Romans 9:1-33

Paul’s letter to the *Romans

Romans

Hilda Bright and Keith Simons

Chapter 9

God’s *blessings for the *Jews 9:1-5

v1 I speak the truth in *Christ. I am not lying. The *Holy Spirit guides my conscience. The Spirit agrees that I am telling the truth. v2 I am very sad. The great pain in my spirit never ends. v3 I am sad because of my relatives. I mean the people from my own nation called *Israel. I would be willing to do anything to save them. I would even be willing to suffer God’s punishment or to separate myself from *Christ. v4 God adopted my *brother and *sister *Israelites as his sons and daughters. God gave to them *glory. They received the *covenants. They received the gift of the law, the *worship in the *temple and the promises. v5 Abraham, Isaac and Jacob belong to them. *Christ was born into their family. And *Christ is God over all. He should receive honour always. *Amen.

Verse 1 Paul wants his readers to understand that he is sincere. So he makes three statements that will persuade them. He is speaking the truth because *Christ is with him. He is not lying. We cannot always trust the human conscience. But Paul has the *Holy Spirit as a witness. The *Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth.

Verses 2-3 Paul is so sad when he thinks about his relatives, the *Jews. They have not accepted their *Messiah. He may remember what Moses prayed. In Moses’ time, the *Israelites *sinned when they *worshipped a gold calf (a model of a young cow or *bull). Moses thought that God might not forgive the *Israelites. Moses asked God to punish him instead. He asked God to ‘remove his name from the book of life’ (Exodus 32:32).

Paul, like Moses, would ‘suffer God’s punishment’. This is a translation from the *Greek word ‘anathema’. It means something that a person would destroy completely in order to hand it over to God. If possible, Paul would be willing to suffer this punishment so that the *Jews could receive God’s *salvation.

This statement shows how deeply Paul wanted the *Jews to trust *Christ. It shows how eagerly Paul was praying for them. Paul loved them so much that he did not even care about himself. Instead, he appealed to God on their behalf.

But Paul realised that nothing could separate him from God’s love (Romans 8:38). And Paul knew that the *Jews had to trust *Christ in order to receive God’s *salvation. This is the answer that God gave to Moses: ‘I will remove from my book the name of the person who has *sinned against me’ (Exodus 32:33). Our prayers are powerful. But they do not change the principles of how God acts. His *mercy is great. But he will only *save people when they put their trust in him.

Verses 4-5 Paul makes a list of the special ways that God has shown his kindness to the *Jews.

1. God had adopted them as his sons. ‘*Israel is my first born son’ (Exodus 4:22). ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son’ (Hosea 11:1).

2. The *glory was the evidence that God was present with his people. The name for it is the ‘Shekinah’. It descended on the tent that the *Israelites used for *worship in the desert (Exodus 40:34). Also it descended on the *temple that Solomon built (1 Kings 8:10-11). In the most *holy place in the *temple, God’s *glory was over the ark. That was the special box that contained the *commandments.

3. The main *covenant that Paul refers to is the *covenant with Abraham. God made a *covenant with Abraham that Abraham would have a son and many *descendants (Genesis 17:4-19). God would give them the country called *Israel. And God would show his kindness to all nations by means of Abraham and his *descendant.

However, Paul does not just mention one *covenant. So perhaps he also means the other agreements that God gave to the *Jews. When God gave the Law (at the mountain called Sinai), he made an agreement with Moses and the *Israelites (Exodus 24:8). God promised to King David that God would establish his royal family (Psalms 89:34-37).

4. The Law. God had told his people how to obey him.

5. The *worship in the *temple. The book of Leviticus gives all the rules for the priests and for the ceremonies. When Paul wrote to the *Romans, the *Jews were still using the *temple to offer *sacrifices to God.

6. The promises. God promised to Abraham that by one of his *descendants, God would show kindness to all the families on earth (Genesis 12:3). God promised a king who would belong to the family of David. An example is in Isaiah 9:6-7.

7. In the original language, Paul simply writes ‘the *fathers’. He means Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jacob’s 12 sons were the *ancestors of the 12 tribes. (That is, the 12 large families which became the *Israelites.)

8. *Christ was born as a *Jew (Matthew 1:1).

