Romans 9:6-8 Commentary

 

 

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Romans 9:6-8 Commentary

Romans 9:6  But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;

Greek: Ouch hoion de hoti ekpeptoken (3SRPI) o logos tou theou. ou gar pantes oi ex Israel, houtoi Israel; 
Amplified
: However, it is not as though God's Word had failed [coming to nothing]. For it is not everybody who is a descendant of Jacob (Israel) who belongs to [the true] Israel.
ESV:  But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,
ICB:  I do not mean that God failed to keep his promise to them. But only some of the people of Israel are truly God's people.
NKJV:  But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,
NIV:  It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
NLT:  Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to the Jews? No, for not everyone born into a Jewish family is truly a Jew!
Philips:  Now this does not mean that God's word to Israel has failed. For you cannot count all "Israelites" as the true Israel of God (see discussion of
Israel of God)
Wuest
: But the case is not such as this, that the word of God is fallen powerless; for not all who are out of Israel, these are Israel,
Young's Literal:  And it is not possible that the word of God hath failed; for not all who are of Israel are these Israel;
REFERENCES

Albert Barnes
Wayne Barber
Wayne Barber
Wayne Barber
Wayne Barber
Wayne Barber
Wayne Barber
John Calvin
Alan Carr
Alan Carr
B H Carroll
Rich Cathers
Thomas Constable
Bob Deffinbaugh
Bob Deffinbaugh
Bob Deffinbaugh
Jonathan Edwards
Explore the Bible
Explore the Bible
Tony Garland
Frederic Godet

Bruce Goettsche
Bruce Goettsche
Bruce Goettsche
Scott Grant
Scott Grant
David Guzik
Robert Haldane
Richard Halverson
Matthew Henry
Daniel Hill
Charles Hodge
F B Hole
Jamieson, F, B
S Lewis Johnson
William Kelly
Keith Krell
Keith Krell
John MacArthur
John MacArthur
John MacArthur
John MacArthur
John MacArthur
John MacArthur
John MacArthur
John MacArthur
Middletown
Robert Morgan
H C G Moule
William Newell
John Piper
John Piper
John Piper
John Piper
John Piper
John Piper
John Piper
John Piper
John Piper
John Piper
John Piper
John Piper
John Piper
John Piper
John Piper
Ray Pritchard
Ray Pritchard
A T Robertson
Rob Salvato
Ray Stedman
Ray Stedman
Marvin Vincent
Drew Worthen
Drew Worthen
Drew Worthen
Drew Worthen
Precept Ministries

Romans 9 Commentary
Romans 9:1-3: The Attributes of God
Romans 9:1-5: Israel: A Privileged People
Romans 9:6-13: Israel: A Proud People

Romans 9:14-19: God is a God of Purpose
Romans 9:19-24: God is God of Purpose-Pt2
Romans 9:30-10:5:Righteousness Precious Possession

Romans 9 Commentary
Romans 9:1-5 Burdened For A Lost People
Romans 9:6-33 Bound By The Lord's Purposes

Romans: Studies (1935)
Romans Sermons
Romans Expository Notes
Romans 9:1-13 Man Opposes; God Disposes

Romans 9:14-23 Divine Election is Questioned

Romans 9:24-33 Israel’s Failure Is the Scripture’s Fulfillment
Romans 9:18: The Sovereignty of God in Salvation
Romans 9:1-29 Need for Mercy
Romans 9:30-10:21 Call to Faith

Romans 9-11 What Will Happen to Israel- Recommended
Romans Commentary online
Romans 9:1-9 True and False Believers

Romans 9:7-21 God's Choice and Salvation

Romans 9:22-33 God's Patience and Mercy
Romans 9:1-29 The Stage for Christ

Romans 9:30-10:21 has God Proved Himself?

