Romans 9:2
I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
I have deep sorrow
The phrase "I have deep sorrow" reflects the Apostle Paul's profound emotional state. The Greek word for "sorrow" here is "λύπη" (lypē), which conveys a sense of grief or distress. This is not a fleeting sadness but a profound, abiding sorrow. Historically, Paul is writing to the Romans with a heavy heart for his fellow Israelites who have not accepted Christ. This sorrow is rooted in his deep love and concern for their spiritual well-being. In a broader scriptural context, this mirrors the heart of Christ, who wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41), showing that true spiritual leadership involves a deep empathy and concern for others' salvation.

and unceasing anguish
The term "unceasing anguish" is translated from the Greek "ἀδιάλειπτος" (adialeiptos) for "unceasing" and "ὀδύνη" (odynē) for "anguish." "Adialeiptos" suggests something that is constant and relentless, while "odynē" indicates intense pain or distress. This combination underscores the perpetual nature of Paul's emotional burden. Archaeologically, understanding the cultural context of the time, where community and kinship were central, helps us appreciate the depth of Paul's anguish for his people. His anguish is not just personal but communal, reflecting the collective loss he feels for Israel's spiritual state.

in my heart
The phrase "in my heart" signifies the depth and sincerity of Paul's feelings. The Greek word "καρδία" (kardia) is used here, which often denotes the center of one's being, encompassing emotions, thoughts, and will. In biblical terms, the heart is the seat of emotions and moral decision-making. Paul's use of "heart" indicates that his sorrow and anguish are not superficial but deeply rooted in his innermost being. This aligns with the biblical understanding that true compassion and concern for others stem from the heart, as seen in Proverbs 4:23, which emphasizes guarding the heart as the wellspring of life. Paul's heartfelt sorrow serves as a model for believers to cultivate genuine compassion and intercession for those who are spiritually lost.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the Book of Romans, Paul is expressing his deep emotional burden for his fellow Israelites who have not accepted Christ.

2. Israelites
The ethnic and religious group to whom Paul is referring, highlighting his sorrow over their unbelief and separation from the promises of God.

3. Rome
The city to which the letter is addressed, where a diverse Christian community, including both Jews and Gentiles, resides.
Teaching Points
The Heart of an Intercessor
Paul’s sorrow reflects the heart of an intercessor who deeply cares for the spiritual well-being of others. As believers, we are called to carry a similar burden for those who do not know Christ.

The Reality of Spiritual Anguish
The Christian life involves sharing in the sufferings of Christ, which includes experiencing sorrow for the lost. This sorrow should drive us to prayer and action.

The Importance of Compassion
Paul’s anguish is rooted in love and compassion. We are encouraged to cultivate a heart that genuinely cares for the salvation of others, moving beyond indifference.

Balancing Sorrow with Hope
While Paul experiences deep sorrow, he also holds onto the hope of God’s promises. Christians are called to balance their sorrow for the lost with the hope of redemption through Christ.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Paul’s expression of sorrow in Romans 9:2 challenge your current attitude towards those who do not know Christ?

2. In what ways can you cultivate a heart of compassion and intercession for the lost, similar to Paul’s example?

3. How does understanding the depth of Paul’s anguish help you relate to or support others who are grieving over the spiritual state of loved ones?

4. What practical steps can you take to balance sorrow for the lost with the hope and joy found in the gospel?

5. How do other biblical examples of lament, such as Jeremiah’s, inform your understanding of expressing sorrow in a godly way?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Romans 10:1
Paul continues to express his heartfelt desire for the salvation of Israel, showing the consistency of his concern.

Philippians 3:18
Paul speaks of weeping over those who live as enemies of the cross of Christ, indicating his deep emotional investment in the spiritual state of others.

