Paul’s Concern for the Jews

1I Speak truth in Christ, I lie not, my consciousness bearing witness to me in the Holy Spirit, 2That there is great grief to me and continued pain in my heart. 3For I myself was praying to be anathema from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4Who are Israelites; whose the adoption as a son, and the glory, and covenants, and legislation, and divine worship, and solemn promises; 5Whose the fathers, and from whom Christ according to the flesh, who being God over all, praised forever. Amen.

God’s Sovereign Choice
(Genesis 25:19–28; Malachi 1:1–5)

6And not as that the word of God has fallen through. For not they all of Israel, they which of Israel: 7Neither that the seed of Abraham, are all children: but, In Isaac shall the seed be called to thee. 8That is, The children of the flesh, these not the children of God: but the children of the solemn promise are reckoned for seed. 9For this the word of solemn promise, According to this time will I come, and there shall be a son to Sarah. 10And not only; but also Rebecca, having coition of one, Isaac our father; 11(For not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that according to choice the purpose of God might remain, not of works, but of him calling;) 12It was said to her, That the greater shall serve the less. 13As has been written, Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated.

14What then shall we say is injustice with God? It may not be. 15I will commiserate whomsoever I commiserate, and I will have compassion upon whomsoever I have compassion. 16Surely then, not of him willing, nor of him running, but of God commiserating. 17For the writing says to Pharaoh, That for this same have I raised thee up, so that I might show in thee my power, and so that my name might be announced in all the earth. 18Surely then, whom he will he commiserates, and whom he will he hardens.

19Thou wilt then say to me, Why does he yet blame For who has withstood his will? 20Surely, O man, who art thou replying against God? Shall the formation say to him having formed, Why hast thou made me so. 21Or has not the potter power over the clay, of the same mixture truly to make one vessel for honour, and one for dishonour. 22And if God, willing anger to be shown, and his power to be made known, endured in much long suffering the vessels of anger put in proper order for destruction: 23And that he might make known the riches of his glory upon the vessels of mercy, which he before prepared for glory. 24Whom he also called us, not only from the Jews, but also of the nations?

25As also he says in Hosea, I will call not my people my people; and the not loved, loved.

26And it shall be, in the place where it was said to them, Ye not my people; there shall they be called the sons of the living God.

27And Esaias cries for Israel, If the number of the sons of Israel as the sand of the sea, the remnant shall be saved: 28For finishing and cutting short the word in justice: for the Lord will make the word cut short upon the earth.

29And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us seed, as Sodom had we been, and as Gomorrha had we been likened.

Israel’s Unbelief

30What then shall we say? That the nations, not following justice, overtook justice, and the justice of faith. 31And Israel following the law of justice, reached not the law of justice. 32Wherefore? Because not of faith, but as of the works of the law. For they stumbled at the stumblingstone;

33As has been written, Behold I set in Zion a stone of stumbling and rock of offence: and every one believing on him shall not be ashamed.