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What I say is true and Christ knows it is. I do not tell a lie. My heart tells me it is true. And the Holy Spirit knows this.

I am very sad. I am always troubled. 3I could almost wish I were taken away from Christ for the sake of my brothers, the people of my own nation.

They are Jews. God gave them the right to be his sons. He showed them how great he is. He made agreements with them. He gave them the law. He told them how to worship him. He gave them the promises.

The great men were their fathers. Christ was born a Jew. He is God over all. Praise him for ever! Yes, he is!

God will do what he said he would do. Not all who are Jews belong to the real Israel.

Not all the people in Abraham's family are his children. But the holy writings say, `It is Isaac's family who will be called your family.'

This means that not all who were born in Abraham's family are God's children. God promised Abraham a son [Isaac]. His children [the Jews] are the ones that God called Abraham's true family.

For this is what God promised, `About this time next year I will come and Sarah shall have a son.'

And that is not all. Rebecca also had children. Their father was Isaac, our father.

11 When the children were not yet born, they had done nothing good or bad. God chooses the people he wants. He does not choose people because of what they have done. He chooses people who will answer his call. So he said to Rebecca, `The older one will be a slave of the younger one.'

12 The holy writings also say, `I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau.'

13 So what shall we say? Does God do what is not right? No, never!

14 He says to Moses, `I will be kind to a person if I choose to be kind to him. I will share in the suffering of others if I choose to be sorry for them.'

15 God is not kind to a person because the person wants God to be kind to him. God is not kind to him because the person runs to him to ask him for help. God is kind because he chooses to be kind.

16 In the holy writings it says to Pharaoh, `That is why I made you live. I wanted to show my power through you. I wanted people to know about me all over the earth.'

17 So God is kind to any person if he wants to be kind to him. And God makes a man's heart hard if he wants to do that.

18 So you will ask me, `Why does God still blame us? Who can fight against what God has planned?'

19 But you are only a man. Will you tell God what to do? Can the pot say to the man who made it, `Why did you make me like this?'

20 The person who makes pots has power over the mud. He can make two different pots out of one pile of mud. One pot will be fine and another will not be fine. Can the potter not make them so?

21 God has a right to be very angry if he wants to be. He has the right to show his power. God was very angry with some people who deserved to die. And yet he waited a long time before he did anything to them.

22 He did it to show how very great he is. He was kind to some people. He planned for them to be made great.

23 That means he also called us. He called not only those who are Jews, but also those who are not Jews.

24 In the book written long ago by the prophet Hosea, God says `They were not my people. But I will call them "my people". I did not love her, but I will call her "the one I love."

25 And in the very place where it was said to them, "You are not my people," they will be called "sons of the living God." '

26 Isaiah the prophet of God said long ago about Israel, `Even if the people of Israel are as many as the sand by the sea, only some of them will be saved.

27 The Lord will do what he said he will do on the earth. He will do it all and do it soon.'

28 And Isaiah also said, `The Lord who has power, left some of our children. If he had not, we would have been like Sodom. We would have been destroyed like Gomorrah.'

29 So what shall we say? The people who are not Jews have been put right with God. They did nothing to make themselves right with God. But they were put right because they believed God.

30 But the Jews tried to obey the law that could make them good people. But they did not obey it all.

31 Why was that? They did not trust in God. They only trusted in doing the things of the law. They therefore hit their feet on the stone on which men hit their feet.

32 That is what the holy writings say, `I put in Zion a stone on which people will hit their feet. It is a rock that will make them fall down. Anyone who believes in him will not be ashamed.'

 神揀選以色列人

我在基督裡說的是實話,並沒有撒謊,因為我的良心在聖靈裡一同為我作證; 我大大憂愁,心裡常常傷痛。 為我的同胞,就是我骨肉之親,就算自己受咒詛,與基督隔絕,我也甘心。 他們是以色列人:嗣子的名分、榮耀、眾約、律法、敬拜的禮儀和各樣的應許,都是他們的。 蒙揀選的列祖也是他們的祖宗;按肉身來說,基督也是出自他們這一族。其實,他是在萬有之上,永遠受稱頌的 神。阿們。

當然,這不是說 神的話落了空,因為出自以色列的,不都是以色列人; 也不因為他們是亞伯拉罕的後裔,就都成為他的兒女,只有“以撒生的,才可以稱為你的後裔”, 這就是說,肉身生的兒女並不是 神的兒女,只有憑著應許生的兒女才算是後裔。 因為所應許的話是這樣:“明年這個時候我要來,撒拉必定生一個兒子。” 10 不但如此,利百加也是這樣:既然從一個人,就是從我們的祖宗以撒懷了孕, 11 雙生子還沒有生下來,善惡也沒有行出來(為要堅定 神揀選人的旨意,不是由於行為,而是由於那呼召者), 12  神就對她說:“將來大的要服事小的。” 13 正如經上所記的:

“我愛雅各,

卻惡以掃。”

