New Testament in a Year

God’s Chosen People, Israel

9 ^(A)I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, ² that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. ³ For ^(B)I could ^[a]wish that I myself were ^(C)accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen ^(D)according to the flesh, ⁴ who are ^(E)Israelites, to whom belongs ^(F)the adoption as sons, and ^(G)the glory and ^(H)the covenants and ^(I)the giving of the Law and ^(J)the temple service and ^(K)the promises, ⁵ whose are ^(L)the fathers, and ^(M)from whom is the ^[b]Christ according to the flesh, ^(N)who is ^(O)God over all, ^(P)blessed ^[c]forever. Amen.

⁶ But it is not as though ^(Q)the word of God has failed. ^(R)For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; ⁷ nor are they all children ^(S)because they are Abraham’s seed, but: “^[d](T)through Isaac your seed will be named.” ⁸ That is, the children of the flesh are not the ^(U)children of God, but the ^(V)children of the promise are considered as seed. ⁹ For this is the word of promise: “^(W)At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.” ^10 (X)And not only this, but there was ^(Y)Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; ¹¹ for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that the ^(Z)purpose of God according to His choice would ^[e]stand, not ^[f]because of works but ^[g]because of Him who calls, ¹² it was said to her, “^(AA)The older shall serve the younger.” ¹³ Just as it is written, “^(AB)Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

^14 (AC)What shall we say then? ^(AD)Is there any unrighteousness with God? ^(AE)May it never be! ¹⁵ For He says to Moses, “^(AF)I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”