Romans 9


Romans 9 is the ninth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle, while he was in Corinth in the mid-50s AD, with the help of an amanuensis, Tertius, who adds his own greeting in Romans 16:22.
This chapter is concerned with Paul's vindication of "the faithfulness of God".
The reformer Martin Luther stated that "in chapters 9, 10 and 11, St. Paul teaches us about the eternal providence of God. It is the original source which determines who would believe and who wouldn't, who can be set free from sin and who cannot".
Methodist writer Joseph Benson summarises this chapter:

Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 33 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
  • Papyrus 40
  • Papyrus 27
  • Codex Vaticanus
  • Codex Sinaiticus
  • Codex Alexandrinus
  • Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus

    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' instead of the 'Jews'.

Verses 1-2

Craig Hill likens the transition from exultation at the end of Romans 8 - from 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... the shadowy depths".

Verse 3

, 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 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 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.