1I say the truth in Christ , I lie not , my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit , 2that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart . 3For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren ’s sake , my kinsmen according to the flesh : 4who are Israelites ; whose is the adoption , and the glory , and the covenants , and the giving of the law , and the service of God , and the promises ; 5whose are the fathers , and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh , who is over all , God blessed for ever . Amen. 6But it is not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel , that are of Israel : 7neither , because they are Abraham’s seed , are they all children : but , In Isaac shall thy seed be called . 8That is , it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God ; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed . 9For this is a word of promise , According to this season will I come , and Sarah shall have a son . 10And not only so ; but Rebecca also having conceived by one , even by our father Isaac — 11for the children being not yet born , neither having done anything good or bad , that the purpose of God according to election might stand , not of works , but of him that calleth , 12it was said unto her , The elder shall serve the younger . 13Even as it is written , Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated .
God's Justice and Mercy
14What shall we say then ? Is there unrighteousness with God ? God forbid . 15For he saith to Moses , I will have mercy on whom I have mercy , and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion . 16So then it is not of him that willeth , nor of him that runneth , but of God that hath mercy . 17For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh , For this very purpose did I raise thee up , that I might show in thee my power , and that my name might be published abroad in all the earth . 18So then he hath mercy on whom he will , and whom he will he hardeneth . 19Thou wilt say then unto me , Why doth he still find fault ? For who withstandeth his will ? 20Nay but , O man , who art thou that repliest against God ? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it , Why didst thou make me thus ? 21Or hath not the potter a right over the clay , from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor , and another unto dishonor? 22What if God , willing to show his wrath , and to make his power known , endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction: 23and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy , which he afore prepared unto glory , 24even us , whom he also called , not from the Jews only , but also from the Gentiles ?
The Remnant of Israel
25As he saith also in Hosea , I will call that my people , which was not my people ; And her beloved, that was not beloved. 26And it shall be , that in the place where it was said unto them , Ye are not my people , There shall they be called sons of the living God . 27And Isaiah crieth concerning Israel , If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea , it is the remnant that shall be saved : 28for the Lord will execute his word upon the earth , finishing it and cutting it short . 29And , as Isaiah hath said before , Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed , We had become as Sodom , and had been made like unto Gomorrah . 30What shall we say then ? That the Gentiles , who followed not after righteousness , attained to righteousness , even the righteousness which is of faith : 31but Israel , following after a law of righteousness , did not arrive at that law . 32Wherefore ? Because they sought it not by faith , but as it were by works . They stumbled at the stone of stumbling ; 33even as it is written , Behold , I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence : And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame .