Paul’s Concern for the Jews

1I say the trueth in Christ, I lye not, my conscience bearing mee witnes in the holy Ghost, 2That I haue great heauinesse, and continuall sorow in mine heart. 3For I woulde wish my selfe to be separate from Christ, for my brethren that are my kinsemen according to the flesh, 4Which are the Israelites, to whome perteineth the adoption, and the glory, and the Couenants, and the giuing of the Lawe, and the seruice of God, and the promises. 5Of whome are the fathers, and of whome concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is God ouer all, blessed for euer, Amen.

God’s Sovereign Choice
(Genesis 25:19–28; Malachi 1:1–5)

6Notwithstanding it can not bee that the worde of God should take none effect: for all they are not Israel, which are of Israel: 7Neither are they all children, because they are the seede of Abraham: but, In Isaac shall thy seede be called: 8That is, they which are the children of the flesh, are not the children of God: but the children of the promes, are counted for the seede. 9For this is a worde of promes, In this same time wil I come, and Sara shall haue a sonne. 10Neither he onely felt this, but also Rebecca when shee had conceiued by one, euen by our father Isaac. 11For yer the children were borne, and when they had neither done good, nor euill (that the purpose of God might remaine according to election, not by workes, but by him that calleth) 12It was said vnto her, The elder shal serue the yonger. 13As it is written, I haue loued Iacob, and haue hated Esau.

14What shall wee say then? Is there vnrighteousnes with God? God forbid. 15For he saith to Moses, I wil haue mercy on him, to whom I wil shew mercie: and wil haue compassion on him, on who I wil haue copassion. 16So then it is not in him that willeth, nor in him that runneth, but in God that sheweth mercy. 17For the Scripture saith vnto Pharao, For this same purpose haue I stirred thee vp, that I might shewe my power in thee, and that my Name might be declared throughout al the earth. 18Therefore he hath mercie on whome he will, and whom he will, he hardeneth.

19Thou wilt say then vnto me, Why doeth he yet complaine? for who hath resisted his will? 20But, O man, who art thou which pleadest against God? shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21Hath not the potter power of the clay to make of the same lumpe one vessell to honour, and another vnto dishonour? 22What and if God would, to shewe his wrath, and to make his power knowen, suffer with long patience the vessels of wrath, prepared to destruction? 23And that hee might declare the riches of his glory vpon the vessels of mercy, which hee hath prepared vnto glory? 24Euen vs whome hee hath called, not of of the Iewes onely, but also of the Gentiles,

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

26And it shalbe in the place where it was said vnto them, Ye are not my people, that there they shalbe called, The children of the liuing God.

27Also Esaias cryeth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel were as the sand of the sea, yet shall but a remnant be saued. 28For he wil make his account, and gather it into a short summe with righteousnes: for the Lord will make a short count in the earth.

29And as Esaias sayde before, Except the Lord of hostes had left vs a seede, we had bene made as Sodom, and had bene like to Gomorrha.

Israel’s Unbelief

30What shall we say then? That the Gentiles which folowed not righteousnes, haue attained vnto righteousnes, euen the righteousnes which is of faith. 31But Israel which followed the Lawe of righteousnes, could not arteine vnto the Law of righteousnes. 32Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the workes of the Lawe: for they haue stumbled at the stumbling stone,

33As it is written, Beholde, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone, and a rocke to make men fall: and euery one that beleeueth in him, shall not be ashamed.