Paul’s Concern for the Jewish People

1I am telling the truth because I belong toa the Messiahb —I am not lying, and my conscience confirms it by means of the Holy Spirit. 2I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart, 3for I could wish that I myself were condemnedc and cut off from the Messiahd for the sake of my brothers, my own people,e 4who are Israelis. To them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants,f the giving of the Law, the worship, and the promises. 5To the Israelisg belong the patriarchs, and from them, the Messiahh descended,i who is God over all, the one who is forever blessed. Amen.

6Now it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all Israelis truly belong to Israel, 7and not all of Abraham’s descendants are his true descendants. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that descendants will be named for you.”j 8That is, it is not merely the children born through natural descent who were regarded as God’s children, but it is the children born through the promise who were regarded as descendants. 9For this is the language of the promise: “At this time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”k 10Not only that, but Rebecca became pregnant by our ancestor Isaac. 11Yet before their childrenl had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s plan of election might continue to operate 12according to his calling and not by actions), Rebeccam was told, “The older child will serve the younger one.”n 13So it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”o

14What can we say, then? God is not unrighteous, is he? Of course not! 15For he says to Moses, “I will be merciful to the person I want to be merciful to, and I will be kind to the person I want to be kind to.”p 16Therefore, God’s choiceq does not depend on a person’s will or effort, but on God himself, who shows mercy. 17For the Scripture says about Pharaoh,

“I have raised you up for this very purpose,

to demonstrate my power through you

and that my name might be proclaimed

in all the earth.”r

18Therefore, Gods has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses.

God Chose People who are Not Jewish

19You may ask me, “Then why does Godt still find fault with anybody?u For who can resist his will?” 20On the contrary, who are you—mere man that you are—to talk back to God? Can an object that was molded say to the one who molded it, “Why did you make me like this?” 21A potter has the right to do what he wants to with his clay, doesn’t he? He can make something for a special occasion or something for ordinary use from the same lump of clay.

22Now if God wants to demonstrate his wrath and reveal his power, can’t he be extremely patient with the objects of his wrath that are made for destruction? 23Can’t he also reveal his glorious riches to the objects of his mercy that he has prepared ahead of time for glory— 24including us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but from the gentiles as well? 25As the Scripturev says in Hosea,

“Those who are not my people

I will call my people,

and the one who was not loved

I will call my loved one.w

26In the very place where it was told them,

‘You are not my people,’

they will be called children of the living God.”x

27Isaiah also calls out concerning Israel,

“Although the descendants of Israel

are as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore,

only a few will be saved.

28For the Lordy will carry out his plan decisively,

bringing it to completion on the earth.”z

29It is just as Isaiah predicted:

“If the Lord of the Heavenly Armies

had not left us some descendants,

we would have become like Sodom

and would have been compared to Gomorrah.”aa

30What can we say, then? Gentiles, who were not pursuing righteousness, have attained righteousness, a righteousness that comes through faith. 31But Israel, who pursued righteousness based on the Law, did not achieve the Law. 32Why not? Because they did not pursue it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on achievements. They stumbled over the stone that causes people to stumble. 33As it is written,

“Look! I am placing a stone in Zion

over which people will stumble—

a large rock that will make them fall—

and the one who believes in him will never be ashamed.”bb