Section 9:14–29
God always does what is right
In this section, Paul began by asking if God acts unjustly when he chooses some people and not others. Paul answered his own question with a strong “No!” All God’s choices depend on his mercy and not on anything about the people he chooses. God made Pharaoh the way he was when he wanted the Jews to leave Egypt.
Paul spoke to a possible complaint about no one ultimately being able to resist God’s will. He said that complaining to God about that is futile.
God shows his anger and power against people he has hardened. He does this to show how great his mercy is to other people. Both Jews and Gentiles are eligible to receive his mercy.
Here are other possible headings for this section:
God’s choices/will are/is sovereign/supreme
-or-
God chooses whom he wants for both Jews and Gentiles
Paragraph 9:14–18
9:14a
What then shall we say?: The word then indicates a connection to previous verses. Here it introduces the question “What shall we say?” In some languages it is more natural to have the word then first. For example:
Then/Therefore, what shall we say?
What…shall we say?: This is a rhetorical question. It draws attention to what Paul said next. Paul did not expect the readers to answer this question. And he did not expect the readers to agree with what he said next. Here are other ways to translate this question:
Shall we say this?
-or-
What…are we to say? (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
what should we say about this? (New Century Version)
In some languages the correct meaning is indicated by using a statement instead of a question. For example:
Maybe we might say this:
See how you translated this question in 6:1 or 7:7.
9:14b
Is God unjust?: Since God chose Jacob over Esau before they were even born, Paul felt it was possible that someone could accuse God of not being just. That is the issue he raised with this question, but he went on to answer it with the strong words: “Certainly not!”
The Greek is literally “Not unrighteousness with God?” It asks if God might have been unfair to Esau (or any other example like him). The Greek expects a “No, he is not unfair” for an answer. If possible, translate in a way that expects a no answer. (Not all the questions below expect a no answer in English, but they might in your language.) Here are other ways to translate this question:
Is there injustice on God’s part? (English Standard Version)
-or-
Is it possible that God might have been unfair?
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Is it good to think that God was not right?
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God is not unjust, is he?
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It is wrong to think that God was not right!
Certainly not!: The Greek is literally “May it not be.” It indicates a very strong “no.” People are not to think that God was wrong about rejecting Esau. See how you translated this phrase in 3:4 or 7:13.
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