1 I SAY the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

1I say the trueth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing mee witnesse in the holy Ghost,

2That I haue great heauinesse, and continuall sorrow in my heart.

3For I could wish that my selfe were accursed from Christ, for my brethren my kinsemen according to the flesh:

4Who are Israelites: to whom perteineth the adoption, and the glory, and the couenants, and the giuing of the Law, and the seruice of God, and the promises:

5Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is ouer all, God blessed for euer, Amen.

6Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel which are of Israel:

7Neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all children: but in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

8That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

9For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall haue a sonne.

10And not onely this, but when Rebecca also had conceiued by one, euen by our father Isaac,

11(For the children being not yet borne, neither hauing done any good or euil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of workes, but of him that calleth.)

12It was said vnto her, The elder shall serue the yonger.

13As it is written, Iacob haue I loued, but Esau haue I hated.

14What shall we say then? Is there vnrighteousnes with God? God forbid.

15For hee saith to Moses, I will haue mercy on whom I wil haue mercie, and I will haue compassion on whom I will haue compassion.

16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17For the Scripture saith vnto Pharaoh, Euen for this same purpose haue I raised thee vp, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my Name might bee declared throughout all the earth.

18Therefore hath hee mercie on whom hee will haue mercy, and whom he will, he hardeneth.

19Thou wilt say then vnto mee; Why doeth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

20Nay but O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21Hath not the potter power ouer the clay, of the same lumpe, to make one vessell vnto honour, and another vnto dishonour?

22What if God, willing to shew his wrath, & to make his power knowen, indured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23And that he might make knowen the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which hee had afore prepared vnto glorie?

24Euen vs whom hee hath called, not of the Iewes onely, but also of the Gentiles.

25As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people: and her, beloued, which was not beloued.

26And it shall come to passe, that in the place where it was saide vnto them, Ye are not my people, there shall they bee called the children of the liuing God.

27Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shalbe saued.

28For he will finish the worke, and cut it short in righteousnesse: because a short worke will the Lord make vpon the earth.

29And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabboth had left vs a seed, we had bene as Sodoma, and bene made like vnto Gomorrha.

30What shall wee say then? That the Gentiles which followed not after righteousnesse, haue attained to righteousnesse, euen the righteousnesse which is of faith:

31But Israel which followed after the Law of righteousnesse, hath not attained to the Law of righteousnes.

32Wherefore? because they sought it, not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law: for they stumbled at that stumbling stone,

33As it is written, Beholde, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone, and rocke of offence: and whosoeuer beleeueth on him, shall not be ashamed.

 

1 I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the holy Spirit in bearing me witness 2 that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kin according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5 theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Messiah. God who is over all be blessed forever. Amen. 6 But it is not that the word of God has failed. For not all who are of Israel are Israel, 7 nor are they all children of Abraham because they are his descendants; but "It is through Isaac that descendants shall bear your name." 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants. 9 For this is the wording of the promise, "About this time I shall return and Sarah will have a son." 10 And not only that, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one husband, our father Isaac- 11 before they had yet been born or had done anything, good or bad, in order that God's elective plan might continue, 12 not by works but by his call - she was told, "The older shall serve the younger." 13 As it is written: "I loved Jacob but hated Esau." 14 What then are we to say? Is there injustice on the part of God? Of course not! 15 For he says to Moses: "I will show mercy to whom I will, I will take pity on whom I will."16 So it depends not upon a person's will or exertion, but upon God, who shows mercy. 17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh, "This is why I have raised you up, to show my power through you that my name may be proclaimed throughout the earth." 18 Consequently, he has mercy upon whom he wills, and he hardens whom he wills. 19 You will say to me then, "Why (then) does he still find fault? For who can oppose his will?" 20 But who indeed are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is made say to its maker,"Why have you created me so?" 21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for a noble purpose and another for an ignoble one? 22 What if God, wishing to show his wrath and make known his power, has endured with much patience the vessels of wrath made for destruction? 23 This was to make known the riches of his glory to the vessels of mercy, which he has prepared previously for glory, 24 namely, us whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles. 25 As indeed he says in Hosea: "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.' 26 And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they shall be called children of the living God." 27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, "Though the number of the Israelites were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant will be saved; 28 for decisively and quickly will the Lord execute sentence upon the earth." 29 And as Isaiah predicted: "Unless the Lord of hosts had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom and have been made like Gomorrah." 30 What then shall we say? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have achieved it, that is, righteousness that comes from faith; 31 but that Israel, who pursued the law of righteousness, did not attain to that law? 32 Why not? Because they did it not by faith, but as if it could be done by works. They stumbled over the stone that causes stumbling,33 as it is written: "Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion that will make people stumble and a rock that will make them fall, and whoever believes in him shall not be put to shame."