Jeremiah 9:1
The prophet Jeremiah expresses a similar sorrow for his people, showing a biblical precedent for lamenting over the spiritual state of a nation.
Christ the Sphere of Spiritual BeingJ. Morison, D.D.Romans 9:1-5
Christian PatriotismR.M. Edgar Romans 9:1-5
Concern for KindredJ. Lyth, D.D.Romans 9:1-5
Concern for Other Men's SoulsC. H. Spurgeon.Romans 9:1-5
Conscience and the SpiritDean Vaughan.Romans 9:1-5
Conscience, Consciousness, and the SpiritJ. Morison, D.D.Romans 9:1-5
Earnestness in Promoting the Salvation of OthersT. De Witt Talmage.Romans 9:1-5
Home and Foreign MissionsT. Chalmers, D.D.Romans 9:1-5
Paul's Concern for IsraeJ. Lyth, D.D.Romans 9:1-5
The Honour of IsraelT.F. Lockyer Romans 9:1-5
The Sympathy of a Christian PatriotC.H. Irwin Romans 9:1-5
The TruthJ. Lyth, D.D.Romans 9:1-5
People
Esaias, Esau, Hosea, Isaac, Isaiah, Israelites, Jacob, Osee, Paul, Pharaoh, Rebekah, Romans, Sarah
Places
Gomorrah, Rome, Sodom, Zion
Topics
Anguish, Continual, Declare, Deep, Full, Grief, Heart, Heaviness, Pain, Sorrow, Unceasing, Uninterrupted
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Romans 9:2

     5782   agony
     5952   sorrow
     5970   unhappiness

Romans 9:1-2

     7726   evangelists, ministry

Romans 9:1-3

     5017   heart, renewal
     5109   Paul, apostle
     8239   earnestness

Romans 9:1-4

     5567   suffering, emotional
     7915   confirmation

Romans 9:2-3

     5559   stress
     5781   affection
     5844   emotions

Library
April 1. "Vessels of Mercy which He had Afore Prepared unto Glory" (Rom. Ix. 23).
"Vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory" (Rom. ix. 23). Our Father is fitting us for eternity. A vessel fitted for the kitchen will find itself in the kitchen. A vessel for the art gallery or the reception room will generally find itself there at last. What are you getting fitted for? To be a slop-pail to hold all the stuff that people pour into your ears, or a vase to hold sweet fragrance and flowers for the King's palace and a harp of many strings that sounds the melodies and harmonies
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Jacob and Esau
Now, it is one thing to refute another man's doctrine, but a very different matter to establish my own views. It is very easy to knock over one man's hypothesis concerning these truths, not quite so easy to make my own stand on a firm footing. I shall try to-night, if I can, to go safely, if I do not go very fast; for I shall endeavour to keep simply to the letter of God's Word. I think that if we kept more simply to the teachings of the Bible, we should be wiser than we are; for by turning from
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

God's Will and Man's Will
The great controversy which for many ages has divided the Christian Church has hinged upon the difficult question of "the will." I need not say of that conflict that it has done much mischief to the Christian Church, undoubtedly it has; but I will rather say, that it has been fraught with incalculable usefulness; for it has thrust forward before the minds of Christians, precious truths, which but for it, might have been kept in the shade. I believe that the two great doctrines of human responsibility
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 8: 1863

Of Predestination
Eph. i. 11.--"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will."--Rom. ix. 22, 23.--"What if God, willing to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction, and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory." In the creation of the world, it pleased the Lord,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

That a Man Ought not to Reckon Himself Worthy of Consolation, but More Worthy of Chastisement
O Lord, I am not worthy of Thy consolation, nor of any spiritual visitation; and therefore Thou dealest justly with me, when Thou leavest me poor and desolate. For if I were able to pour forth tears like the sea, still should I not be worthy of Thy consolation. Therefore am I nothing worthy save to be scourged and punished, because I have grievously and many a time offended Thee, and in many things have greatly sinned. Therefore, true account being taken, I am not worthy even of the least of Thy
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