The last words of verse 5 are words to praise God. But there is no mark to separate words in the *Greek *manuscript. So it is not clear whether ‘God over all things’ refers to God the Father or to *Christ. In the *New Testament, people usually praise God rather than praise Jesus. Usually Paul calls Jesus ‘God’s son’ and not ‘God’. But Paul thinks about Jesus as God. Paul calls Jesus ‘*Lord’ and he speaks about Jesus’ part in *creation (Colossians 1:16-17). Jesus is ‘our *Lord in life and in death’ (Romans 14:9). So Jesus *Christ is ‘God over all things’. Honour is due to him.

God’s choice 9:6-13

v6 Of course, God’s word has not failed. Not all the people who came from the family of *Israel really belong to *Israel. v7 Not all the *descendants of Abraham are his true children. But the *scripture says, ‘It is by means of Isaac that you will have *descendants.’ v8 In other words, someone does not become a child of God by natural means. Only the children that God promised became the *descendants. v9 These are the words of God’s promise, ‘I will come back at the right time, and Sarah will have a son.’

v10 And that is not all. Rebecca’s children had the same father, our *ancestor Isaac. v11 God spoke to Rebecca before her two sons were born. God spoke to her before the two sons did anything good or bad. God showed his purpose and his choice. He decided what would happen. v12 It was not because of anything that the two sons did. It was because God chose it. So God told Rebecca, ‘The older son will serve the younger son.’ v13 It is even as the *scripture said, ‘I loved Jacob, but I did not care for Esau.’

Verses 6-9 Although they had all these special *blessings, many *Jews did not accept God’s son. But Paul knows that God’s plan for his people could not fail. Paul uses two examples from the *Old Testament to explain this.

The *Jews (or *Israelites) were the *descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God made a *covenant with Abraham. But not all of Abraham’s *descendants are *Jews. That is because the *covenant has a relationship with God’s promise. Abraham had several sons. But Isaac was the only son that God promised to Abraham.

God’s promise has a relationship with the work of God’s Spirit. Isaac was not born in a natural way. Sarah (Isaac’s mother) was too old to have children. So the real *descendants of Abraham are people who receive God’s promise by means of his Spirit. And a person only becomes a child of God when that person receives God’s promise by means of his Spirit (verse 8).

So, not everyone who has Jacob (*Israel) as his *ancestor is a true *Israelite. A physical *descendant of Abraham might not be a real *Jew in the *spiritual sense. Those who believe God’s promises are Abraham’s real *descendants. Paul had explained this in chapter 4:13-16. God promised to give to Abraham a son, Isaac. Abraham had a son already, Ishmael, who was born to a slave called Hagar. But it was by means of Isaac that God would give Abraham *descendants. Paul mentions the promise that Abraham’s wife Sarah would have a son. This promise is in Genesis 18:10.

Verses 10-13

Paul gives a second example of God’s choice. Isaac’s wife Rebecca gave birth to two babies at the same time, Jacob and Esau. Before they were born, God said that the older son would serve the younger son. Esau was born first, but God chose Jacob. His choice made no reference to their character. God made his choice before their birth. He chose before they could act in good or bad ways. Esau’s *descendants were called the Edomites (or Edom). Jacob’s *descendants were called *Israel. The Edomites did serve *Israel at times in their history (for example, 2 Samuel 8:13-14). However, the words from Malachi 1:1-3 which refer to *Israel and Esau emphasise God’s choice. The original words ‘I hated Esau’ mean ‘I did not choose Esau’.

These events show that Jacob did not earn the benefit of the *covenant. Jacob received the benefit because of God’s *grace (kindness). Paul often emphasises that nobody can earn *salvation by their own efforts. And he repeats this principle in verse 12. Our *salvation depends completely on God’s kindness. It is a free gift. We can only accept or refuse that gift.

God’s right to act as he wishes 9:14-29

Evidence from the *Old Testament 9:14-18

v14 We certainly cannot say that God is unfair. v15 He said to Moses,

‘I will choose the people who will receive my *mercy.

And I will choose whom I will pity.’

v16 So our *relationship to God does not depend on what we want. And it does not depend on what we do. It depends on God’s *mercy. v17 In *scripture, the *Lord says to Pharaoh (the ruler of Egypt), ‘I had a special reason why I made you king. I used you to show my power. I wanted people everywhere in the world to know my name.’ v18 So God does what he wants to do. He shows *mercy to anyone whom he chooses. But he makes a person unwilling to change when he wants to.

Verses 14-16 God does not choose a person merely because of that person’s *ancestors. And God does not choose someone because of that person’s deeds. But Paul emphasises that God is not unfair. He is *righteous and he is perfect. Paul uses words from *scripture to show that God cannot be unfair. God told Moses that he is kind to people. He acts with *mercy and love when he deals with people (Exodus 33:19). He does not deal with them as they deserve. He shows his love to them as he chooses.

