10:1
Paul reiterates his concern for Israel. He wants them to be saved. Why does he stress this? Well his message, and what he has been saying in Romans, says that going along their current road the Jews will not be saved. This would be construed by some as Paul being anti-Jewish. We encounter the same phenomenon today. If we say all religions are not the same we are accused of being exclusive. If we say that a homosexual lifestyle is sinful we accused of being homophobic. Now some people are Islamophobic, some are homophobic, but if the Bible is true, which it is, then those who are living lives that are contrary to the Bible are in great danger. Moreover, there is a solution on offer to every single man and woman on the planet. Anyone who believes in Jesus will receive forgiveness and newness of life.
10:2
NIV’s “I can testify” is inaccurate, it actually says “I testify”. Paul knew that the Jews were zealous. Indeed Paul himself had been one of the most zealous of Jews (Phil 3:4-6). But zeal on its own is of no value, it matters what we are zealous for, and the zeal needs to be based on knowledge. Having the right motives is of no use if one is not going about something in the right way. Zeal needs to be based on knowledge, and the only one who knows the right way to be right with God is God Himself! Why should we consider the opinion of a mere man to be of any value in the matter? And God Himself came to live amongst us. Only the gospel is based on knowledge, for it came direct from God.
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