The Coming of the Called.
"That the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth."--Rom. ix. 11. The question is, whether the elect cooperate in the call. We say, Yes; for the call is no call, in the fullest sense of the word, unless the called one can hear and hears so distinctly that it impresses him, causes him to rise and to obey God. For this reason our fathers, for the sake of clearness, used to distinguish between the ordinary call and the effectual call. God's call does not
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Love which Withers.
"Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth."--Rom. ix. 18. The idea of hardening is so awful that, with all its unsanctified pity and natural religion, the human heart rejects it as a horrible thought. Natural compassion can not bear the idea that a fellow man, instigated to evil by it, should forever ruin himself. And natural religion can not conceive of a God who, instead of persuading His creature to virtue, should give him up and incite him to sin. This
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

It is Also Written, "But I Say unto You...
28. It is also written, "But I say unto you, Swear not at all." But the Apostle himself has used oaths in his Epistles. [2342] And so he shows how that is to be taken which is said, "I say unto you, Swear not at all:" that is, lest by swearing one come to a facility in swearing, from facility to a custom, and so from a custom there be a downfall into perjury. And therefore he is not found to have sworn except in writing, where there is more wary forethought, and no precipitate tongue withal. And
St. Augustine—On Lying

Flee Away, My Beloved, and be Thou Like to a Roe or to a Young Hart Upon the Mountains of Spices.
The soul having now no other interest than that of the Bridegroom, either for self or for any other creature, and who can will nothing except His glory, seeing something which dishonors Him, cries out, Flee away, my Beloved! Leave these places which offer Thee no perfume. Come to those souls who are as mountains of spices, raised above the fetid vapors corrupted by the wickedness of this world. These mountains owe their sweetness to the odor of the exquisite virtues which Thou hast planted in them,
Madame Guyon—Song of Songs of Solomon

Messiah's Innocence vindicated
He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of my people was he stricken. L et not plain Christians be stumbled because there are difficulties in the prophetical parts of the Scriptures, and because translators and expositors sometimes explain them with some difference, as to the sense. Whatever directly relates to our faith, practice, and comfort, may be plainly collected from innumerable
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Consecration to God --Illustrated by Abraham's Circumcision
Let me remind you of the order in which these blessings come. If we should speak of sanctification or consecration, it is not as a first thing, but as an elevation to be reached only by preceding stepping-stones. In vain do men pretend to be consecrated to God before they are called of God's Spirit; such have yet to be taught that no strength of nature can suffice to serve the Lord aright. They must learn what this meaneth, "Ye must be born again," for assuredly until men are brought into spiritual
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 14: 1868

Concerning God's Purpose
1. God's purpose is the cause of salvation. THE third and last thing in the text, which I shall but briefly glance at, is the ground and origin of our effectual calling, in these words, "according to his purpose" (Eph. i. 11). Anselm renders it, According to his good will. Peter Martyr reads it, According to His decree. This purpose, or decree of God, is the fountainhead of our spiritual blessings. It is the impulsive cause of our vocation, justification, glorification. It is the highest link in
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Letter Lxxxv. To Paulinus.
Paulinus had asked Jerome two questions, (1) how can certain passages of scripture (Exod. vii. 13; Rom. ix. 16) be reconciled with Free Will? and (2) Why are the children of believers said to be holy (1 Cor. vii. 14) apart from baptismal grace? For the first of these questions Jerome refers Paulinus to his version (newly made) of Origen's treatise, On First Principles. For the second he quotes the explanation of Tertullian. Written in 400 a.d. 1. Your words urge me to write to you but your eloquence
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

God's Sovereignty Defined
"Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and Thou art exalted as Head above all" (1 Chron. 29:11). The Sovereignty of God is an expression that once was generally understood. It was a phrase commonly used in religious literature. It was a theme frequently expounded in the pulpit. It was a truth which brought comfort to many hearts, and gave virility and stability
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

Bunyan's Last Sermon --Preached July 1688.
"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God;" John i. 13. The words have a dependence on what goes before, and therefore I must direct you to them for the right understanding of it. You have it thus,--"He came to his own, but his own received him not; but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them which believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God." In
by John Bunyan—Miscellaneous Pieces