Verses 17-18 The *Israelites used to be slaves in Egypt. The Pharaoh (ruler of Egypt) refused continuously to let the *Israelites go. God sent Moses as a *prophet to Pharaoh, to tell Pharaoh to free the *Israelites. But still Pharaoh refused. He was unwilling to change his decision. We often say that such a person has a hard heart. So Pharaoh made his heart hard against Moses and the *Israelites. So in the end, God let his heart stay hard. In verse 17, Paul refers to Exodus 9:16. God used the situation with Pharaoh for his (God’s) own purposes. God himself overcame Pharaoh’s strong army. And so God freed his people. And people across the entire region heard what God had done.

The Bible contains many passages that warn people not to have the same attitudes as that Pharaoh. Isaiah knew that the hearts of unbelievers would become hard (Isaiah 6:9-10). And Jesus used Isaiah’s words when the *Jews refused to believe in him (John 12:39-40). But God is not unfair if he makes a person’s heart hard. The result of *sin is God’s judgement.

The *Creator’s plans 9:19-29

v19 Someone may say, ‘God should not still blame us. Nobody can oppose what God wants to do.’

v20 I shall reply to such a person: you are a mere man. You have no right to accuse God. *Scripture says, ‘An object that someone has made cannot say to its maker, “You should not make me like this.” ’ v21 The *potter has the right to make different kinds of pot. Some pots are for noble purposes. Other pots are for unclean use. But the *potter makes both kinds of pot from the same lump of *clay.

Verse 19 Paul imagines a person who is complaining about God. That person argues that God should not blame people. Paul will now show that such an opinion is seriously wrong.

Verse 20 Paul reminds people that God is the *Creator. People exist because God created them. It would be very wrong for a person to accuse his *Creator. Paul is not talking about people who are sincere. They ask questions because they want to know the truth. Paul is talking about people who do not want to obey God. They try to find an excuse to oppose God’s authority.

Verse 21 Paul uses an example from the work of a *potter. Isaiah had used the idea of *clay and a *potter. A *clay pot cannot pretend that the *potter has no skill. In fact, the pot is evidence of the *potter’s skill (Isaiah 29:16; Isaiah 45:9). Paul uses a similar idea. He says that the *potter has the right to make different kinds of pot. Some pots may be beautiful. Other pots may be ordinary. Still other pots are for unclean use. So God has the right to deal with people as he chooses. God does not have to explain to people what he does. People should respect God. His decisions are always right. His judgements are perfect.

v22 God is like that *potter. God shows his anger and his power. He has been very patient with some people although he is angry with them. Those people are like the pots that the *potter will destroy. v23 God has done this so that he can show the greatness of his *glory. He has prepared other people to receive this *glory, because of his kindness to them. v24 We are the people whom he has called. But he did not just call *Jews to be his people. He called people from all the nations. v25 That is why God says in the Book of Hosea,

‘These people were not mine. But I will call them, so that they will become my people.

Nobody loved her. But I will love her.

v26 I told them, “You are not my people.”

But, in the same place, I shall call them “Children of the God who always lives”.’

Verses 22-23 God has the right to show his anger and his power. But he has been very patient with the people who oppose him. He has delayed the time for judgement. He has given them more opportunity to *repent. Because they do wicked things, they are preparing themselves for punishment.

But God is preparing for *glory the people who have received his *mercy. These people will see God’s *glory. And they will share it themselves (Romans 8:17-18).

Verses 24-26 Paul includes himself with the *Jews to whom God has shown *mercy. But Paul then says that *Gentiles have become God’s children too.

Paul uses words from the *prophet Hosea. These words show that God intended this to happen. Hosea had a wife who was not loyal to him. Hosea thought that he was not the father of his wife’s second and third children. So he named the second child Lo-ruhamah. This name means that Hosea felt unable to show love to this child. Hosea named the third child Lo-ammi, which means ‘not my people’. These children were signs that *Israel had not been loyal to God. But in the future, God would be able to call *Israel ‘my people’. And at that time, God would show real love to them (Hosea 1:6; Hosea 1:8-9; Hosea 2:23).

Hosea was speaking about *Israel in his time. Paul saw Hosea’s words as a *prophecy. The *Gentiles would also be people whom God loved. And Paul could see that this was starting to happen by means of his own work among the *Gentiles.

v27 Isaiah cries out about *Israel,

‘The number of people from *Israel may be as many as the sand by the sea.