Romans 9 Commentary
Romans 9 Commentary
Romans Commentary: Prologue to Prison (1954)
Romans 9 Commentary
Romans Notes - Verse by Verse
Romans Commentary online
Romans Commentary
Romans 9 Commentary
Romans 9:1-5, Romans 9:6-13, Romans 9:14-33
Romans Commentary
Romans 9:1-13 The Roller Coaster Ride
Romans 9:14-29 The Great Brain Teaser

Romans 9-11 Is God Finished With Israel, Part 1

Romans 9-11 Is God Finished With Israel, Part 2

Romans 9:1-4 The Sorrowful Unbelief of Israel, Part 1

Romans 9:4-5 The Sorrowful Unbelief of Israel, Part 2
Romans 9:6-13 Is Israel's Unbelief Inconsistent with God's Plan? 1
Romans 9:14-18 Is Israel's Unbelief Inconsistent with God's Plan? 2

Romans 9:19-24 Is Israel's Unbelief Inconsistent with God's Plan? 3

Romans 9:25-33 Is Israel's Unbelief Inconsistent with God's Plan? 4

Romans 9
Romans 9, 10 & 11 What's Ahead for Israel?
The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans
Romans 9 Commentary
Romans 9:1-5  The Absolute Sovereignty of God: What Is Romans Nine About
Romans 9:1-5 My Anguish: My Kinsmen Are Accursed
Romans 9:1-5 How Great Is the Honor of Israel
Romans 9:6-12  God's Word Stands: Not All Israel is Israel, Part 1
Romans 9:6-12 God's Word Stands: Not All Israel Is Israel, Part 2
Romans 9:6-13 Unconditional Election and the Invincible Purpose of God
Romans 9:8-17 The Hardening of Pharaoh and the Hope of the World

Romans 9:14-18 The Freedom and Justice of God in Unconditional Election
Romans 9:14-18 The Fame of His Name and the Freedom of Mercy
Romans 9:19-23 How God Makes Known the Riches of His Glory
Romans 9:17 A Passion for the Supremacy of Christ--Where He Is Not Named
Romans 9:23,24 God's Ultimate Purpose: Vessels of Mercy
Romans 9:24-29 The Gentiles Are Included
Romans 9:30-33 The Gentiles Have Obtained Righteousness by Faith
Romans 9:30-10:10 Believe in Your Heart that God Raised Jesus

Romans 9:6-18 God's Freedom
Romans 9:6-18 God's Word Has Not Failed

Romans 9 Word Pictures in the New Testament
Romans 9:1-33 Jacob I Have Loved
Romans 9:1-29: Who Chose Whom?

Romans 9:14-33  Let God Be God
Romans 9 Greek Word Studies
Romans 9:1-8 For They Are Not All Israel, Who Are Descended From Israel
Romans 9:9-13 Jacob I Loved, But Esau I Hated
Romans 9:14-23 What Then Shall We Say? Is God Unjust? Not At All!
Romans 9:24-33 I Will Call Them My People, Who Were Not My People
Romans 9-11 - Part 3 Download Lesson 1

ROMANS ROAD
to RIGHTEOUSNESS
Romans
1
:18-3:20
Romans
3:21-5:21
Romans
6:1-8:39
Romans
9:1-11:36
Romans
12:1-16:27
SIN SALVATION SANCTIFICATION SOVEREIGNTY SERVICE
NEED
FOR
SALVATION
WAY
OF
SALVATION
LIFE
OF
SALVATION
SCOPE
OF
SALVATION
WORK
OF
SALVATION

 

Summary of
Romans 9-11
Romans 9 Romans 10 Romans 11
Past
Election
Present
Rejection
Future
Reception
God's Sovereignty
Israel's Election by God
Man's responsibility
Israel's Rejection of God
God's Ways Higher
God Not Rejecting Israel


Related resources
...

Summary on the Attributes of God
Spurgeon on the Attributes of God

Israel of God - Is God "Finished" with Israel in His prophetic plan?

Off Site - Table Comparing/contrasting Israel & Church
Off Site - Does the Church Fulfill Israel's Program? - John Walvoord

The Jewish People, Jesus Christ and World History - S Lewis Johnson

Are you confused about God's plan for Israel? Then I highly recommend Tony Garland's 12 Hour Course on Romans 9-11 in which he addresses in depth the question of  What Will Happen to Israel?  (click) or see the individual lectures below)

Romans 9:1-5 Paul's Sorrow Concerning Israel
Romans 9:6-13 Children of the Promise
Romans 9:14-24 The Potter and the Clay
Romans 9:25-33 A Remnant Will be Saved
Romans 10:1-13 The Righteousness of God
Romans 10:14-21 Has Israel Not Heard?
Romans 11:1-6  God Has Not Cast Away The Jews
Romans 11:7-15 Life from the Dead
Romans 11:16-24 Two Olive Trees
Romans 11:25-36 The Salvation of Israel

