The Jewish Annotated New Testament (257 page)

6
:
Voice
, lit., “mouth.”

8
–12
: Paul concludes this section by reiterating the dynamic enunciated in the concluding remarks of 11.30–32, about the interwoven destinies of Jews and Gentiles. The promise was that all the nations would be blessed, or bless themselves, by the circumcised seed (e.g., 11.28–29; Gen 22.16–17). This declaration is followed by citations that form a proof for it. (Note that Heb “‘ammim” “peoples,” and “goyim” “nations,” can both include Israel [e.g., Ex 19.6]).

9
: Ps 18.49 (17.50 LXX; also 2 Sam 22.50 LXX). Vv. 8–9 probably draw from the next verse of Ps 18.50 (LXX 17.51), which declares that God “is showing mercy to his anointed one, to David and his seed forever.” The psalm describes David confessing God among the nations. That is how Paul understands himself.
Sing praises
, lit., “sing psalms.”

10
: Deut 32.43.

11
: Ps 117.1; mercy is mentioned in the next verse of the psalm (v. 2; 116.2 LXX).

12
: Isa 11.10 (cf. Rom 14.17).

16
: Perhaps inspired by Isa 66.19–23, Paul sees himself like a priest preparing pure sacrifices (cf. Ex 28.35,43; Phil 2.17). Alternatively, he may be referring to the offering from the nations (vv. 25–32).

19
:
Of the Spirit of God
, “of God” not in some Mss.

21
: Isa 52.15 LXX.
Of him,
not in Gk.

27
:
They ought
, lit., “they are obligated.”

28
:
What has been collected
, lit., “this fruit.”

31
:
The unbelievers
, lit., “the ones not-being-persuaded.”

33
:
The God of peace be with all of you
, some Mss add 16.25–27 here.

16.1
–27: Commendation, greetings, and closing.
Although he has not been to Rome, Paul knows of many members of the community by name, or household, or service.

1
:
Phoebe
likely carried and presented this letter.
Deacon
, Gk “diakonos,” servant.
Church
, or assembly.
Cenchreae
, the port for Corinth.

2
:
Saints
, see 1.7n.
Benefactor
, one who has used wealth to help the less fortunate.

3
:
Prisca and Aquila
, Acts 18.2; 1 Cor 16.19; 2 Tim 4.19.

5
:
First convert
, lit., “first fruit.”

7
:
Apostles
, “those sent out,” early ones dispersed to testify to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

10
:
Approved
, lit., “a tested one.”

17
: The word translated
offenses
is the same word used in Paul’s citation of Isa 28.16 in 9.33, Ps 69.22 in 11.9, and in the instruction not to put such a thing in the way of another in 14.13.
Avoid them
, lit., “bend (turn) away from them.”

18
:
Appetites
, lit., “belly.”
The simple-minded
, or naïve, unsuspecting. The accusation that they are slaves of their belly rather than Christ, coupled with mention of a specific teaching that they oppose, may indicate that they oppose the accommodation of dietary norms for which Paul calls in 14.1–15.7. In this sense, one might think of them as just the kind of “gentilizers” that Paul’s letter seeks to prevent from having further influence in Rome. Vv. 17–20 echo the imagery of the serpent of Gen 2–3.

19
: Cf. 1.5,8; 15.14–19; 16.26.

20
: Cf. Gen 3.14–15.
Satan
, or the adversary.

21
:
Timothy
, 1 Cor 4.17; 16.10; 2 Cor 1.1,19; Phil 1.1; 1 Thess 1.1; Philem 1; cf. ; Acts 16.1–3; Col 1.1; 2 Thess 1.1; 2 Tim 1.5.
Lucius
, cf. Acts 13.1; Col 4.14; 2 Tim 4.11; Philem 24;
Jason
, cf. Acts 17.5–9;
Sosipater
, cf. Acts 20.4.

22
:
Tertius
, the amanuensis who wrote Romans for Paul; many letters were dictated to a professional scribe.

23
:
Gaius
, cf. 1 Cor 1.14; Acts 19.29.
Erastus
, cf. 2 Tim 4.20; Acts 19.22. There is a Roman government officer, an “aedile,” Erastus, memorialized as a benefactor for laying a pavement stone near the theater in Corinth.

24
–27
: These verses represent a useful summary, although they are absent from many manuscripts and are widely regarded as a later addition.

25
:
For long ages
, lit., “eternal ages.”

1.1
–3: Salutation. 1
:
Apostle
, “one sent out”; not all regard Paul as such (9.2; see also 12.28; 15.9).
Sosthenes
, perhaps the synagogue ruler in Acts 18.17.