But God will rescue those people that remain.

v28 The *Lord will carry out his punishment on earth. He will carry it out quickly and he will complete it.’

v29 Earlier Isaiah had said,

‘The *Lord (commander of heaven’s armies) gave *descendants to us.

Otherwise, we would have become like Sodom.

We would have been like Gomorrah.’

Verses 27-29 God has promised many wonderful things to the *Jews. And he will do the things that he has promised to do. His *salvation is for all the *Jews who remain (Isaiah 10:20; Zechariah 13:1). But that will only happen after terrible troubles, which will affect the whole earth. Few people will remain then to receive the benefit of God’s promise (Zechariah 13:8-9).

Verses 27-28 Isaiah wrote at the time when an army from Assyria was attacking Judah, the southern *kingdom of *Israel. God had promised to Abraham that his *descendants would be very many. Nobody would be able to count them, like the sand by the sea (Genesis 22:17). But because of their *sin, God was using Assyria to punish the people in *Israel. So only a few of them would remain (Isaiah 10:22-23).

Verse 29 When God destroyed the wicked cities called Sodom and Gomorrah, their punishment was total. Nothing remained in those places. Everybody from those cities died (except for Lot and his two daughters). So the people from Sodom and Gomorrah had no *descendants. Their punishment was sudden and final.

But God did not deal with the *Israelites in the same manner. Their evil deeds had become very severe at the time of Isaiah. And Isaiah warned them that they would suffer a terrible punishment. But God still had a plan for the *Israelites. So the punishment would not be total or final. He would allow them to have *descendants (Isaiah 1:9). Isaiah gave his son the name, Shear-jashub (Isaiah 7:3). This name means ‘those who remain will return.’ The name was a sign to the king and to the people. If they trusted God, some *Jews would remain free to return to their country. For Paul, Isaiah’s words were a *prophecy that many *Jews would not trust God. Only a few would accept his son and avoid judgement. These few would ‘return’ to God to obey him. And by them, God would carry out his promise to *save the *Jews.

The stone that people trip over 9:30-33

v30 So, we say that the *Gentiles were not trying to become *righteous. But many *Gentiles did become *righteous. They achieved this simply because they trusted God. v31 The people from *Israel were trying to become *righteous by means of their own efforts, as they obeyed the law. But they did not succeed. They could not obey the whole law. v32 This is the explanation. They were not trusting God. They were trying to become *righteous by means of their own efforts. They were like someone who trips over a stone. v33 The *scripture uses the same description:

‘Look! I am laying in *Zion a stone that causes people to trip.

That rock will cause trouble.

The rock means someone whom people will trust.

And he will never disappoint them.’

Verses 30-31 Paul contrasts *Jews and *Gentiles. *Gentiles were not looking for a way to have a right *relationship with God. But when they discovered the *gospel, they accepted it by *faith. But most *Jews thought that they could earn their way to heaven. So they tried to obey the law. They thought that God would accept them because of their good deeds. But because they could never be perfect, they could never receive a right *relationship with God. They ought to have accepted the *gospel by *faith, as the *Gentiles were doing. The *gospel is for everyone, both *Jews and *Gentiles. Nobody can earn *salvation by means of their own efforts.

Verses 32-33 Most *Jews did not accept God’s offer to forgive them, although *Christ died for them. Paul says that the message about the *cross was like a stone (1 Corinthians 1:23). A large stone can be useful. It can become a strong base for a building. But that stone is not useful to a person who does not recognise its value. That stone may cause trouble. Someone may trip over it. And so the person who believes the message about the *cross benefits from that message. But the same message causes trouble for the person who refuses to believe it.

Paul combines two *prophecies in Isaiah. Isaiah 8:14 describes God as a rock that could provide *Israel with a place of safety. But if they refuse his offer of security, they will suffer. They will be like someone who falls over a rock. Isaiah 28:16 speaks about a stone that is the most important stone in the building. It is the corner stone that joins two walls together. Or it is the stone that completed a curve. Psalms 118:22 speaks about a stone. The builders thought that it had no value. But it became the most important stone in the building. Jesus used these words about himself (Matthew 21:42). Peter combined the words from Isaiah with Psalms 118:22 when he wrote about *Christ and his church (1 Peter 2:4-8).

*Christ will never disappoint those who trust in him. Another translation of Isaiah 28:16 is: ‘Those who trust in God will not be in a hurry.’ They will not rush about in fear when other people are afraid. Instead, they will trust that God will carry out his plans.

