Interpretation of Romans 11:33 – 12:2

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“(33) Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom / and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,/ and his paths beyond tracing out! /

(34) ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? / Or who has been his counselor?’ / (35) ‘Who has ever given to God / that God should repay them?’ / (36) For from him and through him and for / him are all things. / To him be the glory forever! Amen.

(12:1)Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. (2)Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Christians refer to the Bible as a guide for living daily as God’s light in a secular world. Reading the Bible requires an interpretation of the writer’s words into their intended meaning. The aforementioned excerpt can be explained as, first, an exaltation of God’s glory and second, as a compulsion to surrender one’s life and to be in this world but not of it.

The excerpt from this passage begins in verse 33 where Paul writes praises of God for the elements of his character that we as humans could never understand. The word depth may illustrate the discernment of our Lord being vast beyond our comprehension. The term riches can be seen as his unending mercies and blessings freely given to his children. God’s wisdom in this phrase may refer to the creator of the universe who makes all of it work together to fulfill purpose. Another point of view could be the profoundness of his grace towards his people and how he gives us our salvation. Despite any and all sins or flaws, we...

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...e on earth. Scrutinizing Bible passages for their meaning is much more effective than just reading over them. When we take the time to see what the writer and God are trying to tell us through the passage, we can more effectively study the Bible and extract more information that has relevance to our Christian walk. Romans 11:33 through 12:2 display praises sent to God that also present questions about his character that, when answered, give us a depiction of the vastness of God’s glory. The second part of this passage tells us how we should live – striving to be like minded with Christ.

Works Cited

The Interpreter's Bible. Vol. IX. New York: Abingdon Press, n.d. 577-582.

"Romans." The Broadman Bible Commentary. Nashville: Broadman Press, n.d. 247-248.

"Romans." The Anchor Bible. Vol. 46. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc., 1993. 632-641.

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