(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
Parallel translations
- WEB which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
- BSB the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
- NKJV which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
- NASB which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,
- NLT God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The gospel is not a novelty but was promised long beforehand by God through the prophets in the Old Testament. This shows continuity between the Scriptures and Christ.
Overview
Paul stresses that the Good News was promised 'before' in the holy Scriptures, rooting the gospel in God's long-standing plan. This affirms that the Old Testament anticipates Christ and that God keeps His word across the ages. For Reformed readers, it underscores the unity of redemptive history and the trustworthiness of God's promises fulfilled in Jesus.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 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:
- Rom 3:21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
- Rom 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:
- Acts 10:43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
- Rom 3:2Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
- Luke 24:26–27Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
- Acts 26:6And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 1:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.