the figure of ellipsis. We will translate pas, each and every thing William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 10

11 Are does not translate a word in the original text but is correctly added by the translators since Paul is deliberately omitting the third person plural present active indicative form of the verb eimi (ei)miv) (i-mee), due to his use of the figure of ellipsis. The word means to exist and functions as a copula uniting the subject, which is the adjective pas, each and every thing and the prepositional phrases ex autou, from Him, di autou, through Him and eis auton, to Him. This indicates that each and every thing (unmerited spiritual blessings related to salvation, circumstances, the totality of inanimate and animate objects in creation) exist because of the Father and through Him and for His ultimate glorification. The present tense of the verb is gnomic used of a general timeless fact indicating an eternal spiritual truth or spiritual axiom. This indicates that each and every spiritual blessing related to salvation, the circumstances of life, and the totality of inanimate and animate objects in creation as an eternal spiritual truth exist because of the Father and through Him and for His ultimate glorification. The active voice is stative indicating that the subject exists in the state indicated by the verb eimi. The subject is each and every spiritual blessing related to salvation, the circumstances of life, and the totality of inanimate and animate objects in creation. Therefore, the stative active voice indicates that each and every spiritual blessing related to salvation, each and every circumstances of life, and the totality of inanimate and animate objects in creation exist because of the Father and through Him and for Him. The indicative mood is employed with the conjunction hoti to form a causal clause that presents the reason for Paul s doxology in Romans 11: We will translate eimi, as an eternal spiritual truth, exist. From Him is composed of the preposition ek (e)k), from and the genitive masculine singular form of the intensive personal pronoun autos (au)tov$) (ow-tos), Him. The intensive personal pronoun autos, Him is a reference specifically to the Father although this statement that from Him and through Him to Him are all things could be applied to both the Son and the Spirit since all three members of the Trinity are co-equal and co-infinite and co-eternal. The Son and the Spirit are the personal agencies that the Father uses to bring into existence all things and to sustain them and cause all things to be directed towards Him for His glorification. That autos refers to the Father is indicated by the context. In Romans 11:33, the noun theos, God is a reference to the Father because in Romans 11:32 the word was used with reference to the Father as indicated by the 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 11

12 word s articular construction in verse 32, which is commonly used in the Greek New Testament to signify the Father. The preposition ek is a marker of cause or reason, with focus upon the source, thus indicating that each and every spiritual blessing related to the salvation of men, the each and every circumstance and the totality of inanimate and animate objects in creation exist because of God as a source. We will translate the prepositional phrase ex autou, because of Him as their source. Corrected translation thus far of Romans 11:36: Because each and every thing, as an eternal spiritual truth, exists because of Him as their source And is the adjunctive use of the conjunction kai (kaiv), which introduces an additional function of the Father that benefits His moral rational creatures whether angels or men. The word indicates that in addition to the Father being the originator or ultimate cause of each and every thing whether the circumstances of life, the blessings of salvation, the totality of objects in creation, He is also the sustainer of all things in creation. It is connecting the previous concept of God being the originator of all things in creation with that of His being the sustainer of all things, which is denoted by the prepositional phrase di autou, through Him. We will translate kai, and. Corrected translation thus far of Romans 11:36: Because each and every thing, as an eternal spiritual truth, exists because of Him as their source and Through Him is composed of the preposition dia (diav) (dee-ah), through and the genitive masculine singular form of the intensive personal pronoun autos (au)tov$) (ow-tos), Him. The intensive personal pronoun autos once again refers to the Father. The preposition dia functions with the genitive form autos as a marker of personal agency indicating that the Father is the personal agency through which each and every spiritual blessing, and each and every circumstance in life and the totality of inanimate and animate objects exist. This prepositional phrase therefore indicates that the Father is the sustainer of each and every thing. He is the one who sustains the flow of blessings to the believer, the creation itself and the circumstances of life take place because of His sustaining each and every animate and inanimate object. We will translate this prepositional phrase through Him. Corrected translation thus far of Romans 11:36: Because each and every thing, as an eternal spiritual truth, exists because of Him as their source and through Him 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 12

