How do you interpret Romans 1:16 (Voice)
16 For I am not the least bit embarrassed about the gospel. I won’t shy away from it, because it is God’s power to save every person who believes: first the Jew, and then the non-Jew.
Thanks for asking.
One problem is the translation you are using.
Here is the same verse from the KJV:
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Rom. 1:15–16.
When Christians read the word "Gentile" in the New Covenant writings (Matthew to Revelation) there is a tendency to identify the reference as non-Hebrew Gentile, but this is not always the case. There are three kinds of Gentiles that can be identified in the New Covenant writings when one comes across "Gentile."
First, Jesus said "Scripture cannot be broken." This means He was referring to the Hebrew Scripture of Law, Psalms, and Prophets. Saul refers to the same Hebrew Scripture in 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:16–17.
Scripture cannot be broken means there can be no interpretation of Scripture - in this case the New Covenant writings - that violates what has been written in the Hebrew Scripture. There is no adding after the fact, no changing what's been written, and no subtracting from what has been written. Scripture cannot be broken. But Gentiles break Scripture and violate what God has written in His Word constantly. In fact, mostly all the Constantinian Gentile theology that's out there in 'mainstream' Gentile books and sermons from the pulpit cannot have their doctrine without violating Scripture of what's been written.
Here is a main doctrine of Gentiles today and they teach that non-Hebrew Gentiles ("the world") have been grafted into the natural Olive tree and teach non-Hebrew Gentiles are now in the Abraham Covenant. Here's what God's Word says as to who is in the Abraham covenant:
7 And
I will establish my covenant between me and
thee and
thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant,
to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Gen. 17:6–7.
The Abraham Covenant is between God, Abraham, and Abraham's seed. There are no non-Hebrew Gentiles in this covenant. But when Gentile Christians read Saul's letters, they interpret his words to include non-Hebrew Gentiles in the Abraham covenant thereby breaking Scripture and violating what has been written. Now, tell me, do you see non-Hebrew Gentiles in this covenant? Do non-Hebrew Gentiles come from two Hebrew parents, in this case, Abram the Hebrew (Gen. 14:13), and his married niece, Sarai/Sarah? Can a non-Hebrew child be born from two Hebrew parents??? No, that is impossible. But that doesn't matter to Gentile Christians today and in the past who through interpreting "Gentile" in the New Covenant writings they say non-Hebrew Gentiles are in the Abraham covenant thus breaking Scripture. But they don't care. Their interpretations are more important that what the bible says. Are you following me?
Now to your passage in Romans 1:16. You are using a new age modern bible translation that was translated from the Revised Version of Greek texts by Westcott & Hort (1881) and their translation committee of the late 19th century. Look these two idiots up and study how we came into all these translations that were translated using their Greek text New Testament (1881.)
Who or what "Greeks" is Saul referring? Does he mean ONLY the Greeks? What about the Italians, Russians, Germans, or French? Why is the gospel the power of God able to save Jews first and Greeks (only) second? Is that what Saul is really saying? But your translation says "non-Jew" which is a mistranslation. How do you go from specific "Greeks" to every "non-Jew"? How do 'you' make that jump?
As I said above when the New Covenant writings (Matthew to Revelation) speak about "Gentile(s)" there are three kinds of Gentiles.
One is the Gentile proselyte. This person is a committed to Israel person who is circumcised and has vowed to raise his family according to the Law of Moses. This person is a citizen of Israel, observes the Law, its feasts, its holy days, everything a Jew would observe. But they can be a non-Hebrew Gentile, or they can be of mixed heritage - half-Jew and half-Gentile, like the Samaritans in the gospel. Samaritans are the offspring of the Assyrians and Babylonians after the Jews were conquered and taken captive into exile for 70 years. Not every Jew married another Jew. And any Jews that were left behind in the middle east who were not captured did not have homes to go to as their nations, cities, towns, and their northern Temple built in Samaria after the Assyrians took the northern kingdom captive. Years later after the Babylonians defeated the Assyrians they went against the southern kingdom of Judah and destroyed them and took them captive and the Assyrian Jew-problem became a Babylonian Jew-problem. So, you have a non-Hebrew Gentile that are called proselytes. They can also be of mixed heritage, which in this case, if this is so and are half-Jew and half-Gentiles, they would be in the Abraham covenant because no matter the DNA dilution they are still Abraham's seed, even of halved.
