Division 9:1–11:36

God has not rejected the Jews

In chapters 9–11 Paul spoke about the fact that most Jews had not accepted Jesus as their promised Messiah at that time. He explained how throughout their history God had always preserved a small portion of them as believers. He also talked about the possibility that their salvation was still close at hand in the gospel.

The fact that many did not believe did not mean that God completely rejected them. Also, it was important that the non-Jewish believers not look down on those Jews, or think too highly of themselves.

Paul described the unbelieving Jews as branches broken off a tree so that different branches, the non-Jewish believers, could be grafted in. But this grafting-in was all based on faith, not on any special qualities of those believers. God hardened the Jews’ hearts in part so that non-Jews would be able to come into the family. That will be true until the full number of non-Jews come in. And in that way all Israel will be saved.

Here are other possible headings for this division:

The plan of God for Jews and Gentiles (Stott)
-or-
God’s Justice and Israel’s Future (Witherington)
-or-
Israel and the Purposes of God (Kruse)

Section 9:1–5

Paul was very sad about the Jews

In this section, Paul said that he was very sad about his fellow Jews. He was not specific about the cause of his sadness in these verses, only that God had given them many advantages as Israelites. Paul implied that they did not follow through on those advantages, and that made him sad.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

The unbelief of Israel and God’s choices
-or-
God chooses only according to his plan regarding the Jews

Paragraph 9:1–5

9:1a–2a

In 9:1 Paul strongly indicated in three different ways that he spoke truthfully in 9:2–3. By using three ways, Paul wanted the believers in Rome to be very clear that he spoke the truth in those verses.

I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit. I have deep sorrow: The truth that Paul spoke of here is introduced with the new sentence in 9:2. In the Greek the word truth is first in the clause. This emphasizes it and makes it the topic. Then he said what particular truth he was thinking of in 9:2–3. The Berean Standard Bible uses a comma in 9:1 and a period with a new sentence in 9:2 to indicate the connection of the truth to 9:2–3. Here are other ways to translate this connection:

1 This truth, I speak in Christ, and I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit, ⌊is⌋ 2 that I have great sorrow
-or-

⌊Here is⌋ a truth I speak in Christ and I am not lying ⌊about⌋, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit. ⌊It is⌋ 2 that I have great sorrow
-or-
I am not lying, the Holy Spirit has spoken to me in support of my thought and mind ways [conscience], and I through Christ speak this truth here. 2 I have in my insides great unhappiness

9:1a

I speak the truth: The Greek present tense indicates that Paul wanted to reassure the believers in Rome that what he was about to say is true. The Greek present tense does not indicate that Paul would continue to speak for some time. Here is another way to translate this clause:

I am speaking the truth (English Standard Version)

in Christ: Here the word in refers to the relationship between Paul and Christ. Jesus is Paul’s lord and made him his apostle. So Paul spoke here based on that relationship and being his apostle.

This phrase connects to the verb “speak” or to “I speak the truth” as a whole. See the examples above.

9:1b

I am not lying: This clause also refers to the truth that Paul was about to speak in 9:2–3. It also reinforced to the believers in Rome that what he was about to say is true. For example:

I am not ⌊about to⌋ lie
-or-
I do not lie ⌊when I say it⌋

9:1c

as confirmed by my conscience: This phrase indicates that Paul’s conscience also told him that he was not lying. The word confirmed is used where one is expected to tell the truth accurately. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

my conscience testifies for me (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
tells me I am not lying (New Century Version)

conscience: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as conscience refers to the record of past deeds that a person has in his mind. Thinking of past wrong deeds can cause him to feel ashamed or guilty. See how you translated this word in 2:15.

in the Holy Spirit: Here the word in indicates that the Holy Spirit helped Paul’s conscience to bear truthful witness. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

through the Holy Spirit (New International Version (2011))
-or-
enlightened by the Holy Spirit (Revised English Bible)

the Holy Spirit: This phrase refers to God’s Spirit. The word Spirit is used in a similar way to when a person refers to his own spirit. The word Holy here means “clean” or “sacred.” But it also refers to “coming from God.” See how you translated this phrase in 5:5.

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