Paul’s Concern for the Jews

1I call Christ, and the holy spirit to witness with my conscience, that I speak the truth without guile, when I say, 2that I have great heaviness, and continual sorrow in my heart. 3for I could wish to be as one anathematiz'd from the christian church for my brethren, who are of the same race as my self, 4who are Israelites; who had the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the law, the form of divine worship, and the promises; 5who are the offspring of the patriarchs, and of whom as to the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

God’s Sovereign Choice

6However, the divine promise cannot but have its effect, for they are not the whole of Israel, who are descended from Israel: 7neither are they who are the race of Abraham, all children: but 'tis said, "in Isaac shall thy posterity be called." 8that is, the children by natural descent are not thereby the children of God: but the children of the promise are alone considered as his posterity. 9for the words of the promise run thus, "at this time I will come, and Sara shall have a son." 10this appears too from the case of Rebecca, who conceived twins by our father Isaac. 11for before they were born, and had done neither good or evil, that the distinction which God had purposed to make might appear to be, not in consideration of their actions, but of his own free call, 12it was said to her, "the elder shall serve the younger." 13as it is written, "Jacob have I loved, but Esau I have discarded."

14What do we say then? is there injustice in God? 15God forbid, for he saith to Moses, "I will show favour to whom I will show favour, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." 16so that this is a matter not dependent on him that wills or runs, but on God, who shews mercy. 17for 'tis said in scripture to Pharaoh, "even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth." 18thus some he pursues with his favours, and abandons others to their obduracy, according as he thinks fit.

19But you will object, why does he then find fault? for "who can resist his will?" 20nay, but, O man, who art thou, to raise a dust against heaven? shall the pitcher say to him that formed it, "why hast thou made me thus?" 21is not the potter the master of his own clay, of the same mass to make one vessel for use and ornament, and another for a meaner purpose? 22if the divine Being has patiently bore with those objects of his displeasure, that had been working out their own destruction, why may he not reveal himself to make them feel his vindictive power, 23and display his infinite goodness to such objects of mercy, as he had prepared for glory? 24to such as we, whom he has called, both from among the Jews, and from among the Gentiles.

25as he saith himself in Osee, "I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her, beloved, which was not beloved.

26and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, ye are not my people; there shall they be called, the children of the living God."

27Esaias also breaks out concerning Israel, " tho' the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant only shall be saved. 28for in ballancing the account, the Lord will leave a small remainder upon the land."

29and as Esaias said before, "except the God of heaven had left us a remnant, we had been as Sodoma, and brought to the state of Gomorrha."

Israel’s Unbelief

30What shall we hence conclude? that the Gentiles who sought not after justice, have obtained justice, even to that which is by faith: 31but Israel, who followed the law of justice, hath not attained to the law of justice. 32why? because they sought it not by faith, but indeed by the works of the law: for they stumbled at that stumbling-stone;

33as it is written, "behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone, and a rock of offence: and whosoever believeth in him, shall not be ashamed."