Romans 8:18-11:10

New International Version

Present Suffering and Future Glory

¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.^{(A) 19} For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God^(B) to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it,^(C) in hope ²¹ that^[a] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay^(D) and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.^(E)

²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning^(F) as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,^(G) groan^(H) inwardly as we wait eagerly^(I) for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.^{(J) 24} For in this hope we were saved.^(K) But hope that is seen is no hope at all.^(L) Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.^(M)

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit^(N) himself intercedes for us^(O) through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts^(P) knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes^(Q) for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good^(R) of those who love him, who^[b] have been called^(S) according to his purpose.^{(T) 29} For those God foreknew^(U) he also predestined^(V) to be conformed to the image of his Son,^(W) that he might be the firstborn^(X) among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined,^(Y) he also called;^(Z) those he called, he also justified;^(AA) those he justified, he also glorified.^(AB)

More Than Conquerors

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things?^(AC) If God is for us,^(AD) who can be against us?^{(AE) 32} He who did not spare his own Son,^(AF) but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge^(AG) against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns?^(AH) No one. Christ Jesus who died^(AI)—more than that, who was raised to life^(AJ)—is at the right hand of God^(AK) and is also interceding for us.^{(AL) 35} Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?^(AM) Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?^{(AN) 36} As it is written:

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors^(AP) through him who loved us.^{(AQ) 38} For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[d] neither the present nor the future,^(AR) nor any powers,^{(AS) 39} neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God^(AT) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.^(AU)

Paul’s Anguish Over Israel

9 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying,^(AV) my conscience confirms^(AW) it through the Holy Spirit— ² I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself^(AX) were cursed^(AY) and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people,^(AZ) those of my own race,^{(BA) 4} the people of Israel.^(BB) Theirs is the adoption to sonship;^(BC) theirs the divine glory,^(BD) the covenants,^(BE) the receiving of the law,^(BF) the temple worship^(BG) and the promises.^{(BH) 5} Theirs are the patriarchs,^(BI) and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah,^(BJ) who is God over all,^(BK) forever praised!^[e](BL) Amen.

God’s Sovereign Choice

⁶ It is not as though God’s word^(BM) had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.^{(BN) 7} Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”^{[f](BO) 8} In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children,^(BP) but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.^{(BQ) 9} For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”^[g](BR)

¹⁰ Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac.^{(BS) 11} Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad^(BT)—in order that God’s purpose^(BU) in election might stand: ¹² not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”^{[h](BV) 13} Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”^[i](BW)

¹⁴ What then shall we say?^(BX) Is God unjust? Not at all!^{(BY) 15} For he says to Moses,

¹⁶ It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.^{(CA) 17} For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”^{[k](CB) 18} Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.^(CC)

¹⁹ One of you will say to me:^(CD) “Then why does God still blame us?^(CE) For who is able to resist his will?”^{(CF) 20} But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?^(CG) “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,^(CH) ‘Why did you make me like this?’”^{[l](CI) 21} Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?^(CJ)

²² What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience^(CK) the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?^{(CL) 23} What if he did this to make the riches of his glory^(CM) known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory^(CN)— ²⁴ even us, whom he also called,^(CO) not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?^{(CP) 25} As he says in Hosea:

²⁶ and,

²⁷ Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:

²⁹ It is just as Isaiah said previously:

Israel’s Unbelief

³⁰ What then shall we say?^(CX) That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;^{(CY) 31} but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness,^(CZ) have not attained their goal.^{(DA) 32} Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.^{(DB) 33} As it is written:

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire^(DD) and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. ² For I can testify about them that they are zealous^(DE) for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. ³ Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.^{(DF) 4} Christ is the culmination of the law^(DG) so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.^(DH)

⁵ Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.”^{[r](DI) 6} But the righteousness that is by faith^(DJ) says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”^[s](DK) (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’”^[t](DL) (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).^{(DM) 8} But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”^[u](DN) that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: ⁹ If you declare^(DO) with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”^(DP) and believe^(DQ) in your heart that God raised him from the dead,^(DR) you will be saved.^{(DS) 10} For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”^{[v](DT) 12} For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile^(DU)—the same Lord is Lord of all^(DV) and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord^(DW) will be saved.”^[w](DX)

¹⁴ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵ And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”^[x](DY)

¹⁶ But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.^(DZ) For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”^{[y](EA) 17} Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,^(EB) and the message is heard through the word about Christ.^{(EC) 18} But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

¹⁹ Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,

²⁰ And Isaiah boldly says,

²¹ But concerning Israel he says,

The Remnant of Israel

11 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!^(EI) I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham,^(EJ) from the tribe of Benjamin.^{(EK) 2} God did not reject his people,^(EL) whom he foreknew.^(EM) Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: ³ “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”^[ad]?^{(EN) 4} And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”^{[ae](EO) 5} So too, at the present time there is a remnant^(EP) chosen by grace.^{(EQ) 6} And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;^(ER) if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

⁷ What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain.^(ES) The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,^{(ET) 8} as it is written:

⁹ And David says: