Alegerea suverană a lui Dumnezeu

Spun adevărul în Cristos, nu mint: conştiinţa mea, prin Duhul Sfânt, îmi este martoră că am o mare întristare şi o durere permanentă în inimă, întrucât aş vrea, mai degrabă, ca eu însumi să fiu blestemat şi despărţit de Cristos de dragul fraţilor mei, al rudelor mele după trup şi anume israeliţii! Ale lor sunt înfierea[a], slava[b], legămintele, darea Legii, închinarea şi promisiunile. Ai lor sunt patriarhii şi din ei a venit, după trup, Cristos, Care este deasupra tuturor, Dumnezeu binecuvântat în veci[c]! Amin.

Dar aceasta nu înseamnă că a fost fără efect Cuvântul[d] lui Dumnezeu. Pentru că nu toţi care sunt din Israel sunt Israel. Şi deşi sunt sămânţa lui Avraam nu toţi sunt copiii săi, ci, aşa cum este scris: „Prin Isaac îşi va primi numele sămânţa[e] ta.“[f] Aceasta înseamnă că nu copiii trupeşti sunt copii ai lui Dumnezeu, ci copiii promisiunii sunt priviţi ca sămânţă. Căci iată care a fost cuvântul promisiunii: „La anul, pe vremea aceasta, Mă voi întoarce la tine, iar Sara va avea un fiu.“[g] 10 Ba mai mult, Rebeca a rămas însărcinată de la un singur om[h], strămoşul nostru Isaac. 11 Şi chiar înainte ca cei doi gemeni să se fi născut sau să fi făcut ceva bine sau rău, – pentru ca scopul lui Dumnezeu în alegere să poată rămâne, nu prin fapte, ci prin Cel Care cheamă, – 12 i s-a spus: „Cel mai mare îi va sluji celui mai mic.“[i] 13 Aşa cum este scris:

„Pe Iacov l-am iubit,
    dar pe Esau l-am urât.“[j]

14 Deci ce vom spune: nu cumva este nedreptate din partea lui Dumnezeu? În nici un caz! 15 Căci lui Moise i-a spus:

„Eu mă îndur de cine vreau să mă îndur
    şi am milă de cine vreau să am milă.“[k]

16 Deci nu este ceva care ţine de cel care doreşte sau de cel care se străduieşte, ci ţine de Dumnezeu, Care arată îndurare, 17 pentru că, în Scripturi, Dumnezeu îi spune lui Faraon:

„Te-am ridicat ca să-Mi arăt în tine puterea Mea
    şi astfel Numele Meu să fie vestit pe întreg pământul.“[l]

18 Astfel, El are milă de cine doreşte şi împietreşte pe cine doreşte.

19 Mă vei întreba deci: „Atunci, de ce mai acuză?! Căci cine se poate împotrivi voii Lui?!“ 20 Dar, mai degrabă, cine eşti tu, omule, ca să te contrazici cu Dumnezeu?! Oare cel modelat îi va spune celui care l-a modelat: „De ce m-ai făcut aşa?“?[m] 21 Oare nu are olarul dreptul ca, din acelaşi bulgăre de lut, să facă şi un vas pentru întrebuinţări deosebite, dar şi unul pentru folosinţă obişnuită? 22 Şi ce dacă Dumnezeu, dorind să-Şi arate mânia şi să-Şi facă cunoscută puterea, a avut răbdare cu cei care erau vase ale mâniei Sale, pregătite pentru distrugere? 23 Şi ce dacă El a procedat astfel ca să-Şi facă cunoscută bogăţia slavei Sale faţă de nişte vase ale îndurării, pe care le pregătise mai dinainte pentru slavă, 24 incluzându-ne şi pe noi, pe care ne-a chemat nu numai dintre iudei, ci şi dintre neamuri? 25 Aşa cum spune în Osea:

„Pe cel ce nu era poporul Meu îl voi numi «Popor al Meu»,
    şi pe cea care nu era iubită, o voi numi «Iubită».[n]

26 Şi în locul unde li s-a spus: «Voi nu sunteţi poporul Meu!»,
    acolo vor fi numiţi «Fii ai Dumnezeului celui Viu».“[o]

27 Iar Isaia strigă despre Israel:

„Chiar dacă numărul israeliţilor ar fi ca nisipul mării,
    totuşi numai rămăşiţa va fi mântuită,
28 căci Domnul va duce la îndeplinire repede şi pe deplin sentinţa hotărâtă asupra pământului.“[p]

29 Aşa cum a prezis Isaia:

„Dacă Domnul Oştirilor[q] nu ne-ar fi lăsat câţiva urmaşi[r],
    am fi ajuns ca Sodoma
        şi ne-am fi asemănat cu Gomora.“[s]

Necredinţa lui Israel

30 Şi atunci ce vom spune? Neamurile, care n-au urmărit dreptatea, totuşi au primit-o, – şi anume o dreptate care este prin credinţă –, 31 însă Israel, care urmărea dreptatea printr-o Lege, n-a reuşit s-o obţină. 32 De ce n-a reuşit? Pentru că ei n-au urmărit acest lucru prin credinţă, ci, ca şi cum ar fi fost posibil, prin fapte. Ei s-au împiedicat de Piatra de poticnire, 33 aşa cum este scris:

„Iată, pun în Sion o Piatră de poticnire
    şi o Stâncă de cădere!
        Oricine crede în El nu va fi făcut de ruşine.“[t]

Footnotes

  1. Romani 9:4 Vezi nota de la 8:15; vezi Ex. 4:22-23; Ier. 31:9; Os. 11:1
  2. Romani 9:4 Prezenţa lui Dumnezeu în mijlocul poporului Său (vezi Ex. 16:7, 10; Lev. 9:6, 23; Num. 16:19)
  3. Romani 9:5 Sau: Cristos, Care este Dumnezeu deasupra tuturor, binecuvântat în veci; sau: Cristos, Care este deasupra tuturor. Dumnezeu să fie binecuvântat în veci; sau: Cristos. Dumnezeu, Care este deasupra tuturor, să fie binecuvântat în veci; gramatical, toate variantele sunt posibile
  4. Romani 9:6 Este vorba despre promisiunea legământului
  5. Romani 9:7 Termenul grecesc pentru sămânţă este un singular ce se poate referi atât la un singur urmaş, cât şi la toţi urmaşii de pe linia genealogică a unei persoane (colectiv). Este foarte probabil ca în cele mai multe cazuri termenul să exprime o ambiguitate intenţionată. Apostolul Pavel (Gal. 3:16) aplică acelaşi termen, sămânţă, lui Isus Cristos, demonstrând, prin exegeza sa, că promisiunea făcută lui Avraam îşi găseşte împlinirea ultimă în Isus Cristos
  6. Romani 9:7 Vezi Gen. 21:12
  7. Romani 9:9 Vezi Gen. 18:10, 14
  8. Romani 9:10 Sau: printr-o singură împreunare cu, pentru a accentua egalitatea celor doi fii
  9. Romani 9:12 Vezi Gen. 25:23
  10. Romani 9:13 Adică: Pe Iacov l-am ales, / dar pe Esau l-am respins; vezi Mal. 1:2, 3
  11. Romani 9:15 Vezi Ex. 33:19
  12. Romani 9:17 Pavel citează din LXX, Ex. 9:16
  13. Romani 9:20 Vezi Is. 29:16; 45:9
  14. Romani 9:25 Vezi Os. 2:23
  15. Romani 9:26 Vezi Os. 1:10
  16. Romani 9:28 Vezi Is. 10:22, 23
  17. Romani 9:29 Gr.: Kurios Savaot care îl redă pe ebr.: YHWH Ţevaot. Termenul ebraic pentru oştiri se poate referi: (1) la oştirile lui Israel (Ex. 7:4; Ps. 44:9 – v. 10 în TM); (2) la corpurile cereşti (Gen. 2:1; Deut. 4:19; Is. 40:26); (3) la îngeri (Ios. 5:14; 1 Regi 22:19; Ps. 148:2); probabil acest titlu face referire la suveranitatea lui Dumnezeu peste orice putere din univers
  18. Romani 9:29 Lit.: o sămânţă
  19. Romani 9:29 Vezi LXX, Is. 1:9
  20. Romani 9:33 Vezi Is. 8:14; 28:16
'אגרת פולוס השליח אל-הרומיים 9 ' not found for the version: The Westminster Leningrad Codex.

Israel’s Rejection of Christ

I (A)tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, (B)that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For (C)I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my [a]countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, (D)to whom pertain the adoption, (E)the glory, (F)the covenants, (G)the giving of the law, (H)the service of God, and (I)the promises; (J)of whom are the fathers and from (K)whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, (L)who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

Israel’s Rejection and God’s Purpose(M)

(N)But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For (O)they are not all Israel who are of Israel, (P)nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, (Q)“In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but (R)the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: (S)“At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.”

10 And not only this, but when (T)Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of (U)Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, (V)“The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, (W)“Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

Israel’s Rejection and God’s Justice

14 What shall we say then? (X)Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, (Y)“I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For (Z)the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, (AA)“For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He (AB)hardens.

19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For (AC)who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? (AD)Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the (AE)potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make (AF)one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering (AG)the vessels of wrath (AH)prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known (AI)the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had (AJ)prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He (AK)called, (AL)not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

25 As He says also in Hosea:

(AM)“I will call them My people, who were not My people,
And her beloved, who was not beloved.”
26 “And(AN) it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them,
‘You are not My people,’
There they shall be called sons of the living God.”

27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:

(AO)“Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea,
(AP)The remnant will be saved.
28 For [b]He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness,
(AQ)Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.”

29 And as Isaiah said before:

(AR)“Unless the Lord of [c]Sabaoth had left us a seed,
(AS)We would have become like Sodom,
And we would have been made like Gomorrah.”

Present Condition of Israel

30 What shall we say then? (AT)That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, (AU)even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, (AV)pursuing the law of righteousness, (AW)has not attained to the law [d]of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, [e]by the works of the law. For (AX)they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:

(AY)“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
And (AZ)whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Footnotes

  1. Romans 9:3 Or relatives
  2. Romans 9:28 NU the Lord will finish the work and cut it short upon the earth
  3. Romans 9:29 Lit., in Heb., Hosts
  4. Romans 9:31 NU omits of righteousness
  5. Romans 9:32 NU by works, omitting of the law

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.

18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.