2
:
Church
(“ekklēsia”)
of God
, compare Israel as the “assembly of God” (Heb “qahal”) in Deut 4.10; Judg 20.2; 1 Kings 8.14; etc.
Sanctified … saints
, church members as set apart or elected (see 6.11; Lev 11.44–45).
Called
, suggesting election.
Call on the name
, see Gen 4.26; Joel 2.32 (Heb 3.5); Ps 99.6; 105.1.
Lord
, the
Christ
(Gk for “mashia
ḥ
”) who sanctifies (LXX Lev 20.8). Jewish uses of “Lord” for the messiah are rare (see
Pss. Sol
. 17.32), and absent in the Hebrew Bible.

3
:
Grace … peace
, standard Pauline invocations (see Num 6.24–26; along with glory, Ps 84[LXX 83].12; Prov 3.34). Invocations for well-being were common in ancient letter-writing (e.g., 2 Macc 1.1); Paul also conveys eschatological blessings (v. 4).
Father
, an increasingly common Jewish usage (Isa 63.16; 64.8; Tob 13.4 [
Sinaiticus
A]; Jdt 9.12; Wis 14.3; Sir 23.1,4; 3 Macc 2.21;
Ant
. 7.380;
b. Ta
’
an
. 25b; Philo,
Decalogue
64;
Rewards
166), familiar today from the “Avinu Malkeinu” (“Our Father, Our King”) prayer recited on high holy days and other occasions, and other prayers.

1.4
–9: Thanksgiving.

4
:
Give thanks
, standard epistolary greeting.
Grace
(“charis”; Heb “ḥen”), God’s covenantal favor.

5
:
Speech and knowledge
, speaking in tongues (14.2) and claiming special knowledge (“gnōsis,” 8.1) created factions. Paul’s thanksgiving is ironic.

6
:
Testimony
about God’s saving power.

7
:
Spiritual gift
(“charisma”), e.g., prophecy, speaking in tongues (see 12.1–31) caused by spirit-possession.
Revealing
(“apokalypsis”—whence “apocalypse”), referring to eschatological revelation.

8
:
Blameless
or unimpeachable, a rare usage (3 Macc 5.31).
Day of our Lord
, compare the “day of the Lord,” referring to the eschaton, in Isa 13.6,9; Jer 25.33 [LXX 32.33 ]; Am 5.18,20; and elsewhere.

9
:
Faithful
, Jewish literature emphasizes God’s fidelity (e.g., Deut 7.9; 32.4).
Fellowship
(“koinonia”) or communion, the community’s experiences and values. Philo uses the same word for the sharing of sacrificial meat at the Jerusalem Temple and to describe Essene fellowship (
Spec. Laws
1.221;
Good Person
84, 91; see also
Ant
. 14.214). The related Heb terms, “ya
ḥ
ad” (“oneness, unity”) (1QS 5.1) and “
ḥ
avurah” (“companionship, friendship”) (
m
.
Demai
2.2–3) can indicate shared meals.

1.10
–17: Unity. 10
:
Brothers
[
and sisters
], the letter is replete with kinship language.
Name
, perhaps a reference to baptism and thus an implicit appeal for unity (see 1.13).

11
:
Chloe’s people
, family, slaves and/or employees of a female-headed household.

12
:
Apollos
, an Alexandrian Jew Paul sent to Corinth (Acts 18.24–19.1; 1 Cor 3.4–6; 3.22; 4.6; 6.12).
Cephas
, Aramaic for “rock,” Gk “Peter” (see Mt 16.18).

13
:
Baptized
, Gk term meaning “dip,” “immerse” (see Mt 28.19; Acts 8.16). The Qumran fellowship immersed for purification (1QS 3.4–5,9) and believed that water conveyed the divine presence (4Q504 1–2, l.15).
In the name
, a Semitic expression, perhaps coming from Aramaic-speaking Jesus-followers.

14
:
Crispus
, a Jew with a Latin name, a synagogue ruler (Act 18.8).
Gaius
, a wealthy Roman, often identified with Titius Justus (Acts 18.7), who provided the venue for the Corinthian church (Rom 16.23).

16
:
Household
, including slaves.
Stephanas
, see 16.15.

17
:
Gospel
(“euangelion,” “good news”), often used for political announcements (e.g., of a tax relief), and by Jesus’ followers to announce God’s message. In the Hebrew Bible “good news” (Heb “besorah tovah” or simply “besorah”) indicates welcome tidings (2 Sam 18.27; 2 Kings 7.9; Isa 52.7).
Eloquent wisdom
, philosophical speculation or clever speech.