Add parallel Print Page Options

Not as though the word of God hath miscarried. For all are not Israelites that are of Israel:

Neither are all they that are the seed of Abraham, children; but in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

That is to say, not they that are the children of the flesh, are the children of God; but they, that are the children of the promise, are accounted for the seed.

For this is the word of promise: According to this time will I come; and Sara shall have a son.

10 And not only she. But when Rebecca also had conceived at once, of Isaac our father.

11 For when the children were not yet born, nor had done any good or evil (that the purpose of God, according to election, might stand,)

12 Not of works, but of him that calleth, it was said to her: The elder shall serve the younger.

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

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

15 For he saith to Moses: I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy; and I will shew mercy to whom I will shew mercy.

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 to Pharao: To this purpose have I raised thee, that I may shew my power in thee, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

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

19 Thou wilt say therefore to me: Why doth he then find fault? for who resisteth his will?

Read full chapter

God’s Sovereign Choice

It is not as though God’s word(A) had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.(B) 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.”[a](C) In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children,(D) but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.(E) For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”[b](F)

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

14 What then shall we say?(L) Is God unjust? Not at all!(M) 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.”[e](N)

16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.(O) 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.”[f](P) 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.(Q)

19 One of you will say to me:(R) “Then why does God still blame us?(S) For who is able to resist his will?”(T)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Romans 9:7 Gen. 21:12
  2. Romans 9:9 Gen. 18:10,14
  3. Romans 9:12 Gen. 25:23
  4. Romans 9:13 Mal. 1:2,3
  5. Romans 9:15 Exodus 33:19
  6. Romans 9:17 Exodus 9:16