Romans 11:34Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

God alone knows His own works completely. Therefore the Apostle added: "For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Or who has first given to Him, that it should be repaid to him?" These words mean that God, being so wise, does not borrow wisdom from another, but is Himself the source of good things. He has done so much for us and granted so much to us, yet He did not give us what He borrowed from another. He poured it out from Himself. He is not obliged to repay anyone as though He had received something from another. He Himself is always the chief cause of good things.

He alone, he says, knows His works, and no one else besides Him. Being wise, He does not borrow wisdom from consultation with another, but in Himself He was and is self-sufficient. He is also the source of all good things. Whatever He gives, He gives not as one obliged to repay, like someone who has received something from another, but according to His own goodness.

For who knew the mind of the Lord before He intended to accomplish this? Or who was His counselor when He wished to accomplish this? (cf. Is 40:13).

It is clear that only God knows all things and that He alone lacks nothing, because all things are from Him. No one can know or measure His knowledge, for the lower cannot comprehend the meaning of the higher. Consequently, the design of God for the salvation of the Gentiles seemed impossible to the believing Jews. Similarly, it seemed difficult and incredible to the Gentiles that the Jews who had not believed could be converted or received as believers, so that they might be saved.

The Apostle set forth these three questions to show three excellences: riches, wisdom, and knowledge. "Who has known the mind of the Lord?" shows knowledge. "Who has been His counselor?" shows wisdom. "Who has first given to Him, that it should be repaid to him?" shows riches. For the riches of goodness are so immeasurable that He gave being to those who did not exist. To those brought into being He grants well-being. He does not repay, but gives good things. Yet in His love for mankind He calls the giving a repayment.

"For God has shut up all in disobedience, that He might have mercy on all" (Rom 11:32). Holy Chrysostom interprets the expression "God has shut up all in disobedience" in this way: God convicted all by declaring them disobedient. He shut all into one rank of the disobedient, not so that all should remain disobedient, but so that He might save some through the stubbornness of others. He saves the Jews through the Gentiles, and the Gentiles through the Jews. This mystery arouses wonder at the incomprehensible wisdom of God: "O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways," and so forth (Rom 11:33-36).

Finally, moved by the greatness and wisdom of God's providence for all men, the Apostle cries out that in the work of salvation for all humanity there is revealed an unsearchable abyss of grace, wisdom, and knowledge. These cannot be comprehended in all their fullness.

Therefore no one can demand that the ways of the Lord conform to our desires. Still less can anyone do for God something by which he might count on salvation as a deserved reward.

As everything began to exist from God and everything is sustained by Him, so everything must be directed to Him. Nothing exists outside dependence on Him. Therefore praise must be sent up to Him.

These are the words of the Prophet Isaiah (cf. Isa 40:13-14). The whole passage in him reads thus: "Who has known the mind of the Lord? And who has been His counselor, to instruct Him? Or with whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him? Or who showed Him judgment? Or who showed Him the way of understanding? Or who first gave to Him, and it shall be repaid to him?"

"These words mean that God, being so wise, does not borrow wisdom from another, but is Himself the source of wisdom and of all good things. He Who has done so much for us and bestowed so many blessings on us did not give us what was borrowed from another, but poured it out from Himself.