14 既是這樣,我們可以說甚麼呢? 神不公平嗎?絕對不會! 15 因為他對摩西說:

“我要憐憫誰,就憐憫誰;

我要恩待誰,就恩待誰。”

16 這樣看來,既不是出於人意,也不是由於人為(“人為”原文作“奔走”或“奔跑”),只在於那憐憫人的 神。 17 經上有話對法老說:“我把你興起來,是要藉著你顯出我的大能,並且使我的名傳遍全地。” 18 這樣看來,他願意憐憫誰就憐憫誰,願意誰剛硬就使誰剛硬。

 神顯出忿怒又施行憐憫

19 這樣,你會對我說:“那麼他為甚麼責怪人呢?有誰抗拒他的旨意呢?” 20 你這個人哪,你是誰,竟敢跟 神頂嘴呢?被造的怎麼可以對造他的說:“你為甚麼把我做成這個樣子呢?” 21 陶匠難道沒有權用同一團的泥,又做貴重的、又做卑賤的器皿嗎? 22 如果 神有意要顯明他的忿怒,彰顯他的大能,而多多容忍那可怒、預備遭毀滅的器皿, 23 為了要使他豐盛的榮耀,彰顯在那蒙恩、早已預備要得榮耀的器皿上,這又有甚麼不可呢? 24 這器皿就是我們這些不但從猶太人中,也從外族人中蒙召的人。 25 就如 神在何西阿書上說的:

“我要稱那不是我子民的為我的子民,

那不蒙愛的為蒙愛的;

26 從前在甚麼地方對他們說:

你們不是我的子民,

將來就在那裡稱他們為永活 神的兒子。”

27 以賽亞指著以色列人大聲說:“以色列子孫的數目雖然多如海沙,得救的不過是剩下的餘數; 28 因為主必在地上迅速而徹底地成就他的話。” 29 又如以賽亞早已說過的:

“如果不是萬軍之主給我們存留後裔,

我們早就像所多瑪

和蛾摩拉一樣了。”

以色列人因為不信而絆倒

30 既是這樣,我們還有甚麼可說的呢?那不追求義的外族人卻得了義,就是因信而得的義。 31 但以色列人追求律法的義(“律法的義”原文作“義的律法”),卻達不到律法的要求。 32 這是甚麼緣故呢?因為他們不憑信心,只靠行為。他們絆倒在那絆腳石上, 33 正如經上所記:

“看哪,我在錫安放了一塊絆腳石,

是絆倒人的磐石;

信靠他的人,

必不致失望。”

Paul’s Anguish Over Israel

I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying,(A) my conscience confirms(B) it through the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself(C) were cursed(D) and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people,(E) those of my own race,(F) the people of Israel.(G) Theirs is the adoption to sonship;(H) theirs the divine glory,(I) the covenants,(J) the receiving of the law,(K) the temple worship(L) and the promises.(M) Theirs are the patriarchs,(N) and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah,(O) who is God over all,(P) forever praised![a](Q) Amen.

God’s Sovereign Choice

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

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

14 What then shall we say?(AC) Is God unjust? Not at all!(AD) 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.”[f](AE)

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

19 One of you will say to me:(AI) “Then why does God still blame us?(AJ) For who is able to resist his will?”(AK) 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?(AL) “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,(AM) ‘Why did you make me like this?’”[h](AN) 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?(AO)

22 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience(AP) the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?(AQ) 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory(AR) known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory(AS) 24 even us, whom he also called,(AT) not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?(AU) 25 As he says in Hosea:

“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;
    and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”[i](AV)

26 and,

“In the very place where it was said to them,
    ‘You are not my people,’
    there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”[j](AW)

27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:

“Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea,(AX)
    only the remnant will be saved.(AY)
28 For the Lord will carry out
    his sentence on earth with speed and finality.”[k](AZ)

29 It is just as Isaiah said previously:

“Unless the Lord Almighty(BA)
    had left us descendants,
we would have become like Sodom,
    we would have been like Gomorrah.”[l](BB)

Israel’s Unbelief

30 What then shall we say?(BC) That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;(BD) 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness,(BE) have not attained their goal.(BF) 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.(BG) 33 As it is written:

“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall,
    and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[m](BH)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 9:5 Or Messiah, who is over all. God be forever praised! Or Messiah. God who is over all be forever praised!
  2. Romans 9:7 Gen. 21:12
  3. Romans 9:9 Gen. 18:10,14
  4. Romans 9:12 Gen. 25:23
  5. Romans 9:13 Mal. 1:2,3
  6. Romans 9:15 Exodus 33:19
  7. Romans 9:17 Exodus 9:16
  8. Romans 9:20 Isaiah 29:16; 45:9
  9. Romans 9:25 Hosea 2:23
  10. Romans 9:26 Hosea 1:10
  11. Romans 9:28 Isaiah 10:22,23 (see Septuagint)
  12. Romans 9:29 Isaiah 1:9
  13. Romans 9:33 Isaiah 8:14; 28:16

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.