Verse By Verse Through Romans

Chapter Nine



Romans 9:1-2 “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.”

  • As we saw in chapter one, Paul is speaking about his integrity (Romans 1:9). He does this in other epistles too (II Corinthians 1:23, II Corinthians 11:31, Galatians 1:20, Philippians 1:8, etc.).
  • Remember that Paul had been slandered (Romans 3:8).
  • Paul wanted the saints in Rome to understand, though he was writing against the Jewish traditions, that he had a deep sorrow for the Jews that were lost (Romans 9:3-4; cf. Romans 10:1-3).
  • In general, true believers and especially teachers of the truth will suffer emotionally when people are not obeying God (Psalms 119:53, Psalms 119:136, Psalms 119:158, Jeremiah 13:17, Lamentations 3:48-49, Luke 19:41-42, and Philippians 3:18-19).

Romans 9:3 “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:”

  • Paul would trade himself for his “brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” That means, the Israelites; Jews (Romans 9:4; Philippians 3:4-5).
  • This is what Moses basically said (Exodus 32:30-35).
  • Accursed, as in the same fate as one who preached another Gospel (Galatians 1:8-9).
  • Think about the self-sacrifice mentality that comes with someone taking on the work of being a teacher (James 3:1).

Romans 9:4 “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;”

  • Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption [sonship] (Exodus 4:22, Deuteronomy 14:1, and Hosea 11:1).
  • The glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises (Exodus 19:1-13, Deuteronomy 7:1-16, and Romans 3:1-2).

Romans 9:5 “Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.”

  • The fathers [patriarchs] belong to Israel (Exodus 3:15-16 and Deuteronomy 10:12-15).
  • Of whom Christ came in the flesh (Genesis 12:1-3 [cf. Galatians 3:16], Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38, and Hebrews 7:11-14).
  • Jesus is OVER all (John 5:22-29, Acts 10:36, Romans 10:12, Romans 14:9-12, Ephesians 1:20-23, and I Peter 3:18-22).
  • Christ who is over all, God (Isaiah 9:1-7, Matthew 1:23, John 8:56-58, John 10:30-33, John 20:28-3, Acts 20:28, Colossians 2:8-9, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 1:8-12, I John 3:16, and I John 5:20).
  • Blessed [adorable; praised], as is appropriate, for the Lord (Luke 1:68). An evidence of His being deity as such [blessed] belongs to the Father (Ephesians 1:3).

Romans 9:6 “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:”

  • In one sense, the word of God is never ineffective (Isaiah 55:6-11).
  • However, there are times wherein the word of God was of none effect (Mark 7:1-13 and Hebrews 4:1-2).
  • That being said, those who do not believe do not make the word of God of none effect (Romans 3:3-4).
  • Whether or not the word of God works on an individual is up to that individual (Zechariah 7:8-14, Luke 7:30, John 12:48, Acts 2:41, and I Thessalonians 2:13).
  • The truth, the word of God (John 17:17), THE FAITH (Acts 6:7, Acts 14:22, and Philippians 1:27), is not going anywhere even if man chooses to reject such (Psalms 119:89, Psalms 119:152, Psalms 119:160, Matthew 24:35, and I Peter 1:23-25).
  • Israel has a long history of unbelief (Deuteronomy 9:23, II Chronicles 24:17-22, Psalms 78:18-22, Psalms 106:21-24, and Matthew 13:53-58).
  • Having said that, God’s word has been productive in bringing some Israelites to Christ (Acts 6:7, Acts 11:19-21, Acts 17:10-12, etc.) and fulling one of the purposes of Him coming into this world in the flesh (Matthew 1:21 and Luke 19:1-10).
  • For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel…. This is explained in the next two verses.

Romans 9:7-8 “Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”

  • The end all was not Abraham as some Jews would think (John 8:31-32; cf. Matthew 3:9).
  • In Isaac (Genesis 21:12 and Hebrews 11:18).
  • It doesn’t stop there either (Matthew 1:1-18, Acts 7:32, Acts 13:22-23, etc.).
  • The point, the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16) is not made up only of those whom are fleshly descendants of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. (Mark 3:31-35, Romans 2:28-29, Romans 4:12, Galatians 3:7, Galatians 3:26-29, Galatians 4:22-31, and Colossians 2:10-17).

Romans 9:9 “For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.”

  • cf. Genesis 17:21; 21:1-3 and Hebrews 11:11-12

Romans 9:10-13 “And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”

  • Not only to Sarah (Romans 9:9), but Rebecca also and in such a way that was prophetic before birth (Genesis 25:21-23).
  • By election [divine selection] (Acts 9:15 and Romans 11:1-8).
  • He called what would happen before it happened so that it was prophetic, not based upon one out performing the other. Think about how that serves as a pattern even for God sending Jesus into this world (Titus 3:3-5).
  • Caution… Some see the word “election” and start to think that man has no part to play. That is clearly not true (II Peter 1:8-10).
  • “Jacob I loved…” (Malachi 1:2-3).

Romans 9:14 “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.”

  • “What shall we say then?” Later, the answer is don’t say anything (Romans 9:20).
  • Paul used this line of reasoning earlier in this letter (Romans 3:3-6).
  • There certainly is not unrighteousness with God (Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalms 103:6, Psalms 145:17, Romans 1:16-17, Romans 2:5, Romans 3:24-26, and II Peter 1:1).
  • The Spirit had Paul use the phrase “God forbid” multiple times in this letter (Romans 3:4, Romans 3:6, Romans 6:2, Romans 6:15, Romans 7:7, Romans 7:13, and Romans 11:1).

