The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 9:11-13
For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election ( i.e. the principle of his electing to privileges of his own good will and purpose, and not on the ground of any fancied human claims) might stand ( μένῃ , i.e. should remain in force, ever applicable), not of works, but of him that calleth; it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger ( Genesis 25:23 ). As it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 9:6-18
The children of the promise. We have seen St. Paul as a Christian patriot ready to sacrifice his everlasting fellowship with Christ if it could ensure the salvation of his fellow-countrymen. But, alas! the fact of the rejection of Jesus and his gospel by many of the Jews must be accepted. And when the apostle turns to history, he finds that there has been no wholesale salvation of either the descendants of Abraham or of Israel, but a certain proportion only became children of promise. How... read more