Romans 9:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 9:4

The right use of privileges. The apostle turned from his rapt meditation on the present and future glory of the Christian dispensation, to think of the race of Israel excluding themselves from participation in its benefits, and he felt his soul charged with heaviness on their behalf. They hated him as overturning venerable customs, and as lowering their dignity by admitting the Gentiles to the blessing of the covenant on such easy terms. But in reply he vehemently asserted his still... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 9:4-5

Who ( οἵτινες , with its usual sense of quippe qui ) are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Here "the adoption" ( ὑιοθεσία ) means the selection of Israel to be God's peculiar people (cf. Exodus 4:22 , "Israel is my son, even my firstborn;" Deuteronomy 14:1... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 9:1

I say the truth - In what I am about to affirm respecting my attachment to the nation and people.In Christ - Most interpreters regard this as a form of an oath, as equivalent to calling Christ to witness. It is certainly to be regarded, in its obvious sense, as an appeal to Christ as the searcher of the heart, and as the judge of falsehood. Thus, the word translated “in” ἐν en is used in the form of an oath in Matthew 5:34-36; Revelation 10:6, Greek. We are to remember that the apostle was... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 9:2

Great heaviness - Great grief.Continual sorrow - The word rendered “continual” here must be taken in a popular sense. Not that he was literally all the time pressed down with this sorrow, but that whenever he thought on this subject, he had great grief; as we say of a painful subject, it is a source of constant pain. The cause of this grief, Paul does not expressly mention, though it is implied in what he immediately says. It was the fact that so large a part of the nation would be rejected,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 9:3

For I could wish ... - This passage has been greatly controverted. Some have proposed to translate it, “I did wish,” as referring to a former state, when he renounced Christ, and sought to advance the interests of the nation by opposing and defying him. But to this interpretation there are insuperable objections.(1) The object of the apostle is not to state his former feelings, but his present attachment to his countrymen, and willingness to suffer for them.(2) The proper grammatical... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 9:4

Who are Israelites - Descended from Israel, or Jacob; honored by having such an ancestor, and by bearing a name so distinguished as that of his descendants. It was formerly the honorable appellation of the people of God.To whom pertaineth - To whom it belongs. It was their elevated external privilege.The adoption - Of the nation into the family of God, or to be regarded as His special people; Deuteronomy 7:6.And the glory - The symbol of the divine presence that attended them from Egypt, and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Romans 9:1-2

Romans 9:1-2. The apostle having insinuated, Romans 3:3, that God would cast off the Jews for their unbelief, a Jew is there supposed to object, that their rejection would destroy the faithfulness of God. To this the apostle answered, that the faithfulness of God would be established rather than destroyed, by the rejection of the Jews for their unbelief; because God had expressly declared, Genesis 18:19, that Abraham’s children were to keep the way of the Lord, in order to their obtaining... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Romans 9:3

Romans 9:3. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ ( The word αναθεμα , here rendered accursed, answers to the Hebrew word חרם , cherem, which signifies what is devoted to destruction. And, as the Jewish nation was now an anathema, destined to destruction, Mr. Locke supposes that Paul, to express his affection for them, here says that he could wish, provided he could thereby save them from it, to become an anathema, or to be devoted to destruction himself, in their... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Romans 9:4

Romans 9:4. Who are Israelites The seed of Jacob, that eminent patriarch, who, as a prince, had power with God and prevailed. The apostle, with great address, enumerates these privileges of the Jews, both that he might show how honourably he thought of them, and that he might awaken their solicitude, not to sacrifice that divine favour, by which they had been so eminently and so long distinguished. To whom pertaineth the adoption That is whom God hath taken into a special covenant with... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Romans 9:1-5

9:1-11:36 A PROBLEM CONCERNING ISRAELThe problem stated (9:1-5)As Paul thinks about the greatness of the salvation God has provided, he is filled with sorrow, because his own people, the Jews, have rejected it. He would do anything to see them repent and believe (9:1-3). God chose Israel to be his own special people and prepared them in many ways to receive the gospel. He gave them, among other things, the privileges of sonship, the security of the covenant, a form of worship, a law-code to... read more

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