Romans 9:1-9 ▼

1 I am telling you the truth as a Christian man--it is no falsehood, for my conscience enlightened, as it is, by the Holy Spirit adds its testimony to mine--

2 when I declare that I have deep grief and unceasing anguish of heart.

3 For I could pray to be accursed from Christ on behalf of my brethren, my human kinsfolk--for such the Israelites are.

4 To them belongs recognition as God's sons, and they have His glorious Presence and the Covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the Temple service, and the ancient Promises.

5 To them the Patriarchs belong, and from them in respect of His human lineage came the Christ, who is exalted above all, God blessed throughout the Ages. Amen.

6 Not however that God's word has failed; for all who have sprung from Israel do not count as Israel,

7 nor because they are Abraham's true children. But the promise was "Through Isaac shall your posterity be reckoned."

8 In other words, it is not the children by natural descent who count as God's children, but the children made such by the promise are regarded as Abraham's posterity.

9 For the words are the language of promise and run thus, "About this time next year I will come, and Sarah shall have a son."