Romans 1:2
(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
Original Language Analysis
ὃ
(Which
G3739
ὃ
(Which
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
1 of 9
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
διὰ
by
G1223
διὰ
by
Strong's:
G1223
Word #:
3 of 9
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 9
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
προφητῶν
prophets
G4396
προφητῶν
prophets
Strong's:
G4396
Word #:
5 of 9
a foreteller ("prophet"); by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet
αὐτοῦ
G846
αὐτοῦ
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
6 of 9
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Cross References
Titus 1:2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;Luke 1:70As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:Romans 16:26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:Romans 3:21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;Romans 3:2Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.Acts 10:43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.Acts 26:6And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
Historical Context
First-century Christians, especially Jewish believers, needed assurance that faith in Jesus did not mean abandoning the Hebrew Scriptures. Paul's emphasis on promise-fulfillment addresses this concern directly. The early church read the Old Testament Christologically, seeing prophecies of the Messiah throughout Genesis through Malachi. This interpretive framework was essential for evangelizing Jews and establishing theological legitimacy in a world suspicious of new religions.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the promise-fulfillment structure of Scripture strengthen your confidence in God's faithfulness to His current promises to you?
- Where do you see Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures that Paul references here?
- How might studying the Old Testament prophets deepen your understanding of the gospel Paul proclaimed?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
The parenthetical nature of verses 2-4 shows Paul immediately grounding the gospel in redemptive history. The verb proepēngeilato (προεπηγγείλατο, 'promised beforehand') emphasizes the antiquity and divine orchestration of salvation—this is not a novel religion but the fulfillment of ancient promises. Dia tōn prophētōn autou (διὰ τῶν προφητῶν αὐτοῦ, 'through His prophets') indicates mediated revelation; God spoke through human instruments inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21).
En graphais hagiais (ἐν γραφαῖς ἁγίαις, 'in holy scriptures') affirms the written, authoritative, and sacred nature of Old Testament revelation. The adjective hagiais (holy) distinguishes these texts from all other writings—they are set apart, divinely inspired, and infallible. This verse demolishes any notion of discontinuity between Old and New Testaments. The gospel proclaimed by Paul is the very thing Moses, Isaiah, and the psalmists anticipated. Jesus Himself declared, 'These are the Scriptures that testify about Me' (John 5:39). The promise-fulfillment schema is foundational to biblical theology.