Explore the Bible Online

Romans 9:11-22

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

11. (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;) 12. It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14. What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 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. 16. So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17. 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. 18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth. 19. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20. 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? 21. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22. [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:

Romans 9:11-22 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Romans 9:11

Theological / Devotional

Not yet born. The fact that the younger would have pre-eminence over the older was foretold to Rebecca before their birth (see on verse 12).

Election. Greek ekloge, “the process of choice,” “selection” (see Acts 9:15; Rom. 11:5, 7, 28; 1 Thess. 1:4; 2 Peter 1:10). It is from the verb eklegomai, “to pick out,” “to choose” (see on Rom. 8:33). For a discussion of election as related to salvation see on chapter 8:29; see PP 207, 208; TM 453, 454.

Might stand. Or, “might remain,” “might continue.” This is the opposite of “hath taken none effect” (verse 6).

Not of works. That is, not because of any merit gained by works.

Him that calleth. God reserves the right to assign to men and nations various responsibilities (see on verse 7). Men may “covet earnestly the best gifts” (1 Cor. 12:31), but it is God who through the Spirit distributes the gifts “as he [the Spirit] will” (vs. 7-11). Simply because Jacob was chosen as the progenitor of the nation that was to be God’s evangelizing agency, by no means meant that his brother was elected to be lost. Such a deduction is wholly unwarranted. This passage has been used to support the doctrine that God predestines some to salvation and some to eternal damnation, regardless of character. But such a doctrine is contrary to the whole tenor of Scripture (see on Rom. 8:29), and therefore it cannot be Paul’s meaning in this verse. Paul is trying to emphasize to the Jews, by referring to the well-known history of Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, the vital fact that mere works and mere physical membership in the chosen race do not bind or obligate God to bless with favor and privilege. It was necessary for Paul to emphasize this point strongly because the Jews were misunderstanding and abusing their covenant relation.

By SdaBc