Romans 9

Speaking the truth in Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, Romans 9:1–3

Paul swears by his union with Christ, then says he would give up even that for his people if it could save them. His willingness to be cut off for others echoes Christ, who became a curse for us.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• alludes to Exodus 32:32 — Moses: blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book, for Israel's sake.
• alludes to Galatians 3:13 — Christ redeemed us, being made a curse for us.

Christ, God over all, blessed for ever

Christ — the Anointed One

Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Romans 9:5

Christ came into the world through Israel's family line as a man, yet He is God over all, blessed forever. This verse teaches both His mortal lineage and His divinity.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in 2 Nephi 26:12 — Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God.
• the same title in Mosiah 7:27 — Christ was the God, the Father of all things, who should take upon him the image of man.
• the same title in Isaiah 9:6 — The mighty God.

Isaac, the promised son

Isaac — he laughs

Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. Romans 9:7–9

Paul's point is that God's true family comes by promise, like Isaac, not by birth alone. Isaac, the long-promised son given by God's power, is a recognized type of Christ, and Paul elsewhere names Christ as the promised Seed.

• quotes Genesis 21:12 — In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
• alludes to Galatians 3:16 — To thy seed, which is Christ.
• alludes to Galatians 4:28 — We, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

Jehovah speaking to Moses and Pharaoh

Jehovah — the self-existent, covenant God of Israel

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Romans 9:15–17

Paul quotes the LORD's words to Moses and to Pharaoh in Exodus. The God who spoke to Moses and showed His power in Egypt was Jehovah, the premortal Jesus Christ.

• quotes Exodus 33:19 — I will be gracious... and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
• quotes Exodus 9:16 — For this cause have I raised thee up... that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

The Potter who formed us

Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Romans 9:20–21

Paul borrows Isaiah's and Jeremiah's image of the LORD as the potter and Israel as the clay. In those passages the Potter is Jehovah the Creator; in Paul's sentence He is simply 'God.'

• alludes to Isaiah 45:9 — Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou?
• alludes to Jeremiah 18:6 — As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand.

Jehovah calling a people who were not His people

As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. Romans 9:25–26

Paul quotes the LORD speaking through Hosea, promising to make outsiders His own covenant people. Paul sees it fulfilled as Gentiles come to Christ.

• quotes Hosea 2:23 — I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people.
• quotes Hosea 1:10 — Ye are the sons of the living God.
• the same title in 1 Peter 2:10 — Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God.

Lord of Sabaoth

Lord of Sabaoth — Lord of Hosts, Jehovah as commander of heaven's armies

Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: Romans 9:27–29

'Lord of Sabaoth' is the Greek form of 'LORD of hosts,' a title of Jehovah. Paul quotes Isaiah to show that the LORD always saves a remnant of Israel.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• quotes Isaiah 1:9 — Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant.
• quotes Isaiah 10:22-23 — A remnant of them shall return; the consumption decreed.
• the same title in D&C 87:7 — The Lord of Sabaoth.

Stumblingstone and Rock of offence

Stumblingstone — the stone that trips those who will not build on it

Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; Romans 9:32–33

Paul joins two Isaiah prophecies about a stone laid in Zion and reads them as Christ: Israel tripped over Him by seeking righteousness through works, but whoever believes on Him will never be put to shame.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• interprets Isaiah 28:16 — Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone... he that believeth shall not make haste.
• interprets Isaiah 8:14 — For a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence.
• the same title in 1 Peter 2:6-8 — Peter applies the same stone passages to Christ.
• the same title in Jacob 4:15-16 — By stumbling they will reject the stone upon which they might build.