Then, there is the Gentile God-Fearer, like Cornelius and the Roman centurion. These can be non-Hebrew Gentile, and they are uncommitted, uncircumcised, Gentiles. When I say "uncommitted" that means the only thing they haven't done is become circumcised. Everything else is as the proselyte - they are committed to the Torah and are allies with Israel (the Jews.)
The other Gentile mentioned in the New Covenant writings is the non-Hebrew Gentile. There's no Hebrew blood in their veins or ancestry.
Now, if the Scripture says the covenant is between God, Abraham, and Abraham's seed, and there are no non-Hebrew Gentiles mentioned or named in Genesis 17:7, then to say for whatever reason non-Hebrew Gentiles are in the Abraham covenant when God is explicit and specific and says this covenant is between God, Abraham, and Abraham's seed, then there can be no Gentiles added to this covenant after its been written and after the Scripture has been closed. There is no mention of non-Hebrew Gentiles in any of the three Hebrew Covenants (Abrahamic, Mosaic, and New) anywhere in the bible. And do you know why?
Because God made no covenant with any non-Hebrew Gentiles.
My position is that if there are no non-Hebrew Gentiles mentioned or named when the three covenants were made by God between God, Abraham and Abraham's seed, and it violates Scripture to say non-Hebrew Gentiles are now in the Abrahamic, Mosaic, or New Covenants after the fact and after thousands of years of the existence of the Hebrew Scripture and the New Covenant writings. When reading "Gentiles" in the New Covenant writings one must determine and discern "Which Gentiles" is being referred to? And then there's the language and the context. A proselyte and God-Fearer can be allied with Israel, circumcised or uncircumcised, etc., and observe God's Law and be member of the commonwealth of Israel WITHOUT being in their covenants.
All three covenants are between God and Abraham and his seed (Abrahamic Covenant), between God and the children of Jacob/Israel (Mosaic Covenant), and between God and both Houses of Israel (northern kingdom) and Judah (southern kingdom) which is the New Covenant (see: Jer. 31:31-34.)
And in each of the three covenants there are no non-Hebrew Gentiles in any of these covenants. It's in the bible. God made no covenant with non-Hebrew Gentiles.
My study has shown me that any so-called Gentile today or in the past is truly born again the reason for this ius there is at least one Hebrew/Jewish parent is the person's ancestry and if so, then they are Abraham's seed no matter the dilution of the DNA in their blood. They can live as Gentile - which is what some Jews did after their exile. They can also live as Jews. But if they are born again then according to God's Promises, they are Abraham's seed and are in covenant.
But non-Hebrew Gentiles got nothing coming to them of God because God made no covenant with non-Hebrew Gentiles. And the New Covenant writings? All they are is discussion, explanation, and trying to understand and make sense of the New Covenant era Israel/Jews found themselves in after Jesus ascended and the Holy Spirit's arrival. On Pentecost three thousand Jews were born again. No Gentiles. There may have been mixed heritage Jew/Gentile who were born again along with Jews, but it only shows God keeping His Promise to Abraham and to Abraham's seed to send the Holy Spirit OF PROMISE to Israel because that's who God Promised the Holy Spirit to.
So, who are the "Greeks" being mentioned in Roman 1:16? Identify who these "Greeks" are?
What is the Greek word translated "Greeks" in Rom. 1:16? And are these
really non-Jew?
God Promised His Holy Spirit to the Hebrews/Jews. He never Promised Him to non-Hebrew Gentiles.
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye [Jews] shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2:38–39.
The Holy Spirit was Promised to God's people the Hebrews/Jews. Would God break His Promise after the promise was made to include non-Hebrew Gentiles? If so, where the passage?