Observe carefully. Confirm prophetically.

Doesn't it say somewhere that whatever was written in the word was written for our instruction? ( Romans 15:4 ) So let me point out the obvious—this includes historical narrative! Paul exemplifies this conviction throughout the book of Romans where he incessantly quotes from anywhere and everywhere in the Old Testament in order to ground his theological teachings. Here in Romans 9:6-13, Paul appropriately chooses to go right back to the story of how the nation of Israel was first established in order to shine a light upon what it means to truly belong to Israel. In doing so, he not only teaches us on this subject in particular, but also lays out a model for how to form our theological understanding from every text. There are two key principles. (1) Observe carefully. (2) Confirm prophetically. For the first principle, it is only going to happen if you have a Psalm 12:6 view of the Bible—if you really believe God's words are pure and that every iota and dot must be accomplished (Matthew 5:18). Think on these things before you read, and then consider every letter and word with great care. And, hold on to the second principle as well—to confirm your conclusions with other texts. If Paul feels the need to do so (note his quote from Malachi in verse 13), certainly we must as well! All the Bible is yours, Christian. May we know God through all of it today.

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Main point summary

God's word has not failed, for God's children are those chosen by him through his promise, not made his via good works or birthright.

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Romans 9:6-13

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But it is not as though the word of God has failed.

Οὐχ οἷον δὲ ὅτι ἐκπέπτωκεν ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ.

[Even though Israel has truly been chosen and granted unspeakable advantage AND at the same time presently is corporately accursed and cut-off from Messiah] still God's promises and plan have not been thwarted or stifled in any way.

For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,

οὐ γὰρ πάντες οἱ ἐξ Ἰσραὴλ οὗτοι Ἰσραήλ•

Because we must consider this critical truth: not all of ethnic Israel are true Israel

and ... o because they are his offspring ...of Abraham,

οὐδʼ ὅτι εἰσὶν σπέρμα Ἀβραὰμ

that is the fact that their blood heritage goes all the way back to Abraham

... not all are children ...

πάντες τέκνα,

does not therefore make them all true / spiritual / eternal children of Abraham.

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but p “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

ἀλλʼ• ἐν Ἰσαὰκ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα.

Rather the offspring of Abraham, God's chosen, were counted through Isaac and not Ishmael.

This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God,

τοῦτʼ ἔστιν, οὐ τὰ τέκνα τῆς σαρκὸς ταῦτα τέκνα τοῦ θεοῦ

Therefore we can understand from this that being in the right family does not automatically put you into God's family

but q the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

ἀλλὰ τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἐπαγγελίας λογίζεται εἰς σπέρμα.

But rather God's children are those connected to him through God's promises

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For this is what the promise said:

ἐπαγγελίας γὰρ ὁ λόγος οὗτος•

Because , to bring it back to Isaac, you will recall this key promise :

r “About this time next year I will return,

κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον ἐλεύσομαι

“In roughly one year's time I, the Lord, will meet you once again

and Sarah shall have a son.”

καὶ ἔσται τῇ Σάρρᾳ υἱός.

and as a result of that encounter, Sarah will birth a son.”

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And not only so, but s also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,

Οὐ μόνον δέ, ἀλλὰ καὶ Ῥεβέκκα ἐξ ἑνὸς κοίτην ἔχουσα, Ἰσαὰκ τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν•

And Genesis provides another vivid example of this same point: At the time when Rebekah conceived twins (that is, with one father—Isaac, who we just spoke of)

though they were not yet born

μήπω γὰρ γεννηθέντων

even though the twins were not even yet born

and had done nothing either good or bad—

μηδὲ πραξάντων τι ἀγαθὸν ἢ φαῦλον,

and therefore had no moral works to their credit or debt

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in order that God’s purpose of election might continue,

ἵνα ἡ κατʼ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις τοῦ θεοῦ μένῃ,

this timing being purposed to preserve the reality of God's predestination in choosing

not because of works

οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων

that is so that their being chosen (or not) would in no way rest upon their works

but because of t him who calls—

ἀλλʼ ἐκ τοῦ καλοῦντος,

but instead would rest solely on the One doing the choosing

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she was told,

ἐρρέθη αὐτῇ

[at that time] Rebekah was told by God :

u “The older will serve the younger.”

ὅτι ὁ μείζων δουλεύσει τῷ ἐλάσσονι,

“Contrary to custom and nature, the honored older of the twins will be subservient to the younger.”

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As it is written,

καθὼς γέγραπται•

This timing and pronouncement according with Malachi 1:2-3 :

v “Jacob I loved,

τὸν Ἰακὼβ ἠγάπησα,

“I have chosen to plan and purchase grace for Jacob and in this way place my forgiving, eternal love upon Jacob's line,

but Esau I hated.”

τὸν δὲ Ἠσαῦ ἐμίσησα.

but on the other hand I have not chosen Esau's line for grace and thus my righteous hate rests upon him/them.”

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