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John Piper Book Reviews

The Justification of God: An Exegetical & Theological Study of Romans 9:1-23

John Piper
Baker Books 1993 (Second Edition)

This book is a technical discussion on the exegesis of Romans 9:1-23. It begins by putting the passage in the context of Romans 9-11 in the Epistle, arguing that the prime purpose is to demonstrate the trustworthiness of God, and that He is justified in acting as He does. (pp.17ff.). The rest of the book seeks to answer the challenge: If God is in absolute control of whether men are hardened or not, then he has no right to condemn them for their hardness.

The answer to this charge is most succinctly responded to with the words of Daniel Fuller: To show the full range of his glory [and thus be righteous] God prepares beforehand not only vessels of mercy but also vessels of wrath, in order that the riches of his glory in connection with the vessels of mercy might thereby become more clearly manifest. (Quoted on p.220).

This a carefully argued exposition of 23 verses of Scripture. Accordingly it is difficult to read, albeit intellectually satisfying. It is not a book written for a lay audience.

The Justification of God increases my resolve to trust a sovereign God to do all things that will vindicate His name and bring Him honour.

"Our common theme in worship is the infinite worth of God and his purpose to "make known the riches of his glory for the vessels of mercy" (Rom 9:23). Our confidence in evangelism comes from God’s freedom to "have mercy on whomever he wills" (Rom 9:18). Our commitment to world missions is fuelled by the passion of God to exert his sovereign power "so that [his] name may be proclaimed in all the earth" (Rom 9:17). And the ground of our conviction that God is reliable in all of life is this: No matter what heart-wrenching perplexities we face, "it is not as though the word of God has failed" (Rom 9:6)." (p.11)