Study Desk

Paul's Anguish Over Israel

I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying,^(a) my conscience confirms^(b) it through the Holy Spirit—

I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

For I could wish that I myself^(c) were cursed^(d) and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people,^(e) those of my own race,^(f)

the people of Israel.^(g) Theirs is the adoption to sonship;^(h) theirs the divine glory,⁽ⁱ⁾ the covenants,^(j) the receiving of the law,^(k) the temple worship^(l) and the promises.^(m)

Theirs are the patriarchs,⁽ⁿ⁾ and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah,^(o) who is God over all,^(p) forever praised!^[a](q) Amen.

It is not as though God's word^(r) had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.^(s)

Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."^[b](t)

In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God's children,^(u) but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring.^(v)

For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."^[c](w)

Not only that, but Rebekah's children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac.^(x)

Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad^(y)—in order that God's purpose^(z) in election might stand:

not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger."^[d](aa)

Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."^[e](ab)

What then shall we say?^(ac) Is God unjust? Not at all!^(ad)

For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."^[f](ae)