Romans 9 32-33 Zion

[endaman]

32 And why? Because they were trying to find it in actions and not in faith, and so they stumbled over the stumbling-stone-
33 as it says in scripture: Now I am laying in Zion a stumbling-stone, a rock to trip people up; but he who relies on this will not be brought to disgrace.

Can anyone explain to me “Now I am laying in Zion a stumbling-stone,”

Thanks,
-EM

 

[babs57]

I think the idea is that the Messiah is the stumbling block, because the Jews wouldn’t be able to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. He wouldn’t fit their expectations. The phrase is actually a refference to Isaiah 8:14 and 28:16. :bible1:

 

[endaman]

Is Zion meant to mean Jerusalem?

-EM

 

[RPRPsych]

Is Zion meant to mean Jerusalem?

-EM

Yes. As the previous poster said, St. Paul is quoting Isaiah 8 and 28 in support of the entire argument of Romans 9-11 - which is that God’s plan of salvation has been preordained from the beginning, that the rejection of Christ by some of the Jews has been foretold, and that, ultimately, God’s offer of salvation extends to both Jews and Gentiles.

In context, Zion does refer to Jerusalem, but also to Israel / the land of the Jews in a broader sense. God raised up a Rock and Saviour among His own people, who lived with them and ministered to them. Those who trust in Him are saved, but to those who refused to believe, He became not a Rock but a stumbling stone. Despite His rejection by some of His own people, Christ’s offer of salvation remained open to the Jews then, as it still does now.

 

[endaman]

I have to say, such awesome words.

“Now I am laying in Zion a stumbling-stone, a rock to trip people up; but he who relies on this will not be brought to disgrace.”

From the old testament and fulfilled in Christ.

Thanks, great replies.

Amen.

 

[GEddie]

Is Zion meant to mean Jerusalem?

-EM

Yes, Mount Zion, outside Jerusalem’s walls, where David’s palace once stood and where our LORD’s Supper took place, has been a metonymy for Jerusalem and for Israel generally from the time of Psalm 137 (where they wept by Babylon’s rivers remembering Zion) to the movement of “Zionism” in the 1900s (return to Zion).

Shalom, ICXC NIKA

 

[jcrichton]

32 And why? Because they were trying to find it in actions and not in faith, and so they stumbled over the stumbling-stone-
33 as it says in scripture: Now I am laying in Zion a stumbling-stone, a rock to trip people up; but he who relies on this will not be brought to disgrace.

Can anyone explain to me “Now I am laying in Zion a stumbling-stone,”

Thanks,
-EM

Hi, EM!

Jesus came to Israel, the chosen people of God, and He had to become that stumbling stone so that the Gentiles could enter into the Kingdom (check Romans 9:1 thru 11:32); stumbling in this case does not mean to derail or set astray but rather it means to cause the status quo to rethink itself… to be examined under strick scrutiny… Jesus is the one that will purify Israel as precious metal is purified… most fall away as the pure is given new form:

1 There was one of the Pharisees called Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews, 2 who came to Jesus by night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher; for no one could perform the signs that you do unless God were with him.’ 3 Jesus answered: In all truth I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. 4 Nicodemus said, ‘How can anyone who is already old be born? Is it possible to go back into the womb again and be born?’ 5 Jesus replied: In all truth I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born through water and the Spirit; (St. John 3:1-5)

…till Jesus Judaism did not incorporate the relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit since it had not been fully revealed:

10 This salvation was the subject of the search and investigation of the prophets who spoke of the grace you were to receive, 11 searching out the time and circumstances for which the Spirit of Christ, bearing witness in them, was revealing the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow them. 12 It was revealed to them that it was for your sake and not their own that they were acting as servants delivering the message which has now been announced to you by those who preached to you the gospel through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even the angels long to catch a glimpse of these things. (St. Peter 1:10-12)

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[COPLAND_3]

Here is the footnote from the Aquinas Study Bible

9:33 am laying in Sion a stumblingstone: that is, as a foundation, by which is meant that by divine command Christ was established as the foundation of the Church. (St. Thomas Aquinas) People usually stumble if their minds are distracted and they are not prepared to keep their eye on the path. This happened to the Jews, taken up with the vacuities of the Law, they were not prepared to recognize the stone foretold by the prophets, even though they clearly prophesied that the one believing in him would attain the greatest goods. (Theodoret of Cyrus)