Romans

神拣选以色列人

1我在基督里说真话，并不谎言，有我良心被圣灵感动，给我作见证：

2我是大有忧愁，心里时常伤痛；

3为我弟兄，我骨肉之亲，就是自己被咒诅，与基督分离，我也愿意。

4他们是以色列人；那儿子的名分、荣耀、诸约、律法、礼仪、应许都是他们的。

5列祖就是他们的祖宗；按肉体说，基督也是从他们出来的。他是在万有之上，永远可称颂的 神。阿们！

6这不是说 神的话落了空。因为从以色列生的不都是以色列人，

7也不因为是亚伯拉罕的后裔就都作他的儿女；惟独「从以撒生的才要称为你的后裔。」

8这就是说，肉身所生的儿女不是 神的儿女，惟独那应许的儿女才算是后裔。

9因为所应许的话是这样说：「到明年这时候我要来，撒拉必生一个儿子。」

10不但如此，还有利百加，既从一个人，就是从我们的祖宗以撒怀了孕，（

11双子还没有生下来，善恶还没有做出来，只因要显明 神拣选人的旨意，不在乎人的行为，乃在乎召人的主。）

12神就对利百加说：「将来，大的要服事小的。」

13正如经上所记：雅各是我所爱的；以扫是我所恶的。

14这样，我们可说什么呢？难道 神有什么不公平吗？断乎没有！

15因他对摩西说：我要怜悯谁就怜悯谁， 要恩待谁就恩待谁。

16据此看来，这不在乎那定意的，也不在乎那奔跑的，只在乎发怜悯的 神。

17因为经上有话向法老说：「我将你兴起来，特要在你身上彰显我的权能，并要使我的名传遍天下。」

18如此看来， 神要怜悯谁就怜悯谁，要叫谁刚硬就叫谁刚硬。

神的忿怒和怜悯

19这样，你必对我说：「他为什么还指责人呢？有谁抗拒他的旨意呢？」

20你这个人哪，你是谁，竟敢向 神强嘴呢？受造之物岂能对造他的说：「你为什么这样造我呢？」

21窑匠难道没有权柄从一团泥里拿一块做成贵重的器皿，又拿一块做成卑贱的器皿吗？

22倘若 神要显明他的忿怒，彰显他的权能，就多多忍耐宽容那可怒、预备遭毁灭的器皿，

23又要将他丰盛的荣耀彰显在那蒙怜悯、早预备得荣耀的器皿上。

24这器皿就是我们被 神所召的，不但是从犹太人中，也是从外邦人中。这有什么不可呢？

25就像 神在何西阿书上说：那本来不是我子民的， 我要称为「我的子民」； 本来不是蒙爱的， 我要称为「蒙爱的」。

26从前在什么地方对他们说： 你们不是我的子民， 将来就在那里称他们为「永生 神的儿子」。

27以赛亚指着以色列人喊着说：「以色列人虽多如海沙，得救的不过是剩下的余数；

28因为主要在世上施行他的话，叫他的话都成全，速速地完结。」

29又如以赛亚先前说过：若不是万军之主给我们存留余种， 我们早已像所多玛、蛾摩拉的样子了。

以色列人和福音

30这样，我们可说什么呢？那本来不追求义的外邦人反得了义，就是因信而得的义。

31但以色列人追求律法的义，反得不着律法的义。

32这是什么缘故呢？是因为他们不凭着信心求，只凭着行为求；他们正跌在那绊脚石上。

33就如经上所记：我在锡安放一块绊脚的石头，跌人的磐石； 信靠他的人必不至于羞愧。

1I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit,

2that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.

3For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren’s sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

5whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

6But it is not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel:

7neither, because they are Abraham’s seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

8That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed.

9For this is a word of promise, According to this season will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.

10And not only so; but Rebecca also having conceived by one, even by our father Isaac—

11for the children being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth,

12it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

13Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.

14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.

16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy.

17For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might show in thee my power, and that my name might be published abroad in all the earth.

18So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth.

19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will?

20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus?

21Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?

22What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction:

23and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory,

24even us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?

25As he saith also in Hosea,I will call that my people, which was not my people; And her beloved, that was not beloved.

26And it shall be, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, There shall they be called sons of the living God.

27And Isaiah crieth concerning Israel, If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that shall be saved:

28for the Lord will execute his word upon the earth, finishing it and cutting it short.

29And, as Isaiah hath said before,Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We had become as Sodom, and had been made like unto Gomorrah.

30What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:

31but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.

32Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling;

33even as it is written,Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.