v1-3. Chapter 9 is dealing with Jews. His great concern is the salvation of Israel, his fellow kinsmen. We have seen how the Jewish system did not love him. He “could wish”, but knows it is no more possible  than for Moses to be cursed. Ex. 32:31,32.
v4,5. The Jews enjoyed eight advantages over the Gentiles:
The adoption - their nation was chosen to be God’s family. 
The glory - honor; the Shekinah glory of God’s present as in the pillar of fire etc. 
The giving of the law - various Old Testament commands from God.
The covenants - Abrahamic, Gen. 12:2; Mosaic Ex. 19:5; Palestinian Dt.. 30;3 Davidic 2 Sam. 7:16. See Schofield notes. God’s compacts with Israel.
The service of God - worship. The ceremonial rituals of the temple & Tabernacle. 
The promises - the various blessings allowed to Israel;
The fathers - the Patriarchs
In the Flesh Christ came - the race through which Christ came.
v6-9. It is possible to be a descendant of Abraham without being a spiritual heir, (Most, but not all Arabs are his descendants). Isaac was the son of promise. Only those Jews with true faith of Abraham are the spiritual heirs.  Likewise, we may have professors in churches that are not  in the True Church. v10-13. Here is the difficult doctrine of election. God in his wisdom and mercy has made a choice before they were born and had no chance to do good or evil. It is not that God simply foresaw the potential for faith, which He did. It is just His choice and we should be content with what we do not understand. That Esau was hated only means he was loved or blessed less, and that was a quote from Mal. 1:2,3. But we have John 3:16 that God’s love is there for all who believe in Christ. No one is elected to be lost.
v14-16. Then was God unfair?  As before, Paul answers his own question with a resounding, “God forbid.” None of these favors are deserved, God extends mercy. Only God makes the choice of what he will or will not do, Ex. 33:19.. We will understand later. 1 Cor. 13:12.
v17. God raised up rebellious Pharaoh in prominence to show His own power and that His name might be declared throughout the world.
v19,20,21 It is as ridiculous to criticize God for what He has done as it is for clay to criticize the potter for how it is shaped. We cannot understand Gods ways, see Isa. 55:8,9;Rom. 8:7; 11:33-36; 1 Cor. 2:14. It is His mercy that we are not consumed. Many times parents give gifts we may not desire, but they know what is best for us.
v23,24. Though Israel is God’s special people, He has called we Gentiles too.
v25,26 Hosea was referring to the wicked ten northern tribes who had become as alien as Gentiles, but both could receive son ship in God’s family.
v27-29. Paul refers to Isaiah’s prediction that though Israel might be innumerable, only a remnant would be saved. Other wise they would have all been destroyed as Sodom and Gomorra. “Lord of Sabaoth” is Lord of heavenly armies.
v30-31. The Gentiles were saved because of the righteousness which is by faith.  The Jews had sought righteousness by works of the law instead of faith.
v32,33. Christ is that stumbling stone over whom many fall. 1 Pet. 2:4-10.