Romans 9:14-18, God's Sovereign Revelation (part 1)

The Explanation (v. 15–18)

God is most glorified in the freedom of unconditional election (v. 17–18)

God’s sovereignty in the acceptance/rejection of His revelation (v. 18)

Paul again uses “so then” to draw an inference from his scripture quotation just as he did in verse 16. This inference, that God has mercy on whom He desires and hardens whom He desires, is notoriously difficult to interpret, namely because the word ‘hardens’ (σκληρύνει - pronounced sklay-roon-eye) is used only in this one instance by Paul. This hardening is a natural inference from the example of Pharaoh, as anyone who is familiar with Exodus story knows that this word plays a significant role in the narrative.[1] In general, to be hardened means to be unresponsive to the will of God (see Acts 19:9; Hebrews 3:8, 13). The question that arises then is does this hardening refer to an eternal hardening? Does God elect some to receive mercy and others to be damned completely void of human responsibility? Is there double predestination?

While these questions are important ones and deserving of a complete answer, it is my argument that they are not questions Paul is attempting to address in the specific text of Romans 9:18. The point that Paul seems to be making in v. 18 is a statement of the complete sovereignty of God. We have mentioned before the parallelism of this passage and at this point it may be instructive to visually draw that out.

(v. 14) May it never be! (μὴ γένοιτο)

(v. 15) For (γὰρ) God says (λέγει) to Moses…

(v.16) So then (ἄρα οὖν)…

(v. 17) For (γὰρ) scripture says (λέγει) to Pharaoh…

(v. 18) So then (ἄρα οὖν)…

Not only are v. 15–16 grammatically parallel to v. 17–18, but they are also conceptually parallel as well. Clearly there is a relationship between Moses and Pharaoh in verses 15 and 17. As we have pointed out before, much like Jacob and Esau, they function as corresponding characters that represent those who receive God’s mercy and those who don’t. We have also pointed out before, in the treatment of verse 17, that the scripture quotations in verses 15 and 17 seem to be drawing on similar points, particularly the name of God.

The quotation from Exodus 9:16 in verse 17 mentions specifically the name of God being spread as the purpose of God in His free sovereignty. The quotation in verse 15 doesn’t clearly identify a statement about the name of God until Exodus 33:19 is examined in its context in which this statement from God about showing mercy and compassion is in relationship to the revelation of His name. The focus of Paul is that God cannot be labeled unjust because His very name, His very nature, His very character as He Himself has revealed, is tied directly to His absolute freedom in distributing mercy to suit His purposes. The focus is not the predestined damnation of certain people, rather that group is mentioned (by Esau, Pharaoh, and the hardened) to demonstrate that God uses all people in His absolute sovereignty for His saving purposes.

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[1] Exodus 4:21; 7:3, 22; 8:15, 19; 9:12, 35; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 13:15; 14:4, 8, 17.