Romans 9:32

Why? Because they didn’t seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone;

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

Why? Because they didn’t seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,

BSB

Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,

KJV

Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

ASV

Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling;

BBE

Why? Because they were not searching for it by faith, but by works. They came up against the stone which was in the way;

Original Greek

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διὰ dia Because of G1223 τί; ti why G5101 ὅτι hoti Because [it was] G3754 οὐκ ouk not G3756 ἐκ ek by G1537 πίστεως pisteōs faith G4102 ἀλλ all᾽ but G235 ὡς hōs as G5613 ἐξ ex by G1537 ἔργων ergōn works G2041 νόμου nomou of law G3551 προσέκοψαν prosekopsan They stumbled G4350 γὰρ gar for G1063 τῷ tō over the G3588 λίθῳ lithō stone G3037 τοῦ tou (the) G3588 προσκόμματος proskommatos of stumbling G4348

The early church

"Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law." This is the clearest answer in the passage, which if he had said immediately upon starting he would not have gained so easy a hearing. But since it is after many perplexities, and preparations, and demonstrations that he sets it down, and after using countless preparatory steps, he has at last made it more intelligible, and also more easily admitted. For this he says is the cause of their destruction: "Because it was not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law," that they wished to be justified. And he does not say, "by works," but, "as it were by the works of the Law," to show that they had not even this righteousness. "For they stumbled at that stumbling-stone."
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Romans

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 30–33

The Gentiles knew not their guilt and misery, therefore were not careful to procure a remedy. Yet they attained to righteousness by faith. Not by becoming proselytes to the Jewish religion, and submitting to the ceremonial law; but by embracing Christ, and believing in him, and submitting to the gospel. The Jews talked much of justification and holiness, and seemed very ambitious to be the favourites of God. They sought, but not in the right way, not in the humbling way, not in the appointed way. Not by faith, not by embracing Christ, depending upon Christ, and submitting to the gospel. They expected justification by observing the precepts and ceremonies of the law of Moses. The unbelieving Jews had a fair offer of righteousness, life, and salvation, made them upon gospel terms, which they did not like, and would not accept. Have we sought to know how we may be justified before God, seeking that blessing in the way here pointed out, by faith in Christ, as the Lord our Righteousness? Then we shall not be ashamed in that awful day, when all refuges of lies shall be swept away, and the Divine wrath shall overflow every hiding-place but that which God hath prepared in his own Son.

Read Matthew Henry on Romans 9 →

Cross-references

12

Topics

Jesus, The ChristUnbeliefWorksStumbling

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.