Paul’s Concern for the Jews

1I speak the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2that there is great sorrow to me and incessant grief to my heart. 3For I would pray, that I myself might be an offering from Christ; in behalf of my brethren, my kindred according to the flesh: 4who are Israelites, of whom is the adoption of sons, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service, and the promises: 5of whom are the fathers, and of whom is Christ according to the flesh. Who is over all, God blessed forever: amen.

God’s Sovereign Choice

6But not as that the word of God has been a failure. For these are not all Israel who are of Israel; 7neither are the children all the seed of Abraham; but in Isaac shall thy seed be called; 8that is the children of the flesh the same are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9For this is the word of the promise, About this time I will come, and there shall be a son to Sarah. 10Not only so; but Rebecca also having cohabitation of one, our father Isaac; 11for the children not having been born, neither having done anything good or evil, in order that the purpose of God might stand according to election not of works, but of him that calleth, 12and it was said to her, The elder shall serve the younger: 13as has been written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14Then what shall we say? Is there unrighteousness with God? It could not be so. 15For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I do have mercy, and I will commiserate whom I do commiserate. 16Then it is not of him that willeth, nor him that runneth, but of God who shows mercy. 17For the scripture says to Pharaoh, For this very thing have I raised you up, that I may show forth my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. 18Then therefore he has mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardens.

19Then thou wilt say to me, Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will? 20O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Whether shall the thing formed say to him that formed it. Why did you make me thus? 21Has not the potter the right of the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? 22But if God, wishing to show forth his indignation and make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of indignation having been perfected unto destruction: 23and in order that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he before prepared unto glory? 24whom he called, even us, not only of the Jews, but also of the Gentiles:

25as he says in Hosea, I will call them my people, who are not my people; and her beloved, who is not beloved:

26and it shall come to pass, in the place in which it was said to them, You are not my people, there they shall be called the sons of the living God:

27but Isaiah cries out in behalf of Israel, Though the number of sons of Israel may be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved. 28For perfecting the word and cutting it short, will the Lord do a complete work on the earth:

29and as Isaiah has before spoken; Unless the Lord of Sabaoth left to us a seed, we would have become as Sodom, and would have been made like unto Gomorrah:

Israel’s Unbelief

30Then what shall we say? That the Gentiles, not pursuing righteousness, received righteousness, and the righteousness which is from faith: 31but Israel, following after the law, did not attain unto the law of righteousness. 32Why? Because they sought it not from faith, but as it were from works: they stumbled over the stone of stumbling,

33as has been written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence: and he that believeth on him shall not be ashamed.