Context and Structure
Romans 9-11 addresses the question of Israel’s place in God’s redemptive plan, particularly in light of many Jews’ rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. Paul’s argument can be outlined as follows:
- Romans 9:1-5: Paul’s sorrow over Israel’s unbelief.
- Romans 9:6-13: God’s sovereign choice illustrated through some decendants of Abraham: Isaac, Jacob, and Esau.
- Romans 9:14-18: God’s mercy and hardening explained.
- Romans 9:19-29: The potter and clay analogy and the inclusion of Gentiles.
- Romans 9:30-33: The pursuit of righteousness by faith.
Please note who Paul identifies as the children of promise in Romans 9:6-13"
“But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.
The term "children of promise" (τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἐπαγγελίας) indicates a group defined by a divine promise rather than physical descent.
Paul distinguishes between mere physical descendants of Abraham and those who are considered true children of Abraham through the promise. This distinction underscores that God’s election is not based on ethnic lineage but on His sovereign promise to individuals among Jews ... and later among the Gentiles (Romans 9:24). The choice of Isaac over Ishmael and Jacob over Esau before their births and independent of their actions illustrates that God’s election is based on His purpose and calling, not on human merit or effort.
Application to Gentiles
Romans 9:24-26
“Even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed he says in Hosea, 'Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’ And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”
Two important points to derive from this pasage:
1. Inclusion of Gentiles: Paul extends the concept of God’s sovereign choice to include Gentiles. Just as not all physical descendants of Israel are true Israel, not all Gentiles are automatically included. Instead, God calls individuals from both groups according to His mercy.
2. Children of Promise among Gentiles: The same principle applies—God’s election is based on His promise and calling, not on ethnic or national identity.
We can only conclude that while God’s election includes a corporate aspect (Israel and the Church), Paul’s argument in Romans 9 emphasizes individual election within these groups. The examples of Isaac, Jacob, and Esau illustrate that God’s sovereign choice operates at the individual level.
The overarching theme in Romans 9 is God’s sovereign mercy. Paul argues that it is God’s prerogative to extend mercy and harden hearts as He wills (Romans 9:15-18). This mercy is not dependent on human will or effort but on God’s calling.
Both Jews and Gentiles who are "children of promise" are included in God’s elect. This shows that election is not based on physical descent or ethnic identity but on God’s sovereign grace in Christ.
God’s mercy calls individuals from all nations to be part of His people. Therefore, while there is a corporate dimension to God’s election, Paul’s primary emphasis in Romans 9 is on individual election within that corporate framework. This interpretation aligns with the broader context of Romans 9-11 and underscores the sovereign grace of God in salvation.
Paul’s Use of Malachi in Romans 9:
In Romans 9, Paul cites Malachi to emphasize God’s sovereign choice in history. However, Paul uses this Old Testament reference to illustrate a broader theological point about divine election that includes both corporate and individual elements.
Paul’s argument in Romans 9:6-13 is focused on the individual election of Isaac over Ishmael and Jacob over Esau. This context is not limited to nations but specifically highlights God’s choice of individuals within the covenantal framework. This passage explicitly discusses God’s choice of Jacob over Esau before they were born and had done anything good or bad. This highlights individual election among the physical descentants of Abraham, as it pertains to God’s purpose and calling, independent of their actions.
Paul’s analogy of the potter and the clay in Romans 9:20-21 strengthens this argument. He states that God, as the potter, has the right to make out of the same lump of clay some vessels for honorable use and others for dishonorable use. This metaphor clearly implies individual differentiation within the same group, emphasizing that God’s sovereign election pertains to individual destinies. Therefore, given the authoritative and explicit scriptural evidence, the concept of individual election is unequivocally affirmed, making the contrary notion—that election is solely corporate—impossible within the framework of Romans 9.