Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 9:3

"For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren`s sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh:" — Romans 9:3 (ASV)

For I could wish, etc. This passage has been greatly disputed. Some have proposed to translate it, "I did wish," as referring to a former state when he renounced Christ and sought to advance the interests of the nation by opposing and defying him. But to this interpretation there are insurmountable objections.

1. The apostle's object is not to state his former feelings, but his present attachment to his countrymen and willingness to suffer for them.

2. The proper grammatical construction of the word used here is not "I did wish," but "I could desire"; that is, if such a thing were possible. It is not "I do wish," or "did wish," but "I could desire" (hucomhn), implying that he was willing now to endure it; that his present love for them was so strong that he would, if possible, save them from the threatened ruin and apostasy.

3. It is not true that Paul ever did wish before his conversion to be accursed by Christ, that is, by the Messiah. He opposed Jesus of Nazareth, but he did not believe that he was the Messiah. At no time would he have wished to be devoted to destruction by the Messiah, or by Christ. Nothing would have been more terrible to a Jew.

   Saul of Tarsus never doubted that he was the friend of the promised Messiah and was advancing the true interests of his cause, defending the hopes of his nation against an impostor. The word, therefore, expresses a feeling which the apostle had when writing this epistle, regarding the condition and prospects of the nation.

Were accursed from Christ. This might be rendered "anathema by Christ" (anayema einai apo tou cristou). This passage has been much disputed. The word translated accursed (anathema) properly means:

1. Anything that was set up, or set apart, or consecrated to the gods in the temples, such as spoils of war, images, statues, and so on. This is its classical Greek meaning. It has a similar meaning among the Hebrews. It denoted that which was set apart or consecrated to the service of God, as sacrifices or offerings of any kind. In this respect, it is used to express the sense of the Hebrew term for anything devoted to Jehovah without the possibility of redemption (Leviticus 27:21, 28, 29; Numbers 18:14; Deuteronomy 7:26; Joshua 6:17–18; Joshua 7:1; 1 Samuel 15:21; Ezekiel 44:29).

2. As that which was thus dedicated to Jehovah was alienated from the use of the one who devoted it, and was either burned or slain and devoted to destruction as an offering, the word came to signify a devotion of anything to destruction or to complete ruin.

   And as whatever is devoted to destruction may be said to be subject to a curse, or to be accursed, the word comes to have this signification (1 Kings 20:42; Isaiah 34:5).

But in none of these cases does it denote eternal death. The idea, therefore, in these places is simply, "I could be willing to be destroyed, or devoted to death, for the sake of my countrymen." And the apostle evidently means to say that he would be willing to suffer the bitterest evils, to forgo all pleasure, to endure any privation and toil, indeed, to offer his life, so that he might be wholly devoted to sufferings, as an offering, if he could thereby be the means of benefiting and saving the nation (for a similar case, see Exodus 32:32).

This does not mean that Paul would be willing to be damned forever. For:

1. The words do not imply that and do not support it.

2. Such a destruction could in no conceivable way benefit the Jews.

3. Such a willingness is not and cannot be required.

4. It would be impious and absurd. No one has a right to be willing to be the eternal enemy of God, and no one has ever yet been, or could be, willing to endure everlasting torments.

From Christ. By Christ. Grotius thinks it means from the church of Christ. Others think it means "after the example of Christ," and others, from Christ forever. But it evidently means that he was willing to be devoted by Christ; that is, to be regarded by him and appointed by him to suffering and death, if by that means he could save his countrymen.

This was thus the highest expression of true patriotism and benevolence. It was an example for all Christians and Christian ministers. They should be willing to be devoted to pain, privation, toil, and death, if by that they could save others from ruin.

My kinsmen, etc. This refers to his countrymen, all of whom he regarded as his kinsmen, or relatives, being descended from the same ancestors.

According to the flesh. This means by birth. They were of the same blood and parentage, though not now of the same religious belief.