13 And is the adjunctive use of the conjunction kai (kaiv), which introduces an additional function of the Father that benefits His moral rational creatures whether angels or men. The word indicates that in addition to the Father being the originator or ultimate cause of all things and the sustainer of all things in creation, all things exist for His ultimate glorification and pleasure. It is connecting the previous concepts of God being the originator and sustainer of all things with the idea of being these things being for Him as well in the sense of being for His own pleasure and glorification. We will translate kai, and. Corrected translation thus far of Romans 11:36: Because each and every thing, as an eternal spiritual truth, exists because of Him as their source and through Him and To Him is composed of the preposition eis (ei)$) (ice), to and the accusative masculine singular form of the intensive personal pronoun autos (au)tov$) (ow-tos), Him. The intensive personal pronoun autos once again refers to the Father. The preposition eis is employed with the accusative form of autos as a marker of a goal indicating that each and every circumstance in life and each and every blessing related to salvation and each and every animate and inanimate object in creation is for the ultimate goal of glorifying the Father and bringing Him pleasure. We will translate this prepositional phrase for Him. Corrected translation thus far of Romans 11:36: Because each and every thing, as an eternal spiritual truth, exists because of Him as their source and through Him and for Him To Him is composed of the preposition eis (ei)$) (ice), to and the dative masculine singular form of the intensive personal pronoun autos (au)tov$) (ow-tos), Him. The intensive personal pronoun autos once again refers to the Father. The preposition eis with the accusative form of autos functions as a marker of persons benefited by an event, with the implication of something directed to them. This indicates therefore that the Father will be the beneficiary of adoring praise and thanksgiving that will be directed towards Him by all of the elect angels and regenerate human beings. We will translate this prepositional phrase directed towards Him William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 13

14 Be does not translate a word in the original Greek text but is correctly added by the translators since Paul is using the figure of ellipsis meaning that he deliberately omitting the third person plural future deponent middle indicative form of the verb eimi (ei)miv). The verb eimi means, to take place, occur and is used of an event, thus it denotes an event taking place. This indicates adoring praise and thanksgiving of the Father by elect angels and regenerate men and women will take place. This is a predictive future where the future tense indicates that something will take place or come to pass. The portrayal is external, summarizing the action: it will happen. The predictive future of the verb eimi here in Romans 11:36 is eschatological in nature indicating that God the Father will be the recipient of adoring praise and worshipful thanksgiving from every believer in the future. This will take place because He is the ultimate cause and source of all things as well as the sustainer of all things and all things are for His ultimate glorification and pleasure. The prepositional phrase eis tous aionas, forever indicates that this is predictive future since it refers to eternity future. The active voice indicates that the adoring praise and thanksgiving that will be directed towards the Father from His creatures is the subject, which performs the action of the verb eimi. The indicative mood is declarative presenting this assertion that the Father will be recipient of praise and thanksgiving from His creatures as an unqualified statement. We will translate eimi, will be. The glory is the articular nominative feminine singular form of the noun doxa (dovca) (dox-ha), which refers to the adoring praise, honor, recognition and worshipful thanksgiving that will be directed towards the Father by both elect angels and regenerate human beings. Therefore, elect angels and regenerate human beings will be in eternity future giving the Father glory as expressed through adoring praise, honor, recognition and worshipful thanksgiving because He is the source, sustainer and ultimate goal of all things. The word functions as a nominative subject as indicated by its articular construction. We will translate doxa, the glory (in the sense of adoring praise and worshipful thanksgiving). Corrected translation thus far of Romans 11:36: Because each and every thing, as an eternal spiritual truth, exists because of Him as their source and through Him and for Him. Glory (in the sense of adoring praise and worshipful thanksgiving) will be directed towards Him William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 14

15 Forever is composed of the preposition eis (ei)$) and the articular accusative masculine plural form of the noun aion (ai)wvn). In Romans 11:36, the noun aion means eternity is used with the preposition eis to express the concept of eternity and literally means throughout eternity. Aion is an abstract noun, which by their very nature focus on a quality. However, when such a noun is articular, that quality is tightened up, as it were, defined more closely, distinguished from other notions. The article with an abstract noun aion emphasizes eternity is well-known to Paul s readers. We will translate the prepositional phrase eis tous aionas, throughout eternity. Corrected translation thus far of Romans 11:36: Because each and every thing, as an eternal spiritual truth, exists because of Him as their source and through Him and for Him. Glory (in the sense of adoring praise and worshipful thanksgiving) will be directed towards Him throughout eternity. Amen is the interjection amen (a)mhvn), which is a transliteration of the Hebrew `amen (wm@a*), surely, truly and serves as a liturgical formula at the close of a doxology (Rom. 1:25; 9:5; 11:36; 16:27; Gal. 1:5; Eph. 3:21; Phlp. 4:20; Heb. 13:21). In Romans 11:36, the interjection amen emphasizes the certainty that God the Father will throughout eternity future receive from regenerate men and elect angels adoring praise and worshipful thanksgiving for being the source, sustainer and ultimate goal of all things. Psalm 41:13, Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen. Psalm 72:19, Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. Psalm 106:48, Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, Amen! Praise the LORD. Psalm 145:1-2, I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Ephesians 3:21, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17, Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 15

16 Revelation 4:11, Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created. Completed corrected translation of Romans 11:36: Because each and every thing, as an eternal spiritual truth, exists because of Him as their source and through Him and for Him. Glory (in the sense of adoring praise and worshipful thanksgiving) will be directed towards Him throughout eternity. Amen! 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 16