Romans 9:15 “For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”

  • “For he saith to Moses…” (Exodus 34:6-7).
  • The boundaries of God’s mercy are set by Him (Romans 9:17-18). *More on this when we get to those verses.
  • The problem arises when men try to set their own boundaries of what they conclude God will be merciful upon (Proverbs 16:2; 21:2).

Romans 9:16 “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”

  • If only man would realize what Jesus stated when He was headed to the cross: “…not my will, but thine, be done…” (Luke 22:39-42).
  • It is not in the power of men that we can obtain the mercy of God (Ephesians 1:3-9 and Titus 3:3-5).

Romans 9:17-18 “For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.”

  • “For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh…” (Exodus 9:16).
  • God purposed things at times in men or women to bring about His cause (Isaiah 10:5-12, Isaiah 45:1-5, Jeremiah 27:6-7, Daniel 5:17-21, Acts 16:1-10, and Acts 23:1-11).
  • The purpose in what He did to Pharaoh was to show His power and it be declared everywhere (Exodus 10:1-2, Exodus 14:17-18, and Joshua 2:1-10).
  • The word of God, purposed by the Lord, hardens some people (Acts 28:26-28 and II Thessalonians 2:10-12).
  • That does not mean that God chooses who has a hardened heart - we have the choice to open our hearts or have them hardened (Deuteronomy 5:29, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Joshua 24:14-16, Matthew 10:22, Luke 8:4-15, John 8:31, Acts 2:40-41, and Hebrews 3:6-14).
  • Again, it is up to God when He chooses to show mercy or not! This DOES NOT mean we cannot know who God will or will not show mercy to. Consider for example: Matthew 7:2, Luke 13:1-5, James 2:1-13, etc.

Romans 9:19 “Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?”

  • The fact that God knows something is going to happen does not make Him unjust in holding those accountable who do it (Acts 2:23-38).
  • God foreknows everything (Isaiah 42:9, Isaiah 46:9-10, Jeremiah 1:5, and Acts 15:17-18).
  • God finds fault when men choose not to do what is right (Ezekiel 18:30, Matthew 12:37, John 5:28-29, and Revelation 2:23).

Romans 9:20-21 “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?”

  • The answer to the questions (Romans 9:19) is not “nay.” “Nay” is to answer the fact that they had no place to question God at all.
  • “O man” (Micha 6:8, Romans 2:1, Romans 2:3, and I Corinthians 7:16).
  • Who is man to reply against God (Job 33:13, Job 38:1-3, Job 40:1-9, Job 40:14-41:9, Isaiah 10:5-19, Isaiah 45:1-13, Jeremiah 32:17, Luke 1:37, Acts 5:39, I Corinthians 1:19-20, I Corinthians 1:25-29, etc.)?
  • The potter and clay (Isaiah 64:8), that is the creation challenging the Creator (Jeremiah 18:1-17).
  • He created man for His purposes (Proverbs 16:4 and Revelation 4:11).

Romans 9:22-24 “What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering 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, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?”

  • “What if…” This calls for reasoning from the reader. The Potter had a plan!
  • What if He wanted to show His wrath and power (Exodus 9:16; cf. Romans 9:15-18)?
  • What if He endured with much longsuffering towards those fit for destruction (Lamentations 3:22 and Malachi 3:6)? What if He would have destroyed Israel entirely (Acts 13:22-23)?
  • God is long-suffering (Numbers 14:18, Psalms 86:15, I Timothy 1:12-16, I Peter 3:20-21, and II Peter 3:9).
  • The Jews He had called (Romans 1:15-16) by the Gospel (II Thessalonians 2:14).
  • Not just the Jews (Luke 24:47, Acts 13:47-48, Romans 3:29-30, Romans 10:12, Galatians 3:26-29, Ephesians 2:11-17, and Colossians 3:10-11).

Romans 9:25 “As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.”

  • Hosea 2:23 (context Hosea 2:14-23).
  • Those who were not His people (Psalms 147:19-20), but will be called His people (Ephesians 2:11-17).

Romans 9:26 “And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.”

  • Hosea 1:9-10
  • Those even of Israel that were lost, Christ gives the opportunity for redemption (Matthew 1:21, Acts 5:31, and Hebrews 8:1-13).

Romans 9:27-28 “Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.”

  • Isaiah 10:20-23, Isaiah 11:16, Isaiah 37:31-32, and Isaiah 46:3-5; cf. Romans 11:1-6
  • The Lord’s short work in this regard. Consider how quickly the Gospel spread to the whole earth (Luke 24:47, Colossians 1:5, and Colossians 1:23).

Romans 9:29 “And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.”

  • Isaiah 1:9; cf. Lamentation 3:22
  • As Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:16-19:29, II Peter 2:6, and Jude 1:7).

Romans 9:30 “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.”

  • Contextually, the answer to “what shall we say then” is - nothing (Romans 9:20-21).
  • The Gentiles did not follow the Law, but they are able to attain righteousness through faith? YES! Just because Israel had “been there longer” [so to speak] that does not mean anything with God (Matthew 20:1-16).
  • It was/is of grace, not works [contextually of the Law of Moses] that salvation is possible. Righteousness was not of the Law of Moses, but is of the system of faith in Christ (Romans 3:25 and Philippians 3:9; cf. Acts 13:38-39).
  • Remember the earlier points of Romans 3:9-23. All needed God to provide the path for salvation. The system of faith and grace is not the Law of Moses (Ephesians 2:1-17).

Romans 9:31-33 “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

  • This is explained simply in Romans 10:1-8.
  • Those Jews that thought their works of the Law of Moses made them righteous were missing the whole point (Galatians 2:16).
  • They stumbled at the rock of offense [Jesus] (I Corinthians 1:23).
  • As it is written… (Psalms 118:22 and Isaiah 28:16; cf. Matthew 21:42-44 and I Peter 2:4-8).


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