Romans 9-11

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

God’s Election of Israel

9 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit^(A)— ² I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood.^{(B) 4} They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;^{(C) 5} to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever.^[a] Amen.^(D)

⁶ It is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all those descended from Israel are Israelites,^{(E) 7} and not all of Abraham’s children are his descendants, but “it is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.”^{(F) 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 the word of the promise is this: “About this time I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.”^{(G) 10} Nor is that all; something similar happened to Rebecca when she had conceived children by one husband, our ancestor Isaac:^{(H) 11} even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose of election might continue, ¹² not by works but by his call) she was told, “The elder shall serve the younger.”^{(I) 13} As it is written,

¹⁴ What then are we to say? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means!^{(K) 15} For he says to Moses,

¹⁶ So it depends not on human will or exertion but on God who shows mercy. ¹⁷ For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I may show my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”^{(M) 18} So then he has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses.

God’s Wrath and Mercy

¹⁹ You will say to me then, “Why then does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?”^{(N) 20} But who indeed are you, a human, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, “Why have you made me like this?”^{(O) 21} Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one object for special use and another for ordinary use?^{(P) 22} What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath that are made for destruction,^{(Q) 23} and what if he has done so in order to make known the riches of his glory for the objects of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— ²⁴ including us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the gentiles? ²⁵ As he also says in Hosea,

²⁷ And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the children of Israel were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved,^{(T) 28} for the Lord will execute his sentence on the earth quickly and decisively.”^{[b] 29} And as Isaiah predicted,

Israel’s Unbelief

³⁰ What then are we to say? Gentiles, who did not strive for righteousness, have attained it, that is, righteousness through faith,^{(V) 31} but Israel, who did strive for the law of righteousness, did not attain that law.^{(W) 32} Why not? Because they did not strive for it on the basis of faith but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,^{(X) 33} as it is written,

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. ² For I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not based on knowledge.^{(Z) 3} Not knowing the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness.^{(AA) 4} For Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.^(AB)

Salvation Is for All

⁵ Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.”^{(AC) 6} But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say?

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim),^{(AD) 9} because^[d] if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe^[e] in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.^{(AE) 10} For one believes^[f] with the heart, leading to righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation. ¹¹ The scripture says, “No one who believes^[g] in him will be put to shame.”^{(AF) 12} For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.^{(AG) 13} For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”^(AH)

¹⁴ But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed?^[h] And how are they to believe^[i] in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? ¹⁵ And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”^{(AI) 16} But not all have obeyed the good news,^[j] for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed^[k] our message?”^{(AJ) 17} So faith^[l] comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.^[m]

¹⁸ But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have:

¹⁹ Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,

²⁰ Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,

²¹ But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”^(AN)

Israel’s Rejection Is Not Final

11 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.^{(AO) 2} God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?^{(AP) 3} “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” ⁴ But what is the divine reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”^{(AQ) 5} So, too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. ⁶ But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.^[n](AR)

⁷ What then? Israel has not achieved what it was pursuing. The elect have achieved it, but the rest were hardened,^{(AS) 8} as it is written,

⁹ And David says,

The Salvation of the Gentiles

¹¹ So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their stumbling^[o] salvation has come to the gentiles, so as to make Israel^[p] jealous.^{(AV) 12} Now if their stumbling^[q] means riches for the world and if their loss means riches for gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

¹³ Now I am speaking to you gentiles. Inasmuch as I am an apostle to the gentiles, I celebrate my ministry^{(AW) 14} in order to make my own people^[r] jealous and thus save some of them.^{(AX) 15} For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? ¹⁶ If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.

¹⁷ But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted among the others to share the rich root^[s] of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember: you do not support the root, but the root supports you. ¹⁹ You will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ That is true. They were broken off on account of unbelief,^[t] but you stand on account of belief.^[u] So do not become arrogant, but be afraid.^{(AY) 21} For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.^{[v] 22} Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you, if you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.^{(AZ) 23} And even those of Israel,^[w] if they do not continue in unbelief,^[x] will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.^{(BA) 24} For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.

All Israel Will Be Saved

²⁵ I want you to understand this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not claim to be wiser than you are: a hardening has come upon part of Israel until the full number of the gentiles has come in.^{(BB) 26} And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

²⁸ As regards the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but as regards election they are beloved for the sake of their ancestors, ²⁹ for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. ³⁰ Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience,^{(BE) 31} so also they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they also may now^[y] receive mercy. ³² For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.^(BF)

³³ O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!^(BG)

³⁶ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.^(BI)