23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,(A) groan(B) inwardly as we wait eagerly(C) for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.(D) 24 For in this hope we were saved.(E) But hope that is seen is no hope at all.(F) Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.(G)

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit(H) himself intercedes for us(I) through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts(J) knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes(K) for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good(L) of those who love him, who[a] have been called(M) according to his purpose.(N) 29 For those God foreknew(O) he also predestined(P) to be conformed to the image of his Son,(Q) that he might be the firstborn(R) among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined,(S) he also called;(T) those he called, he also justified;(U) those he justified, he also glorified.(V)

More Than Conquerors

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things?(W) If God is for us,(X) who can be against us?(Y) 32 He who did not spare his own Son,(Z) but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge(AA) against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns?(AB) No one. Christ Jesus who died(AC)—more than that, who was raised to life(AD)—is at the right hand of God(AE) and is also interceding for us.(AF) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?(AG) Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?(AH) 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[b](AI)

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors(AJ) through him who loved us.(AK) 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[c] neither the present nor the future,(AL) nor any powers,(AM) 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God(AN) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(AO)

Paul’s Anguish Over Israel

I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying,(AP) my conscience confirms(AQ) it through the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself(AR) were cursed(AS) and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people,(AT) those of my own race,(AU) the people of Israel.(AV) Theirs is the adoption to sonship;(AW) theirs the divine glory,(AX) the covenants,(AY) the receiving of the law,(AZ) the temple worship(BA) and the promises.(BB) Theirs are the patriarchs,(BC) and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah,(BD) who is God over all,(BE) forever praised![d](BF) Amen.

God’s Sovereign Choice

It is not as though God’s word(BG) had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.(BH) Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[e](BI) In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children,(BJ) but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.(BK) For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”[f](BL)

10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac.(BM) 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad(BN)—in order that God’s purpose(BO) in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”[g](BP) 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[h](BQ)

14 What then shall we say?(BR) Is God unjust? Not at all!(BS) 15 For he says to Moses,

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
    and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”[i](BT)

16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.(BU) 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”[j](BV)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 8:28 Or that all things work together for good to those who love God, who; or that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good—with those who
  2. Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:22
  3. Romans 8:38 Or nor heavenly rulers
  4. Romans 9:5 Or Messiah, who is over all. God be forever praised! Or Messiah. God who is over all be forever praised!
  5. Romans 9:7 Gen. 21:12
  6. Romans 9:9 Gen. 18:10,14
  7. Romans 9:12 Gen. 25:23
  8. Romans 9:13 Mal. 1:2,3
  9. Romans 9:15 Exodus 33:19
  10. Romans 9:17 Exodus 9:16

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.

10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.