Note that when you click the preceding links, each link will in turn give you several choices including an Mp3 message and brief transcript notes. The Mp3's are long (avg 70+ min) but are in depth and thoroughly Scriptural with many quotations from the Old Testament, which is often much less well understood than the NT by many in the church today. Tony Garland takes a literal approach to Scripture, and his love for the Jews and passion to see them saved comes through very clearly in these 12 hours of teaching! Take your home Bible Study group through this series if you dare! Take notes on the tapes as the transcripts are a very abbreviated version of the audio messages. This course is highly recommended for all who love Israel! I think you will agree that Tony Garland, despite coming to faith after age 30 as an engineer, clearly has been given a special anointing by God to proclaim the truth concerning Israel and God's glorious future plan for the Jews. Garland has also produced more than 20 hours of superb audio teaching in his verse by verse commentary on the Revelation (in depth transcripts also available) which will unravel (in a way you did not think was possible considering the plethora of divergent interpretations) God's final message of the triumph and return of the our Lord Jesus Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords! Maranatha!

BUT IT IS NOT AS THOUGH THE WORD OF GOD HAS FAILED: Ouch hoion de hoti ekpeptoken (3SRPI) o logos tou theou: (Ro 3:3; 11:1,2; Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 55:11; Matthew 24:35; John 10:35; 2Timothy 2:13; Hebrews 6:17,18)

Keep in mind that by the time of this letter to the Romans, the NT church was composed predominantly of Gentile believers and that Jews had begun to reject the Gospel in large numbers. In such a setting, it might look as if God's word had failed in regard to the Jew. What was the problem?

Word of God - Phrase appears 47x in 46v in NAS - 1 Sam 9:27; 2 Sam 16:23; 1 Kgs 12:22; 1 Chr 17:3; Prov 30:5; Matt 15:6; Mark 7:13; Luke 3:2; 5:1; 8:11, 21; 11:28; John 10:35; Acts 4:31; 6:2, 7; 8:14; 11:1; 13:5, 7, 46; 17:13; 18:11; Rom 9:6; 1 Cor 14:36; 2 Cor 2:17; 4:2; Eph 6:17; Phil 1:14; Col 1:25; 1 Thess 2:13; 1 Tim 4:5; 2 Tim 2:9; Titus 2:5; Heb 4:12; 6:5; 11:3; 13:7; 1 Pet 1:23; 2 Pet 3:5; 1 John 2:14; Rev 1:2, 9; 6:9; 19:13; 20:4

Word (3055) (logos [word study] from lego = to speak with words; English = logic, logical) means something said and describes a communication whereby the mind finds expression in words. Although Lógos is most often translated word which Webster defines as "something that is said, a statement, an utterance", the Greek understanding of lógos is somewhat more complex. In the Greek mind and as used by secular and philosophical Greek writers, lógos did not mean merely the name of an object but was an expression of the thought behind that object's name.

Let me illustrate this somewhat subtle nuance in the meaning of lógos with an example from the Septuagint (LXX) (Greek of the Hebrew OT) in which lógos is used in the well known phrase the Ten Commandments. The Septuagint translates this phrase using the word lógos as “the ten (deka) words (logoi)” (Ex 34:28), this phrase giving us the familiar term Decalogue. Clearly each of the "Ten Commandments" is not just words but words which express a thought or concept behind those words. This then is the essence of the meaning of lógos and so it should not be surprising that depending on the context lógos is translated with words such as "saying, instruction, message, news, preaching, question, statement, teaching, etc". This understanding of lógos also helps understand John's repeated usage of this Greek word as a synonym for the second Person of the Godhead, the Lord Jesus Christ (see discussion below).

