Romans 9:19-24
New Living Translation
19 Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?”
20 No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? 22 In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. 23 He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. 24 And we are among those whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles.
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Romans 9:19-24
New English Translation
19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who has ever resisted his will?” 20 But who indeed are you—a mere human being[a]—to talk back to God?[b] Does what is molded say to the molder, “Why have you made me like this?”[c] 21 Has the potter no right to make from the same lump of clay[d] one vessel for special use and another for ordinary use?[e] 22 But what if God, willing to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects[f] of wrath[g] prepared for destruction?[h] 23 And what if he is willing to make known the wealth of his glory on the objects[i] of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
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- Romans 9:20 tn Grk “O man.”
- Romans 9:20 tn Grk “On the contrary, O man, who are you to talk back to God?”
- Romans 9:20 sn A quotation from Isa 29:16; 45:9.
- Romans 9:21 tn Grk “Or does not the potter have authority over the clay to make from the same lump.”
- Romans 9:21 tn Grk “one vessel for honor and another for dishonor.”
- Romans 9:22 tn Grk “vessels.” This is the same Greek word used in v. 21.
- Romans 9:22 tn Or “vessels destined for wrath.” The genitive ὀργῆς (orgēs) could be taken as a genitive of destination.
- Romans 9:22 tn Or possibly “objects of wrath that have fit themselves for destruction.” The form of the participle could be taken either as a passive or middle (reflexive). ExSyn 417-18 argues strongly for the passive sense (which is followed in the translation), stating that “the middle view has little to commend it.” First, καταρτίζω (katartizō) is nowhere else used in the NT as a direct or reflexive middle (a usage which, in any event, is quite rare in the NT). Second, the lexical force of this verb, coupled with the perfect tense, suggests something of a “done deal” (against some commentaries that see these vessels as ready for destruction yet still able to avert disaster). Third, the potter-clay motif seems to have one point: The potter prepares the clay.
- Romans 9:23 tn Grk “vessels.” This is the same Greek word used in v. 21.
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