Romans 9:1–23

Paul’s Concern for the Jewish People

¹As a Christian, I’m telling you the truth. I’m not lying. The Holy Spirit, along with my own thoughts, supports me in this. ²I have deep sorrow and endless heartache. ³I wish I could be condemned and cut off from Christ for the sake of others who, like me, are Jewish by birth. ⁴They are Israelites, God’s adopted children. They have the Lord’s glory, the pledges,^aMoses’ Teachings, the true worship, and the promises. ⁵The Messiah is descended from their ancestors according to his human nature. The Messiah is God over everything, forever blessed. Amen. 

⁶Now it is not as though God’s word has failed. Clearly, not everyone descended from Israel is part of Israel ⁷or a descendant of Abraham. However, ⸤as Scripture says,⸥ “Through Isaac your descendants will carry on your name.” ⁸This means that children born by natural descent ⸤from Abraham⸥ are not necessarily God’s children. Instead, children born by the promise are considered Abraham’s descendants. 

⁹For example, this is what the promise said, “I will come back at the right time, and Sarah will have a son.” ¹⁰The same thing happened to Rebekah. Rebekah became pregnant by our ancestor Isaac. ¹¹Before the children had been born or had done anything good or bad, Rebekah was told that the older child would serve the younger one. This was said to Rebekah so that God’s plan would remain a matter of his choice, ¹²a choice based on God’s call and not on anything people do.^b13The Scriptures say, “I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau.” 

¹⁴What can we say—that God is unfair? That’s unthinkable! ¹⁵For example, God said to Moses, “I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to.” ¹⁶Therefore, God’s choice does not depend on a person’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 

¹⁷For example, Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I put you here for this reason: to demonstrate my power through you and to spread my name throughout the earth.” ¹⁸Therefore, if God wants to be kind to anyone, he will be. If he wants to make someone stubborn, he will. 

¹⁹You may ask me, “Why does God still find fault with anyone? Who can resist whatever God wants to do?” 

²⁰Who do you think you are to talk back to God like that? Can an object that was made say to its maker, “Why did you make me like this?” ²¹A potter has the right to do whatever he wants with his clay. He can make something for a special occasion or something for everyday use from the same lump of clay. 

²²If God wants to demonstrate his anger and reveal his power, he can do it. But can’t he be extremely patient with people who are objects of his anger because they are headed for destruction? ²³Can’t God also reveal the riches of his glory to people who are objects of his mercy and whom he had already prepared for glory?