Lógos then is a general term for speaking, but always used for speaking with rational content. Lógos is a word uttered by the human voice which embodies an underlying concept or idea. When one has spoken the sum total of their thoughts concerning something, they have given to their hearer a total concept of that thing. Thus the word lógos conveys the idea of “a total concept” of anything. Lógos means the word or outward form by which the inward thought is expressed and made known. It can also refer to the inward thought or reason itself. Note then that lógos does not refer merely to a part of speech but to a concept or idea. In other words, in classical Greek, lógos never meant just a word in the grammatical sense as the mere name of a thing, but rather the thing referred to, the material, not the formal part. In fact, the Greek language has 3 other words (rhema [word study] , onoma, epos) which designate a word in its grammatical sense. Lógos refers to the total expression whereas rhema (see word study) for example is used of a part of speech in a sentence. In other words rhema, emphasizes the parts rather than the whole.

Failed (1601) (ekpipto from ek = from + pípto = to fall) literally means to fall from or out and figuratively (as in this verse) it means to fall away and to to fail, to be without effect or to be in vain.

Ekpipto - 10x in 10v - Acts 12:7; 27:17, 26, 29, 32; Rom 9:6; Gal 5:4; Jas 1:11; 1 Pet 1:24; 2 Pet 3:17. NAS =  failed(1), fall(1), fall away(1), fallen(1), falls off(2), fell off(1), run aground(3).

Near the end of his life, Joshua addressed the issue of God's Word "failing" declaring to Israel...

"Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed. And it shall come about that just as all the good words which the LORD your God spoke to you have come upon you, so the LORD will bring upon you all the threats, until He has destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you." (Joshua 23:14-15)

FOR THEY ARE NOT ALL ISRAEL WHO ARE DESCENDED FROM ISRAEL: ou gar pantes oi ex Israel houtoi Israel: (Ro 2:28,29; 4:12, 13, 14, 15, 16; John 1:47; Galatians 6:16)

"For it is not everybody who is a descendant of Jacob (Israel) who belongs to [the true] Israel" (Amplified)

Earlier in this letter Paul explained that...

he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. (Romans 2:28, 29-note)

Paul explains that God's Word has not failed because not all of physical Israel (Jew by birth) are "spiritual" Israel (Jew by new birth).

The natural "Israel" is the national, cultural, political Israel, all of whom were to be circumcised physically.

The "supernatural" Israel is represented by a "remnant" who God in great mercy and grace preserved.

The church is emphatically not the continuation of "political Israel" as is taught by a number of commentators. In fact, even scholars as highly esteemed as John Calvin arrived at this erroneous interpretation (see the Israel of God for why this is an erroneous interpretation). The point is that God is not finished with Israel or the Jew as explained later in Romans 9-11.

Now, if God made promises to Israel as His chosen earthly people, how can this be compatible with Israel’s present rejection and with the Gentiles being brought into the place of blessing? Paul explains that this does not indicate any breach of promise on God’s part. He goes on to show that God has always had a sovereign election process based upon promise and not just on natural descent. Just because a person was born into the nation of Israel does not mean that they are automatically an heir to the promises of God given through Abraham to Israel. Within the nation of Israel, God has always had a genuine believing remnant who have had heart circumcision (related topic Scriptures on Circumcision) and not just external physical circumcision. So Paul will show God sovereignly chose Isaac as the child of promise and the spiritual descendent of Abraham instead of the first born Ishmael. Then God sovereignly chose the twin Jacob over the firstborn Esau even before birth, even before they did anything good or bad to emphasize that it was God's choice who would be shown mercy and compassion. Remember that God is God and we are not!

Keep the following table in mind as you study Romans 9-11.

Summary of Romans 9-11
Romans 9 Romans 10 Romans 11
Past
Election
Present
Rejection
Future
Reception
God's Sovereignty
Israel's Election by God
Man's responsibility
Israel's Rejection of God
God's Ways Higher
God Not Rejecting Israel

Gentiles who believe are also of Abraham's spiritual seed ("And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise" Galatians 3:29) but in this passage in Romans 9, Paul is not considering the Gentiles but only the "two kinds of Israelites", the natural and the supernatural (spiritual) Jew.

Paul now offers to show in defense of God’s word that the inner reality does not correspond to the outer appearance, for “they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel” (v6-7), but there is a true Israel, an born again Israel within physical Israel, that is comprised, not of “the children of the flesh,” but of the children of the promise.

Jesus made a similar distinction when talking with the unbelieving Jews in Jn 8:33-39. They said to Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants ... ” (John 8:33).

Jesus admitted this, saying, “I know you are Abraham’s descendants” (John 8:37).

