I have deep sorrow
The phrase "I have deep sorrow" reflects the Apostle Paul's profound emotional state. The Greek word for "sorrow" here is "λύπη" (lypē), which conveys a sense of grief or distress. This is not a fleeting sadness but a profound, abiding sorrow. Historically, Paul is writing to the Romans with a heavy heart for his fellow Israelites who have not accepted Christ. This sorrow is rooted in his deep love and concern for their spiritual well-being. In a broader scriptural context, this mirrors the heart of Christ, who wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41), showing that true spiritual leadership involves a deep empathy and concern for others' salvation.

and unceasing anguish
The term "unceasing anguish" is translated from the Greek "ἀδιάλειπτος" (adialeiptos) for "unceasing" and "ὀδύνη" (odynē) for "anguish." "Adialeiptos" suggests something that is constant and relentless, while "odynē" indicates intense pain or distress. This combination underscores the perpetual nature of Paul's emotional burden. Archaeologically, understanding the cultural context of the time, where community and kinship were central, helps us appreciate the depth of Paul's anguish for his people. His anguish is not just personal but communal, reflecting the collective loss he feels for Israel's spiritual state.

in my heart
The phrase "in my heart" signifies the depth and sincerity of Paul's feelings. The Greek word "καρδία" (kardia) is used here, which often denotes the center of one's being, encompassing emotions, thoughts, and will. In biblical terms, the heart is the seat of emotions and moral decision-making. Paul's use of "heart" indicates that his sorrow and anguish are not superficial but deeply rooted in his innermost being. This aligns with the biblical understanding that true compassion and concern for others stem from the heart, as seen in Proverbs 4:23, which emphasizes guarding the heart as the wellspring of life. Paul's heartfelt sorrow serves as a model for believers to cultivate genuine compassion and intercession for those who are spiritually lost.

Verses 2, 3. - That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. He does not say what for, leaving it to appear in what follows. The broken sentence is significant of emotion. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh. None of the ways that have been suggested for evading the obvious meaning of this assertion are tenable. One such way is to take the imperfect ηὐχόμην as expressing what he once wished, viz. before his conversion; so that the meaning would be, "My interest in my own people is such that, in my zeal for them, I once myself desired to be entirely apart from Christ; I myself said, Ἀνάθεμα (1 Corinthians 12:3), and persecuted his followers." Neither the natural force of the imperfect here (as to which cf. Acts 25:22; Galatians 4:20), nor that of ἀνάθεμα εῖναι, nor the context, allow this subterfuge. Another way is to understand ἀνάθεμα εῖναι as implying only devotion to temporal destruction, i.e. to a violent death. In Leviticus 27, every animal devoted to the Lord (in the LXX. ἀνάθεμα) is surely to be put to death; and this has been conceived as all that is implied here. So Jerome, 'Quaest. 9, ad Algas.,' and Hilary, 'Ad Psalm 8.' But how then about ἀπὸ Ξριστοῦ? The words ἀνάθεμα and ἀνάθημα, from ἀνατίθημι, both denote primarily what is offered or set apart; the latter being applied to things devoted to God's honour and service (cf. Luke 21:5), the latter always in the New Testament used to denote rejection or devotion to evil. It occurs in Acts 23:14; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Galatians 1:8, 9. It certainly means here separation from the communion of Christ, in the same sense as κατηργήθστε ἀπὸ τοῦ Ξριστοῦ (Galatians 5:4). Even if the expression ἀνάθεμα εῖναι be understood as meaning in itself excommunication only (as ανάθεμα ἐστω in ecclesiastical usage), the addition of ἀπὸ τοῦ Ξριστοῦ evidently implies more than mere separation from outward Church communion. The apostle can hardly mean otherwise than that he would forfeit his own communion with Christ on behalf of (ὑπὲρ) his countrymen, if so they as a nation could be brought to accept the gospel. This certainly was a strong thing to say, and it may seem to us to imply an impossibility, if we compare it, for instance, with Romans 8:38, "I am persuaded," etc. But we need not understand a passing expression of feeling, however real, as a deliberate utterance. The imperfect ηὐχόμην implies only that the fact had passed through his mind in the intensity of his desire for the salvation of his brethren. It corresponds with the saying of Moses under the like strong emotion, "Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin -; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of the book which thou hast written" (Exodus 32:32). Bengel remarks well," Ex summa fide (cap. 8) nunc summum ostendit amorem, ex amore divine accensum. Res non poterat fieri, quam optarat: sed votum erat pium et solidum, quamlibet cum tacita conditione, si fieri posset." Also, "De mensura amoris in Mose et Paulo non facile est existimare. Eum enim modulus ratiocinationum nostrarum non capit; sieur heroum bellicorum animos non capit parvulus." St. Paul proceeds, in the spirit of a patriotic Jew, which he ever retained, to enumerate the peculiar privileges of the chosen people, their possession of which rendered their present failure to realize their purpose so peculiarly disappointing and distressing.

Parallel Commentaries ...


I
μοί (moi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

have
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

deep
μεγάλη (megalē)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

sorrow
λύπη (lypē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3077: Pain, grief, sorrow, affliction. Apparently a primary word; sadness.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

unceasing
ἀδιάλειπτος (adialeiptos)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 88: Unceasing, unremitting. Unintermitted, i.e. Permanent.

anguish
ὀδύνη (odynē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3601: Pain, sorrow, distress, of body or mind. From duno; grief.

in
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

my
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

heart.
καρδίᾳ (kardia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2588: Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.


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NT Letters: Romans 9:2 That I have great sorrow and unceasing (Rom. Ro)