Romans 9-13

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)

Israel’s Rejection Not Total

11 I ask, then, has God rejected his people?^(CO) Absolutely not!^(CP) For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham,^(CQ) from the tribe of Benjamin. ² God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.^(CR) Or don’t you know^(CS) what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he pleads with God against Israel? ³ Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life!^{[am](CT) 4} But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal.^{[an](CU) 5} In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.^{(CV) 6} Now if by grace,^(CW) then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.^[ao]

⁷ What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for,^(CX) but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,^{(CY) 8} as it is written,

⁹ And David says,

Israel’s Rejection Not Final

¹¹ I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles^(DB) to make Israel jealous. ¹² Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring!^(DC)

¹³ Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles,^(DD) I magnify my ministry, ¹⁴ if I might somehow make my own people^[ar](DE) jealous and save some of them.^{(DF) 15} For if their rejection brings reconciliation^(DG) to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?^{(DH) 16} Now if the firstfruits are holy,^(DI) so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷ Now if some of the branches were broken off,^(DJ) and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them^(DK) and have come to share in the rich root^[as] of the cultivated olive tree, ¹⁸ do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.^{(DL) 19} Then you will say,^(DM) “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith.^(DN) Do not be arrogant, but beware,^{[at](DO) 21} because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. ²² Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness^(DP) toward you—if you remain in his kindness.^(DQ) Otherwise you too will be cut off.^{(DR) 23} And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief,^(DS) will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut off from your native wild olive tree and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these—the natural branches—be grafted into their own olive tree?

²⁵ I don’t want you to be ignorant^(DT) of this mystery,^(DU) brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited:^(DV) A partial hardening has come upon Israel^(DW) until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.^{(DX) 26} And in this way all^[au] Israel will be saved, as it is written,

²⁸ Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage,^(EA) but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs,^{(EB) 29} since God’s gracious gifts and calling^(EC) are irrevocable.^{[ax](ED) 30} As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience, ³¹ so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now^[ay] receive mercy. ³² For God has imprisoned all in disobedience^(EE) so that he may have mercy on all.

A Hymn of Praise

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you^(EL) to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,^(EM) holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.^{[ba] 2} Do not be conformed^(EN) to this age,^(EO) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,^(EP) so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will^(EQ) of God.

Many Gifts but One Body

³ For by the grace^(ER) given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think.^(ES) Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith^(ET) to each one. ⁴ Now as we have many parts in one body,^(EU) and all the parts do not have the same function, ⁵ in the same way we who are many^(EV) are one body in Christ^(EW) and individually members of one another. ⁶ According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts:^(EX) If prophecy,^(EY) use it according to the proportion of one’s^[bb] faith; ⁷ if service,^(EZ) use it in service; if teaching,^(FA) in teaching; ⁸ if exhorting,^(FB) in exhortation; giving, with generosity;^(FC) leading,^(FD) with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.^(FE)

Christian Ethics

⁹ Let love be without hypocrisy.^(FF) Detest evil;^(FG) cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters.^(FH) Take the lead in honoring one another.^{(FI) 11} Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit;^[bc](FJ) serve the Lord.^{(FK) 12} Rejoice in hope;^(FL) be patient in affliction;^(FM) be persistent in prayer.^{(FN) 13} Share with the saints in their needs;^(FO) pursue hospitality.^{(FP) 14} Bless those who persecute you;^(FQ) bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice;^(FR) weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another.^(FS) Do not be proud;^(FT) instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.^{(FU) 17} Do not repay anyone evil for evil.^(FV) Give careful thought to do what is honorable^(FW) in everyone’s eyes. ¹⁸ If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.^{(FX) 19} Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,^[bd](FY) says the Lord. ²⁰ But

²¹ Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

A Christian’s Duties to the State

13 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities,^(GB) since there is no authority except from God,^(GC) and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. ² So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers are not a terror^(GD) to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. ⁴ For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger^(GE) that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. ⁵ Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience.^{(GF) 6} And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.^{[bf] 7} Pay your obligations^(GG) to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes,^(GH) tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect,^(GI) and honor to those you owe honor.

Love, Our Primary Duty

⁸ Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.^{(GJ) 9} The commandments, Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal;^[bg] do not covet;^[bh](GK) and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself.^{[bi](GL) 10} Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.

Put On Christ

¹¹ Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour^(GM) for you^[bj] to wake up from sleep,^(GN) because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.^{(GO) 12} The night is nearly over, and the day is near;^(GP) so let us discard the deeds of darkness^(GQ) and put on the armor of light.^{(GR) 13} Let us walk with decency,^(GS) as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness;^(GT) not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,^(GU) and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.^(GV)