Whence Also the Just of Old, Before the Incarnation of the Word...
18. Whence also the just of old, before the Incarnation of the Word, in this faith of Christ, and in this true righteousness, (which thing Christ is unto us,) were justified; believing this to come which we believe come: and they themselves by grace were saved through faith, not of themselves, but by the gift of God, not of works, lest haply they should be lifted up. [2679] For their good works did not come before God's mercy, but followed it. For to them was it said, and by them written, long ere
St. Augustine—On Patience

The Sum and Substance of all Theology
Note: On Tuesday, June 25th, 1861, the beloved C. H. Spurgeon visited Swansea. The day was wet, so the services could not be held in the open-air; and, as no building in the town was large enough to hold the vast concourses of people who had come from all parts to hear the renowned preacher, he consented to deliver two discourses in the morning; first at Bethesda, and then at Trinity Chapel. At each place he preached for an hour and a quarter. The weather cleared up during the day; so, in the evening,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 62: 1916

The Strait Gate. Warned against Herod.
(Peræa.) ^C Luke XIII. 22-35. ^c 22 And he went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and journeying on unto Jerusalem. [This verse probably refers back to verse 10, and indicates that Jesus resumed his journey after the brief rest on the Sabbath day when he healed the woman with the curvature of the spine.] 23 And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? [It is likely that this question was asked by a Jew, and that the two parables illustrating the smallness of the
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Now Follows the Practice of Piety in Dying for the Lord.
The practice of piety in dying for the Lord is termed Martyrdom. Martyrdom is the testimony which a Christian bears to the doctrine of the Gospel by enduring any kind of death; to invite many, and to confirm all, to embrace the truth thereof. To this kind of death Christ hath promised a crown: "Be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give thee the crown of life." Which promise the Church so firmly believed, that they termed martyrdom itself a crown. And God, to animate Christians to this excellent
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Adoption
'As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.' John 1:12. Having spoken of the great points of faith and justification, we come next to adoption. The qualification of the persons is, As many as received him.' Receiving is put for believing, as is clear by the last words, to them that believe in his name.' The specification of the privilege is, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.' The Greek word for power, exousia, signifies
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. Denis
To Suger, Abbot of S. Denis He praises Suger, who had unexpectedly renounced the pride and luxury of the world to give himself to the modest habits of the religious life. He blames severely the clerk who devotes himself rather to the service of princes than that of God. 1. A piece of good news has reached our district; it cannot fail to do great good to whomsoever it shall have come. For who that fear God, hearing what great things He has done for your soul, do not rejoice and wonder at the great
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Baptism
Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them,' &c. Matt 28: 19. I. The way whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemptions, is, in the use of the sacraments. What are the sacraments in general? They are visible signs of invisible grace. Is not the word of God sufficient to salvation? What need then is there of sacraments? We must not be wise above what is written. It is God's will that his church
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
Preached August 19TH, 1688 [ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR] This sermon, although very short, is peculiarly interesting: how it was preserved we are not told; but it bears strong marks of having been published from notes taken by one of the hearers. There is no proof that any memorandum or notes of this sermon was found in the autograph of the preacher. In the list of Bunyan's works published by Chas. Doe, at the end of the 'Heavenly Footman,' March 1690, it stands No. 44. He professes to give the title-page,
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Reprobation Asserted: Or, the Doctrine of Eternal Election and Reprobation Promiscuously Handled, in Eleven Chapters.
WHEREIN THE MOST MATERIAL OBJECTIONS MADE BY THE OPPOSERS OF THIS DOCTRINE, ARE FULLY ANSWERED; SEVERAL DOUBTS REMOVED, AND SUNDRY CASES OF CONSCIENCE RESOLVED. BY JOHN BUNYAN OF BEDFORD, A LOVER OF PEACE AND TRUTH. 'What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.'--Romans 11:7 London: Printed for G. L., and are to be sold in Turn-stile-alley, in Holbourn. Small 4to, 44 pages. EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. This valuable tract
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

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