Roman ~ a person from the city called Rome, or a description of anything that has a relationship with Rome. Rome was the most important city in the world at the time when Paul wrote this letter. It was the capital city where the Emperor lived.
Emperor ~ ruler over many countries.

'Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
Christ ~ the Greek word for Messiah, that is, Jesus.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament; or a word that describes anything that came from the country called Greece; or the people who came from Greece; or anyone who followed the same culture as people from Greece.
Messiah ~ the Jews’ word for the king who would come to rescue them; the Christ (that is, Jesus).

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
holy ~ something or someone that is special for God.
Israel ~ another name for Jacob, who was an ancestor of the Israelites. Israel became a name for the country where the Israelites lived. And Israel is also a name for all the Israelites.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
Israelite ~ the people that are Jews.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Israelite ~ the people that are Jews.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
glory ~ great beauty and honour. Only God (or Christ) has perfect glory.
Christ ~ the Greek word for Messiah, that is, Jesus.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament; or a word that describes anything that came from the country called Greece; or the people who came from Greece; or anyone who followed the same culture as people from Greece.
Messiah ~ the Jews’ word for the king who would come to rescue them; the Christ (that is, Jesus).

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
covenant ~ agreement between God and a person or people.
worship ~ to show honour to God (or to a false god), alone or with other people.
Temple ~ the special building in Jerusalem where Jews worshipped God.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
worship ~ to show honour to God (or to a false god), alone or with other people.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
amen ~ a word at the end of a prayer. It shows agreement.
Messiah ~ the Jews’ word for the king who would come to rescue them; the Christ (that is, Jesus).

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Christ ~ the Greek word for Messiah, that is, Jesus.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament; or a word that describes anything that came from the country called Greece; or the people who came from Greece; or anyone who followed the same culture as people from Greece.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.
sin ~ evil deeds against God’s law; or to do such deeds.
bull ~ the male animal which mates with a cow.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament; or a word that describes anything that came from the country called Greece; or the people who came from Greece; or anyone who followed the same culture as people from Greece.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.
salvation ~ rescue from evil things; when God forgives us our evil deeds.
mercy ~ kindness, the love that God shows when he forgives.
save ~ to rescue from the power of sin.
sin ~ evil deeds against God’s law; or to do such deeds.
holy ~ something or someone that is special for God.
descendants ~ future members of a family or nation.
sacrifice ~ something which people offer to God, especially an animal that they killed as a gift to God. Jesus’ death was the perfect sacrifice because, by his death, he freed people from sin.
sin ~ evil deeds against God’s law; or to do such deeds.
father ~ Abraham is called ‘father’ because all God’s people came from him. Abraham was the ancestor of the Israelites. But he is also called the ‘father’ of the Christians, because all real Christians share his faith in God.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
Israelite ~ the people that are Jews.
faith ~ trust in someone or something; the things that Christians believe about Jesus.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
manuscript ~ a book that someone has written by hand.'New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.
Lord ~ God; the word that we may use for Jesus when we obey him; someone who rules or who is a master.
creation ~ the world that God made; or, God’s work when he made everything.'Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible. The authors of the books in the Old Testament wrote their books centuries before Christ’s birth.
Christ ~ the Greek word for Messiah, that is, Jesus.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament; or a word that describes anything that came from the country called Greece; or the people who came from Greece; or anyone who followed the same culture as people from Greece.
Messiah ~ the Jews’ word for the king who would come to rescue them; the Christ (that is, Jesus).

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
spiritual ~ a description of something that belongs to the spirit.
grace ~ God’s love that people do not deserve.
relationship ~ a friendship; or way in which people know each other.
righteous ~ good, holy.
holy ~ something or someone that is special for God.
prophet ~ a person who told the people what God wanted.
Creator ~ God, who created everything.
potter ~ someone who makes pots.
clay ~ earth that people bake to make pots.
repent ~ to change one’s mind totally; when someone who was doing wrong things begins to obey God.
Gentile ~ someone hwo is not a Jew, or, a description of anything that has a relationship to people who are not Jews.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
prophecy ~ words that God gave someone to speak or to write down; especially, a message from God about the future.
kingdom ~ people or area which a king rules.
Zion ~ Jerusalem.
gospel ~ good news.
faith ~ trust in someone or something; the things that Christians believe about Jesus.
cross ~ two pieces of wood that people have fixed together in the shape of a cross. Soldiers would attach a criminal to a cross in order to kill that person.