Romans Chapter 9
IN THIS LESSON
Many struggle with verse 13: “I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau.” Why is this difficult to accept? Did you know that this is a quotation from Malachi 1:3? In what context does the prophet say this? Furthermore, Paul declares, “Nor is it the case that all the children count as ‘seed of Abraham.’ No: ‘In Isaac shall your seed be named’” (v. 7). But didn’t Abraham have another son? Isn’t bloodline or flesh the reason for blessing? If so, why was Jacob chosen, and on what basis are we called children of God?
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N. T. Wright, Romans for Everyone: Part 2, Chapters 9-16 (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2023), 4-7.