Book of Common Prayer
My Heart Has Great Grief And Pain Over Israel
9 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying— my conscience bearing-witness-with me in the Holy Spirit— 2 that there is great grief in me and unceasing pain in my heart. 3 For I would pray[a] that I myself might be accursed from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh— 4 who are Israelites, of whom[b] is the adoption and the glory[c] and the covenants and the Law-giving and the [temple] service and the promises, 5 of whom are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according-to[d] the flesh, the One being[e] over all, God, blessed forever, amen.
But Not All Abraham’s Physical Children Are Children of God
6 But it is not such as that the word of God has failed— for not all[f] these ones from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor are they all children because they are seed of Abraham, but “In Isaac a seed will be called for you” [Gen 21:12]. 8 That is, these children of the flesh are not children of God, but the children of [g] the promise are counted for seed. 9 For the word of promise is this: “I will come at this time, and there will be a son to Sarah” [Gen 18:10]. 10 And not only this, but there is also Rebekah having bed[h] from one man, Isaac our father. 11 For the twins having not yet been born nor having done anything good or bad— in order that the purpose[i] of God according to His choosing[j] might continue[k], 12 not of works but of the One calling— it was said to her [in Gen 25:23] that “the older will serve the younger”. 13 Just as it has been written [in Mal 1:2-3]: “I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau”.
God Has Mercy On Whom He Wants, And He Hardens Whom He Wants
14 Therefore what shall we say? There is not unrighteousness[l] with God, is there? May it never be! 15 For He says to Moses [in Ex 33:19], “I will have-mercy-on whomever I have-mercy, and I will have-compassion-on whomever I have compassion”. 16 So then, mercy is not of [m] the one wanting, nor of the one running, but of the One having-mercy[n]— God. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh [in Ex 9:16] that “I raised you up for this very purpose: so that I might demonstrate My power[o] in you, and so that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth”. 18 So then, He has-mercy-on whom He wants, and He hardens[p] whom He wants.
These Words Are Spirit And Life. But Some of You Disciples Do Not Believe
60 Then many of His disciples, having heard, said, “This statement is hard[a]. Who can hear[b] it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples are grumbling about this, said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man going up where He was formerly? 63 The Spirit is the One giving-life. The flesh profits nothing. The words which I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe”. For Jesus knew from the beginning who the ones not believing were, and who the one who will hand Him over was. 65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you that no one is able to come to Me unless it has been granted to him from the Father”.
From This Time, Many of His Disciples No Longer Followed Him
66 From this time, many of His disciples went back, and were no longer walking with Him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “You also are not wanting to go-away, are you?” 68 Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 And we have believed, and have come-to-know that You are the Holy One of God”. 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is the devil?” 71 Now He was speaking-of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. For this one, one of the twelve, was going to hand Him over.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing