Romans 9 1

Romans 9:1 kjv

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

Romans 9:1 nkjv

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,

Romans 9:1 niv

I speak the truth in Christ?I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit?

Romans 9:1 esv

I am speaking the truth in Christ ? I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit ?

Romans 9:1 nlt

With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it.

Romans 9 verses

Romans 9 1 Meaning

Romans 9:1 is a solemn, deeply felt affirmation by the Apostle Paul, intended to establish the absolute sincerity of his forthcoming statements regarding his deep anguish for his ethnic kin, the Israelites. He uses a three-fold oath, invoking Christ, his own conscience, and the Holy Spirit, to underscore the veracity and profound emotional honesty behind his declaration of sorrow concerning Israel's standing with God and their general rejection of the Messiah. It introduces the pivotal discussion in chapters 9-11 about God's faithfulness to Israel despite their unbelief.

Romans 9 1 Context

Romans 9:1 serves as a crucial emotional and theological bridge. It immediately follows chapters 1-8, where Paul systematically lays out the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ for both Jews and Gentiles. In Romans 8, Paul concludes with a soaring affirmation of the believers' secure position in Christ, untouchable by tribulation, death, or any created thing, anchored in God's eternal love. This raises a natural question for Paul's original Jewish and Gentile audiences: If God's salvation through faith is universal and unbreakable, what then of Israel, God's chosen people, who largely rejected their Messiah? Paul anticipates this perceived problem concerning God's faithfulness to His covenant people. His strong declaration of truth and intense sorrow in 9:1 is not only deeply personal but also prefaces the dense theological discussion in chapters 9-11, where he addresses Israel's past election, present unbelief, and future restoration in God's sovereign plan. This verse sets the stage for a defense of God's justice and faithfulness, beginning with Paul's personal anguish.

Romans 9 1 Word analysis

• I speak (λέγω, legō): A present active indicative, indicating ongoing speech and certainty. Paul is making a definitive statement here and now.
• the truth (ἀλήθειαν, alētheian): Not merely "a truth" but "the truth," emphasizing its absolute factual nature. In Paul's worldview, truth is intrinsically linked to God's nature and Christ's revelation (Jn 14:6).
• in Christ (ἐν Χριστῷ, en Christō): This is a deep Pauline idiom, meaning not merely "by Christ" or "before Christ" as an oath. It signifies that Paul's very being, his sphere of existence, his authority, and the source of his truthfulness are all rooted in his union with Christ. His spiritual life is permeated by Christ.
• I am not lying (οὐ ψεύδομαι, ou pseudomai): A strong double negation ("not" + "lying"), unequivocally asserting his honesty. This emphatic denial underscores the seriousness and potential incredulity of what he is about to say concerning his feelings for Israel. Paul understood the weight of untruthfulness (Col 3:9).
• my conscience (ἡ συνείδησίς μου, hē syneidēsis mou): Refers to Paul's inner moral sense, his God-given faculty to discern right and wrong. It acts as an internal witness, confirming the veracity of his statement. A clear conscience before God was crucial for Paul (Acts 24:16, 2 Cor 1:12).
• also bearing me witness (συμμαρτυρούσης μοι, symmartyrousēs moi): From symmartyreō, meaning "to bear witness with," or "to testify together." His conscience is not just witnessing to him but with him, alongside an even higher witness. This implies an active, corroborating attestation from his inner moral being.
• in the Holy Spirit (ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ, en Pneumati Hagiō): This specifies the divine agency and environment through which his conscience operates and bears witness. The Holy Spirit authenticates and empowers the inner conviction, making it a supernaturally attested truth. It elevates the witness from a merely human moral faculty to a divine validation. This is a common element in Paul's apostolic pronouncements (Rom 8:16, 1 Cor 12:3).

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "I speak the truth in Christ": This phrase establishes the divine sphere and authority from which Paul speaks. It means that his declaration is not merely his human opinion but is rooted in his very identity and relationship with Christ. This imbues his words with immense spiritual gravity and authenticity, pre-empting any charge of human fabrication.
• "I am not lying": This simple yet potent declaration is a stark contrast to any hint of deception. Given Paul's mission to Gentiles, some Jewish contemporaries might have suspected his loyalty to Israel. This outright denial reinforces his earnestness.
• "my conscience also bearing me witness": This refers to his internal, God-given moral compass. It indicates that his own inner being confirms the truth of his statement, showcasing a consistency between his words, his inner conviction, and the divine witness. His words are not merely external utterance but proceed from deeply held belief.
• "in the Holy Spirit": This culmination highlights the ultimate source and power validating Paul's words. The Holy Spirit ensures that his conscience's testimony is divinely sanctioned, true, and transcends human fallibility. It signifies divine approval and the spiritual nature of his sincere sorrow. It is the highest form of spiritual attestation possible for Paul.

Romans 9 1 Bonus section

• Paul's use of such a strong, three-fold affirmation (Christ, conscience, Spirit) is indicative of the monumental importance and sensitive nature of the topic he is about to address (Israel's salvation). It's an "oath form," frequently employed in ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman contexts to lend weight to crucial statements, but Paul grounds it within the New Covenant realities of Christ and the Spirit.
• This verse provides a model for Christian leaders: transparently communicating one's deepest spiritual convictions and feelings, authenticated by a walk in Christ, a clear conscience, and the inner testimony of the Holy Spirit, especially when discussing difficult theological truths or deeply personal matters. It illustrates how profound theology can arise from genuine pastoral anguish.
• The placement of this verse is highly significant. Coming directly after the triumph of Romans 8, it creates a deliberate rhetorical shift, highlighting the tension between the individual believer's security and the national question of Israel's standing before God. It emphasizes that even in joy, a servant of God must also carry the burden of spiritual concern for others, especially their own people.

Romans 9 1 Commentary

Romans 9:1 serves as a profound apostolic oath, underscoring the vital sincerity of Paul's deeply personal anguish over Israel's spiritual state. Having expounded on the secure salvation for believers in Christ in chapters 1-8, Paul addresses the perceived theological dilemma of Israel's current unbelief. His opening in 9:1 isn't a casual statement but a triple-layered affirmation of truthfulness—drawing on Christ's authority, his own unwavering conscience, and the validating power of the Holy Spirit. This dramatic declaration preempts any potential accusation that, as the apostle to the Gentiles, Paul might be indifferent or even hostile toward his own people. Instead, it powerfully introduces the depth of his suffering, love, and unwavering commitment to his kinsmen according to the flesh, setting the stage for chapters 9-11's intense exploration of God's sovereign plan for Israel. His profound emotion, backed by divine witness, authenticates the pivotal discussion of God's faithfulness and Israel's place in salvation history.