Romans 9:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

NIV: I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

NASB: that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.

CSB: that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

NLT: My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief

KJV: That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

NKJV: that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.

This continues a sudden change in Paul's topic. At the end of chapter 8, he was discussing the way Christ's love cannot be severed from those who are saved (Romans 8:38–39). Here, he has begun a new topic, starting by insisting on his own sincerity (Romans 9:1).

Paul has famously conflicted with Jewish religious leaders over the issue of Jesus Christ. His mission in life is to preach that everyone can come into God's family, through faith in Christ alone, by God's grace alone (Galatians 3:27–29). In particular, he has taught that this salvation cannot be accomplished by following the law (Galatians 3:10–13). The Jewish religious leaders have repeatedly tried to kill Paul to suppress this teaching (Acts 14:19).

That's why Paul insisted so boldly in the previous verse that he was not lying in what he is about to say about the Jewish people: He is heartbroken for them. In fact, Paul writes that he has great sorrow and unceasing anguish. He is deeply and continually saddened about his people, the Jews.

Romans 9:1–18 finds Paul heartbroken over the rejection of Christ by his people the Jews. They have been given so much as God's chosen people, and Paul insists that God will keep His promises to Israel. Not everyone born to Israel is truly Israel, though, Paul writes. Specific examples are given to show that God does, in fact, choose those who will receive His blessings. The following passage tackles whether this choice, by God, is fair.

Romans 9 begins with Paul describing his anguish for his people Israel in their rejection of Christ. After describing all the privileges God has given to the Jewish people as a nation, Paul insists that God will keep those promises. However, not every person born to Israel belongs to Israel, he writes. God reserves the right to show mercy to some and not others, as Paul demonstrates from Scripture. God is like a potter who creates some vessels for destruction and others for glory. God has called out His people from both the Gentiles and the Jews to faith in Christ, the stumbling stone.

Romans 8 ended with Paul's grand declaration that nothing can separate those who are in Christ Jesus from the love of God. Romans 9 turns a sharp corner and finds Paul heartbroken that his people, the Jews, have rejected Christ. He insists that God will keep His promises to Israel, but that not everyone born to Israel is truly Israel. God will show mercy to whomever He wishes, calling out His people from both the Jews and the Gentiles to faith in Christ. Romans 10 will find Paul discussing how Jewish people can be saved.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.

Accessed 5/3/2024 4:47:25 AM