⁴ For he chose us^(A) in him before the creation of the world^(B) to be holy and blameless^(C) in his sight. In love^{(D) 5} he^[a] predestined^(E) us for adoption to sonship^[b](F) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure^(G) and will—

²⁹ For those God foreknew^(A) he also predestined^(B) to be conformed to the image of his Son,^(C) that he might be the firstborn^(D) among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined,^(E) he also called;^(F) those he called, he also justified;^(G) those he justified, he also glorified.^(H)

³³ Who will bring any charge^(A) against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.

¹¹ Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad^(A)—in order that God’s purpose^(B) in election might stand: ¹² not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”^{[a](C) 13} Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”^[b](D)

¹⁴ What then shall we say?^(E) Is God unjust? Not at all!^{(F) 15} For he says to Moses,

¹⁶ It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.^{(H) 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.”^{[d](I) 18} Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.^(J)

¹⁹ One of you will say to me:^(K) “Then why does God still blame us?^(L) For who is able to resist his will?”^{(M) 20} But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?^(N) “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,^(O) ‘Why did you make me like this?’”^{[e](P) 21} Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?^(Q)

²² What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience^(R) the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?^{(S) 23} What if he did this to make the riches of his glory^(T) known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory^(U)—

¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you^(A) so that you might go and bear fruit^(B)—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.^(C)

²⁰ “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.

Stand Firm

¹³ But we ought always to thank God for you,^(A) brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits^[a](B) to be saved^(C) through the sanctifying work of the Spirit^(D) and through belief in the truth.