The Role of Israel

9 I tell the truth in Messiah—I do not lie, my conscience assuring me in the Ruach ha-Kodesh— ² that my sorrow is great and the anguish in my heart unending. ³ For I would pray that I myself were cursed, banished from Messiah for the sake of my people—my own flesh and blood, ^{[a] 4} who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption^[b] and the glory^[c] and the covenants and the giving of the Torah^[d] and the Temple service^[e] and the promises. ⁵ To them belong the patriarchs—and from them, according to the flesh, the Messiah, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen.

⁶ But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are Israel, ⁷ nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s seed; rather, “Your seed shall be called through Isaac.” ^{[f] 8} That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God; rather, the children of the promise are counted as seed. ⁹ For the word of promise is this: “At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.” ^{[g] 10} And not only this, but also Rebecca having twins, from one act with our father Isaac. ¹¹ Yet before the sons were even born and had not done anything good or bad—so that God’s purpose and choice might stand not because of works but because of Him who calls— ¹² it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” ^{[h] 13} As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”^[i]