But when they said,

“Abraham is our father” the Lord replied

“If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham” (John 8:39).

In other words, they were physically descended from Abraham, but they didn’t have Abraham’s faith and therefore they were not his spiritual children. In fact Jesus went on to explain to the spiritually unregenerate Jews...

"You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. (John 8:44, read what occurred at the end of this discourse - Jn 8:57, 58, 59! Notice how John introduced this section - Jn 8:30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 - Point: There is a "belief" which does not lead to salvation. See related studies - pisteuo - word study; James 2:14-26 on saving faith - notes begin at Jas 2:14)

 

Romans 9:7  nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED."

Greek: oud' hoti eisin (3SPAI) sperma Abraam, pantes tekna, all', En Isaak klethesetai (3SFPI) soi sperma. 
Amplified: And they are not all the children of Abraham because they are by blood his descendants. No, [the promise was] Your descendants will be called and counted through the line of Isaac [though Abraham had an older son].(3)
ESV: and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."
ICB:  And only some of Abraham's descendants are true children of Abraham. But God said to Abraham: "The descendants I promised you will be from Isaac."
NKJV: nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called."
NIV: Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."
NLT: Just the fact that they are descendants of Abraham doesn't make them truly Abraham's children. For the Scriptures say, "Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted," though Abraham had other children, too.
Philips:  Nor can all Abraham's descendants be considered truly children of Abraham. The promise was that 'in Isaac your seed shall be called'.
Wuest: nor because they are offspring of Abraham are all children, but: In Isaac an offspring shall be named for you.
Young's Literal:  nor because they are seed of Abraham are all children, but -- 'in Isaac shall a seed be called to thee;'
NEITHER ARE THEY ALL CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY ARE ABRAHAM'S DESCENDANTS (singular - seed): oud hoti eisin (3SPAI) sperma Abraam pantes tekna: (Luke 3:8; 16:24,25,30; John 8:37, 38, 39; Philippians 3:3)

Children (5043) (teknon from tíkto = bring forth, bear children, be born) means literally the child produced. Teknon is a child as viewed in relation to his parents or family. This word takes on special theological significance when the Bible calls believers the children of God and that is the primary idea in this verse.

Teknon - 99x in 91v - Matt 2:18; 3:9; 7:11; 9:2; 10:21; 15:26; 18:25; 19:29; 21:28; 22:24; 23:37; 27:25; Mark 2:5; 7:27; 10:24, 29f; 12:19; 13:12; Luke 1:7, 17; 2:48; 3:8; 7:35; 11:13; 13:34; 14:26; 15:31; 16:25; 18:29; 19:44; 20:31; 23:28; John 1:12; 8:39; 11:52; Acts 2:39; 7:5; 13:33; 21:5, 21; Rom 8:16f, 21; 9:7f; 1 Cor 4:14, 17; 7:14; 2 Cor 6:13; 12:14; Gal 4:19, 25, 27f, 31; Eph 2:3; 5:1, 8; 6:1, 4; Phil 2:15, 22; Col 3:20f; 1 Thess 2:7, 11; 1 Tim 1:2, 18; 3:4, 12; 5:4; 2 Tim 1:2; 2:1; Titus 1:4, 6; Philemon 1:10; 1 Pet 1:14; 3:6; 2 Pet 2:14; 1 John 3:1f, 10; 5:2; 2 John 1:1, 4, 13; 3 John 1:4; Rev 2:23; 12:4f. NAS = child(13), children(76), children's(2), son(8), sons(1).

Descendants (4690) (sperma from speíro = to sow) refers to seed sown as containing the germ of new fruit and here clearly represents the physical offspring of Abraham.

The Jews would say to Paul "We have Abraham as our father" but Paul would remind them that Abraham had two sons and only through one son was the true heir. Isaac appropriated the promise by faith just as Abram & just as every Jew or Gentile must do in order to be born from above a new creature.

Sperma - 43x in 40v - Matt 13:24, 27, 32, 37f; 22:24f; Mark 4:31; 12:19ff; Luke 1:55; 20:28; John 7:42; 8:33, 37; Acts 3:25; 7:5f; 13:23; Rom 1:3; 4:13, 16, 18; 9:7f, 29; 11:1; 1 Cor 15:38; 2 Cor 11:22; Gal 3:16, 19, 29; 2 Tim 2:8; Heb 2:16; 11:11, 18; 1 John 3:9; Rev 12:17. NAS - children(7), conceive*(1), descendant(4), descendants(16), posterity(1), seed(10), seeds(4).

