by Dwight A. Pryor
THE EYES OF THE NATIONS are focused this month on the Olympic Games in London. This celebrated athletic competition with a three-thousand-year-old history dates back to footraces held quadrennially in Olympia, Greece. But its origins can be traced even earlier, to a mythic story preserved in Homer’s Iliad – a tale curiously enough that may shed light on a challenging passage in the New Testament.
The text in question is found in Romans 11. It has long been the source of lively scholarly debate among translators and commentators. The following translation highlights disputed words in italics.
11:11 So I ask, have they [Israel] stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through theirmisstep [fall KJV, RSV; transgression NIV, NASB] salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 11:12 Now if their misstep means wealth for the world, and if theirdefeat [diminishing KJV] means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will theircompletion [fullness KJV] mean!
Sporting events were an elemental part of Greek and Roman societies, with athletic metaphors commonly employed in their ancient literature. Not surprisingly we find an abundance of them in Paul’s letters, from wrestling and boxing to chariot races and footraces. This Jewish apostle to the Gentiles was a citizen of the Roman Empire and fully conversant in the common Greek language and prevailing Greco-Roman culture. He naturally would employ language and imagery common to the culture of his Gentile readers.
Professor Stanley Stowers and other scholars of classic literature have noted that one iconic story known to Paul’s Roman audience concerns a famous race that Odysseus (Ulysses) wins with divine help. In his epic poem, the Iliad (Book 23), Homer recounts the time when Achilles calls for athletic competitions to honor his slain friend, Patroclus. In the footrace of three mighty warriors, Ajax takes the lead and appears headed for victory when Odysseus calls upon Athena (Minerva) for greater speed. The goddess causes Ajax to stumble and fall, enabling Odysseus to pass him and take the prize. Ajax manages to right himself however to finish second, sharing in the riches.
ROMANS 11:11-12 HAS A SIMILAR racing metaphor in view, with parallel themes of divine intervention, stumbling and unexpected results. Here Paul continues with the footrace metaphor employed in 9:30-33, where Israel stumbles over a stone put in place by God himself! The disputed Greek word (paraptoma) in 11:11 often translated as fall (KJV) ortransgression (NIV) was a common term to Paul’s audience for a runner taking a false stepor a misstep in a race. And the term behind defeat (heitta) was used to denote a competitor’s defeat or failure in a race. The text then becomes clearer and coherent when we recognize the racing metaphor behind the Apostle’s language.
As Paul sees it, Israel has every advantage in the ‘race for righteousness’ as it were: “to them belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, the promises, and the patriarchs” (9:4-5). Whereas the Gentiles are “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph 2:12).
Unlike the fickle Greek gods, the God of Israel cannot play favorites. Justice utterly befits Him. So He sends the Messiah – not to judge the other nations as was the Messianic expectation of the time – but to extend His mercy to them as well. Salvation comes to the Gentiles through the faithfulness of Jesus unto death. Israel stumbles over this suffering Messiah, to the advantage of the Gentiles, but they are not forsaken or rejected by God. Rather they are provoked to jealousy, to catch up in the race.
For Paul, Israel’s election remains sure, their calling irrevocable. They will run the race to its completion so that in their fullness “all Israel shall be saved” (11:26). The covenant-keeping God who abounds in mercy assures a win-win situation for the faithful. At the end, Jews and Gentiles, Israel and the nations, together will share in the riches of God’s glory. With one voice all will worship the true and living God and rejoice over His Messiah. O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! (11:33).
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Want to study this subject in-depth? We recommend And So All Israel Shall Be Saved.
Take me back to the library. Or if you prefer, back to the topic Israel.