ISRAEL’S REJECTION OF CHRIST

9 I speak the truth in Christh—I am not lying; my conscience testifies to me through the Holy SpiritA—2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wishi that I myself were cursedj and cut offB from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood. 4 They are Israelites,k and to them belong the adoption,l the glory,m the covenants,n the giving of the law,o the temple service,p and the promises.q 5 The ancestors are theirs,r and from them, by physical descent,C came the Christ,s who is Godt over all,u praised forever.D,v Amen.

GOD’S GRACIOUS ELECTION OF ISRAEL

6 Now it is not as though the word of God has failed,w because not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.x 7 Neither is it the case that all of Abraham’s children are his descendants.E,y On the contrary, your offspring will be tracedF through Isaac.G,z 8 That is, it is not the children by physical descentH who are God’s children,aa but the children of the promiseab are considered to be the offspring. 9 For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.I,ac 10 And not only that,ad but Rebekah conceived childrenae through one man, our father Isaac. 11 For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might standaf—12 not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger.J,ag 13 As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.K,ah