Romans 9-10

Christian Standard Bible

Israel’s Rejection of Christ

9 I speak the truth in Christ^(A)—I am not lying; my conscience testifies to me through the Holy Spirit^[a]— ² that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish^(B) that I myself were cursed^(C) and cut off^[b] from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood. ⁴ They are Israelites,^(D) and to them belong the adoption,^(E) the glory,^(F) the covenants,^(G) the giving of the law,^(H) the temple service,^(I) and the promises.^{(J) 5} The ancestors are theirs,^(K) and from them, by physical descent,^[c] came the Christ,^(L) who is God^(M) over all,^(N) praised forever.^[d](O) Amen.

God’s Gracious Election of Israel

⁶ Now it is not as though the word of God has failed,^(P) because not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.^{(Q) 7} Neither is it the case that all of Abraham’s children are his descendants.^[e](R) On the contrary, your offspring will be traced^[f] through Isaac.^{[g](S) 8} That is, it is not the children by physical descent^[h] who are God’s children,^(T) but the children of the promise^(U) are considered to be the offspring. ⁹ For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.^{[i](V) 10} And not only that,^(W) but Rebekah conceived children^(X) through one man, our father Isaac. ¹¹ For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand^(Y)— ¹² not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger.^{[j](Z) 13} As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.^[k](AA)

God’s Selection Is Just

¹⁴ What should we say then?^(AB) Is there injustice with God?^(AC) Absolutely not!^{(AD) 15} For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.^{[l](AE) 16} So then, it does not depend on human will or effort^(AF) but on God who shows mercy.^{(AG) 17} For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth.^{[m](AH) 18} So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.^(AI)

¹⁹ You will say to me,^(AJ) therefore, “Why then does he still find fault?^(AK) For who resists his will?” ^{(AL) 20} On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?^(AM) Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” ^{(AN) 21} Or has the potter no right over the clay,^(AO) to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor? ²² And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience^(AP) objects of wrath prepared for destruction?^{(AQ) 23} And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory^(AR) on objects of mercy^(AS) that he prepared beforehand for glory^(AT)— ²⁴ on us, the ones he also called,^(AU) not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?^{(AV) 25} As it^[n] also says in Hosea,

²⁷ But Isaiah cries out concerning Israel,

²⁹ And just as Isaiah predicted:

Israel’s Present State

³⁰ What should we say then?^(BD) Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness—namely the righteousness that comes from faith.^{(BE) 31} But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness,^(BF) has not achieved the righteousness of the law.^{[t](BG) 32} Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works.^[u] They stumbled over the stumbling stone.^{(BH) 33} As it is written,

Righteousness by Faith Alone

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them^[w] is for their salvation. ² I can testify about them that they have zeal for God,^(BK) but not according to knowledge. ³ Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God^(BL) and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. ⁴ For Christ is the end^[x] of the law for righteousness^(BM) to everyone who believes,^{(BN) 5} since Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them.^{[y](BO) 6} But the righteousness that comes from faith^(BP) speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, “Who will go up to heaven?”^[z](BQ) that is, to bring Christ down ⁷ or, “Who will go down into the abyss?”^[aa](BR) that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.^{(BS) 8} On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.^[ab](BT) This is the message of faith that we proclaim: ⁹ If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”^(BU) and believe in your heart^(BV) that God raised him from the dead,^(BW) you will be saved. ¹⁰ One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame,^{[ac](BX) 12} since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek,^(BY) because the same Lord^(BZ) of all^(CA) richly blesses all who call on him. ¹³ For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.^[ad](CB)

Israel’s Rejection of the Message

¹⁴ How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him?^(CC) And how can they hear without a preacher?^{(CD) 15} And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful^[ae] are the feet of those who bring good news.^{[af](CE) 16} But not all obeyed the gospel.^(CF) For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message?^{[ag](CG) 17} So faith comes from what is heard,^(CH) and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.^{[ah](CI) 18} But I ask, “Did they not hear?” Yes, they did:

¹⁹ But I ask, “Did Israel not understand?” First, Moses said,

²⁰ And Isaiah says boldly,

²¹ But to Israel he says, All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people.^[al](CN)