Tout Estin (this means) – in Romans 9:8


Tout Estin (“that is” or “this means”) is commonly used to introduce an interpretation, especially an interpretation of scripture, both in the Old and New Testament.[1]  Here are a few examples in Romans by Paul:

Deuteronomy 30:12-14
For this commandment I give you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven, that you should need to ask, ‘Who will ascend into heaven to get it for us and proclaim it, that we may obey it?’ And it is not beyond the sea, that you should need to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it for us and proclaim it, that we may obey it?’ But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may obey it.

Romans 10:6-9 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down) or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”  But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Other examples in Paul are Genesis 2:24 to Ephesians 5:31-32 and Genesis 21 in Galatians 4:22-24.

Romans 9:7-8 uses the same introduction to an interpretation of an OT citation

and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”  This means (Tout Estin) that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 

Here Paul quotes Genesis 21:12 (in which after Isaac is born, Ishmael and Haggar are being sent away upon Sarah’s request, but God assures Abraham that the promise will pass through Isaac).  Paul understands this historical narrative to mean, “it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring”.   

I won’t go further in this post, into the question of what exactly Paul means by children of the promise.  My point here is the modest claim that Paul is getting that meaning out of the Old Testament historical narrative.

[1] Biblical Hermeneutics, A Comprehensive Introduction to Interpreting Scripture 2002, Lemke, P80)


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