Romans 9

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 33 verses. Textual witnesses in Papyrus 40, written about AD 250 Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are: • Papyrus 40 (~250; extant verses 16–17, 27) • Papyrus 27 (3rd century; extant verses 3, 5–9) • Codex Vaticanus (325–350) • Codex Sinaiticus (330–360) • Codex Alexandrinus (400–440) • Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (~450; complete) Old Testament references • Romans 9:7 references Genesis 21:12 • Romans 9:9 references Genesis 18:10,14 • Romans 9:12 references Genesis 25:23 • Romans 9:13 references Malachi 1:2,3 • Romans 9:15 references Exodus 33:19 • Romans 9:17 references Exodus 9:16 • references , and Wisdom 15:7 • Romans 9:25 references Hosea 2:23 • Romans 9:26 references Hosea 1:10 • Romans 9:27 references Isaiah 10:22,23 • Romans 9:29 references Isaiah 1:9 • Romans 9:33 references Isaiah 8:14 and Isaiah 28:16 New Testament references • references • references ==Paul's lament over Israel (verses 1–5)==

The remarks in verses 1–5 seem to mirror Exodus 32:30–34, when Moses offered to be "blotted out of the book" for the Israelites, who had "sinned a great sin" for worshiping the golden calf at Mount Sinai. This incident may also underline Paul's description of human idolatry and rebellion in Romans 1:18–32 and Paul explicitly contrasting his ministry with that of Moses in 2 Corinthians 3:4–11. Therefore, Paul speaks of the 'Israelites' (verse 4 and more generally in chapters 9–11) instead of the 'Jews'. Verses 1-2 Craig Hill likens the transition from exultation at the end of Romans 8 - from [neither] height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord to great sorrow and unceasing anguish at the beginning of chapter 9 - to "walking off a precipice ... [into] the shadowy depths". Verse 3 Alexander Kirkpatrick, in the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, associates Paul's willingness to be "cursed and cut off from Christ" for the sake of his brethren with Moses' prayer for the forgiveness of his wayward people ("forgive their sin – but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written") and with King David's mourning on the death of his son Absalom, "O my son Absalom – my son, my son Absalom – if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!". ==God's consistency evident in the election of true Israel (verses 6–29) ==

In asserting "the faithfulness of God", Paul first "clear[s] the way", by defining the true limits of God's promise. "It was not really to all Israel that the promise was given, but only to a particular section of Israel", namely those who were descended from Abraham through Isaac. Verse 6 The divine promises to Abraham were fulfilled, even though "only a portion of Abraham's natural descendants" were elected. Verse 7 Verse 7 cites Genesis 21:12. The failure of Ishmael and Esau to obtain their natural birthright does not hinder the fulfillment of God's promises, because it is through the second born, Isaac and Jacob, the true "children of promise", that God's plan was fulfilled. Verse 13 Verse 13 cites Malachi 1:2–3. Verses 14-24 Verses 14-24 speak about the doctrine of unconditional election, while citing Exodus 9:16. Verse 27 Verse 27 cites Isaiah 10:22–23. Verse 28 Verse 28 cites Isaiah 10:22–23. ==Israel's failure explained (verses 30–33)==

In the passage that continues until Romans 10:21, Paul gives statements on Israel's response and responsibility regarding the proclamation of Christ. After providing a view "from above" in verses 6–29, that is, from the perspective of God's purpose and election of Israel, the subsequent verses provide a view "from below", that is, from the perspective of the Jews, "who had worked diligently to be righteous, have rejected faith in Christ, the only thing able to make them truly righteous", whereas some Gentiles effortlessly believe in Christ. Verse 33 Verse 33 cites Isaiah 8:14 and Isaiah 28:16; cross reference 1 Peter 2:6,8. ==See also==