ABSTRACT
Evidently, Paul had given a great deal of thought to the role of the law in coming to terms with his own weakness that drove him to both the heights and the depths. Paul has discovered that some human desires must suffer defeat. The “law is spiritual” in that it exposes the desires of the flesh as evil or sinful. This same law, Paul believes, had made him conscious of the sinful nature within him. Professor Krister Stendahl notes the great weight Paul gave to his call to serve as apostle to the Gentiles. Clearly, in Romans 9–11, Paul tries to work out his own theory of divine providence and the role of both Israel and the Gentiles in the grand scheme of things. His theory of divine providence and heavenly control of all earthly affairs assigns a role for Israel in the mystery of God.
