1. I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the holy Spirit in bearing me witness
2. that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart.
3. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kin according to the flesh.
4. They are Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;
5. theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Messiah. God who is over all be blessed forever. Amen.
6. But it is not that the word of God has failed. For not all who are of Israel are Israel,
7. nor are they all children of Abraham because they are his descendants; but “It is through Isaac that descendants shall bear your name.”
8. 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 descendants.
9. For this is the wording of the promise, “About this time I shall return and Sarah will have a son.”
10. And not only that, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one husband, our father Isaac—
11. before they had yet been born or had done anything, good or bad, in order that God’s elective plan might continue,