(Romans 9:5) Doesn’t Paul Say Christ is the Most High Who is Over All?

“Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” (Romans 9:5)

Some have used this verse in an attempt to prove that Jesus is “the most High.” But, that is not what the text says. It says that Christ is blessed by God over all. God blessed Him more than He blessed anyone else. It is true that the location of the commas in this text lend support to the idea that Christ is the most High God. Yet, there were no commas in the original Greek manuscripts, and this interpretation would put this text in opposition to many other Bible verses. The Bible says that there is “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:6). The Father is called, “the highest” (Luke 1:32), and “the most High God” (Mark 5:7). Jesus said, “My Father … is greater than all” (John 10:29), and “my Father is greater than I” (John 14:28). God, the Father, is above all, including the Son of God. Any interpretation of Romans 9:5 must be in harmony with these other texts.

Jesus is above all except for His Father. Paul wrote:

“Then cometh the end, when he [Jesus] shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:24-28)

God, the Father, has put all things under the feet of His Son. Yet, the Father did not put Himself under His Son. A similar thing happened when Pharaoh put all of his kingdom under Joseph, and said to him, “Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou” (Genesis 41:40). The Father is above all in the absolute sense, because He is even above His Son. Jesus is next in authority to His Father, and is above everything else.

Paul wrote;

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,… set [Jesus] at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church” (Ephesians 1:17-22)

Truly, God blessed His Son over all others. Jesus Christ is “over all God blessed for ever” (Romans 9:5 without the commas that were added by men).

There is no reason to read Romans 9:5 and arrive at a conclusion that contradicts the rest of Scripture.