Chapter 8 – Chapter 9

Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

1 There is now then no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and of death:

3 For it being impossible for the law, because it was weak through the flesh, God, having sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, even by a sin-offering condemned sin in the flesh;

4 That the justification of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For they who are after the flesh, think of the things of the flesh; but they who are after the Spirit, of the things of the Spirit.

6 Doubtless the thinking of the flesh is death; but the thinking of the Spirit is life and peace:

7 Because the thinking of the flesh is enmity against God; for to the law of God it is not subject, nor can it be;

8 They therefore who are in the flesh, cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you; but if any one has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

10 But if Christ is in you, the body indeed is dead with respect to sin, but the spirit is life with regard to righteousness.

11 If then the Spirit of him, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will quicken your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

12 So then, brethren, debtors we are, not to the flesh, that we may live after the flesh;

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if by the Spirit ye mortify the deeds of the flesh, ye shall live:

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

15 Ye have not indeed received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, through whom we cry, Abba, Father:

16 The very Spirit itself testifies together with our spirit, that we are the sons of God:

17 And if sons, then heirs; the heirs of God, and co-heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together.

18 I indeed judge, that the afflictions of this time are not to be compared to the future glory which shall be revealed to us.

19 For the intent expectation of the creation waits for the revelation of the sons of God;

20 For to vanity has the creation been subjected, not willingly, but on account of him who has subjected it in hope;

21 Because the creation itself shall also be reclaimed from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God;

22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors in pain to this day:

23 And not only so, but we ourselves also, who have the beginnings of the Spirit, even we ourselves do groan in ourselves, waiting for our adoption, the redemption of our body;

24 For by hope are we saved but hope that is seen is not hope; for what one sees, how can he hope for it?

25 If then for what we see not we hope, we wait for it in patience.

Note 487. To exhibit the meaning of this passage according to what is advanced in a note in pp. 306, 307, it shall be presented here in lines, — 19. Truly the intent expectation of the creature
Waits for the revelation of the sons of God; 20. For to vanity has the creature been subjected, not willingly,
But on his account who has subjected it in hope; 21. For even the creature itself shall be freed from the bondage of corruption,
Into the glorious liberty of the sons of God; 22. For we know that every creature groans together,
And together travails in pain to this day:­ 23. And not only they, but we also ourselves,
Who possess the first-fruit of the Spirit,
Even we ourselves groan within ourselves,
Anxiously waiting for our adoption,
The redemption of our body; 24. For in hope are we saved,
But hope seen is not hope;
For what one sees, why does he yet hope for it? 25. But if what we see not, we hope for,
We wait for it in patience. We may indeed consider “every creature” in verse 22 as referring to every renewed creature then living, (except the Apostles and those endowed with the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit,) and all such from the beginning of the world. In this case, “to this day” has a striking import. All God’s servants from the beginning had been groaning under the body of sin, and not only they, but even those who had enjoyed the first outpouring of the Spirit, and had been endued with extraordinary gifts. The gifts of the Spirit, however abundant, did not free any from the bondage of corruption, from the body of sin; but this was an object of hope, for which they were to wait. The context, before and after, clearly shows that the present condition of God’s people is the subject. — Ed.

26 And in like manner the Spirit also assists our infirmities; for what to pray for as we ought we know not; but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings unutterable:

27 And he who searches the hearts knows the mind of the Spirit; because he intercedes according to God’s will for the saints.

28 We further know, that to those who love God all things co-operate for good, even to those who are called according to his purpose:

29 For whom he has foreknown, he has also predetermined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren;

30 And whom he has predetermined, them has he also called; and whom he has called, them has he also justified; and whom he has justified, them has he also glorified.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32 He who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33 Who shall bring an accusation against the elect of God? God is he who justifies

34 Who is he who condemns? Christ is he who died; nay, rather who has been raised, who also is at the right hand of the Father, and who intercedes for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

36 As it is written, “For thee we die daily, we are counted as sheep destined for the slaughter:”

37 But in all these things we do more than overcome through him who has loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities nor powers, neither things present nor things future,

39 Neither height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus.

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

1 The truth I say in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing me a testimony together with the Holy Spirit,

2 That I have a great grief and a continual sorrow in my heart;

3 For I myself could wish to be an anathema from Christ for my brethren, my kindred according to the flesh;

4 Who are Israelites, whose are the adoption and the glory and the covenants and the lawgiving and the worship and the promises;

5 Whose are the fathers, and from whom is Christ according to the flesh, who is above all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

6 Not however as though God’s word has failed; for not all who are from Israel are Israelites;

7 Nor are they who are the seed of Abraham, on this account all sons; but, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called;”

8 That is, They who are the sons of the flesh, are not the sons of God; but they who are the sons of the promise shall be counted for a seed.

9 For the word of promise is this, “According to this time shall I come, and there shall be a son to Sarah.”

10 And not only he, but Rebecca also, who had conceived by one, our father Isaac;

11 For when the children were not yet born, and had done neither good nor evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not by works, but through him who calls,

12 It was said to her, “The elder shall serve the younger;”

13 According to what is written, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”

14 What then shall we say? Is there unrighteousness with God? By no means:

15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”

16 It is not then of him who wills, nor of him who runs; but of God who shows mercy.

17 For the Scripture saith to Pharaoh, “For this have I raised thee, that I might show in thee my power, and that my name might be proclaimed through the whole earth.”

18 So then on whom he wills he has mercy, and whom he wills he hardens.

19 Thou wilt then say to me, Why does he still blame? His will, who has resisted it?

20 But, O man, who art thou who contendest in judgment with God? Does the earthen vessel say to the potter, Why hast thou thus made me?

21 Has not the former of the clay power, from the same mass, to make one vessel to honor, another to dishonor?

22 And what if God, willing to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the vessels of wrath, prepared for destruction;

23 That he might also make known the riches of his grace towards the vessels of mercy, which he has foreprepared for glory?

24 Whom he has also called, even us, not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles;

25 As he says in Hosea, “I will call them my people, who is not a people, and her beloved, who is not beloved:

26 And it shall be in the place where it was said to them, ‘Not my people are ye;’ there shall they be called the sons of the living God:”

27 And Isaiah exclaims respecting Israel, “Though the number of the sons of Israel should be as the sand of the sea, yet only a remnant shall be saved;

28 For the work he will finish and shorten, because a shortened work will the Lord do on the earth;”

29 As Isaiah had also said before, “Except the Lord of hosts had left us a seed, we should have been as Sodom and made like to Gomorrha.”

30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not follow after righteousness, have obtained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith:

31 But Israel, by following after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.

32 Why? Because [they followed after it] not by faith, but as it were by works; for they have stumbled at the stone of stumbling,

33 According to what is written, “Behold, I lay in Sion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense:” and, “Every one who believes in him shall not be ashamed.”