BUT THRU ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS (singular - seed) WILL BE NAMED (called): all en Isaak klethesetai (3SFPI) soi sperma: (Genesis 21:12; Hebrews 11:18)

Here in Romans Paul quotes the Septuagint (LXX) of Genesis 21:12 verbatim.

Of all the biological children of Abraham, only Isaac was in the line of promise. Writing to the Galatians Paul stated that...

it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son (Ishmael) by the bondwoman (Hagar) was born according to the flesh, and the son (Isaac) by the free woman (Sarah) through the promise. (Gal 4:22-23)

Not through Ishmael but through Isaac. The thinking Jew might well agree and say of course this is true. Ishmael is an Arab and we don't want him. We are of Isaac's seed. But Paul will move to Isaac's twin sons, of whom Esau was the firstborn and should have received the birthright but did not. In that situation unlike Ishmael and Isaac who had separate mothers, these two had the same mother and the same father and yet the firstborn was not chosen by God.

 

Romans 9:8  That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.

Greek: tout' estin, (3SPAI) ou ta tekna tes sarkos tauta tekna tou theou, alla ta tekna tes epaggelias logizetai (3SPPI) eis sperma
Amplified: That is to say, it is not the children of the body [of Abraham] who are made God's children, but it is the offspring to whom the promise applies that shall be counted [as Abraham's true] descendants.
ESV: 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 offspring.
ICB:  This means that not all of Abraham's descendants are God's true children. Abraham's true children are those who become God's children because of the promise God made to Abraham.
NKJV: That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
NIV: In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring.
NLT: This means that Abraham's physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. It is the children of the promise who are considered to be Abraham's children.
Philips: That means that it is not the natural descendants who automatically inherit the promise, but, on the contrary, that the children of the promise (i.e. sons of God) are to be considered truly Abraham's children.
Wuest: That is, not the children of the flesh, these are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted for offspring;
Young's Literal:  that is, the children of the flesh -- these are not children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for seed;

THAT IS, IT IS NOT THE CHILDREN OF THE FLESH WHO ARE CHILDREN OF GOD: tout estin (3SPAI) ou ta tekna tes sarkos tauta tekna tou theou: (4:11-16; Galatians 4:22-31)

Children of flesh - natural children

Children of God - Phrase occurs 11x in 11v in the NAS (none in the OT) - John 1:12; 11:52; Acts 17:29; Rom 8:16, 21; 9:8; Phil 2:15; 1 John 3:1f, 10; 5:2

As a practical application it is worth noting that many professors in churches think they are God's children because they were raised in a Christian home, been baptized in water, their father was the pastor, etc. As Jesus made clear...

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again (the single criterion by which lost men become "children of promise"), he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)

BUT THE CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE ARE REGARDED AS DESCENDANTS: alla ta tekna tes epaggelias logizetai (3SPPI) eis sperma: (Genesis 31:15; Psalms 22:30; 87:6; John 1:13; Galatians 3:26, 27, 28, 29; 4:28; 1John 3:1,2)

Children of the promise - Abraham's offspring or seed

Promise (1860) (epaggelia from epí = intensifies verbal meaning + aggéllo = to tell, declare) originally referred to an announcement or declaration (especially of a favorable message) but in later Greek came to mean a declaration to do something with the implication of obligation to carry out what is stated (thus a promise or pledge). Epaggelia was primarily a legal term denoting summons, a promise to do or give something, but in the NT speaks primarily of the promises of God.

Epaggelia - 52x in 50v (note concentration in Hebrews = 14x in 13v) - Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4; 2:33, 39; 7:17; 13:23, 32; 23:21; 26:6; Rom 4:13f, 16, 20; 9:4, 8f; 15:8; 2 Cor 1:20; 7:1; Gal 3:14, 16ff, 21f, 29; 4:23, 28; Eph 1:13; 2:12; 3:6; 6:2; 1 Tim 4:8; 2 Tim 1:1; Heb 4:1; 6:12, 15, 17; 7:6; 8:6; 9:15; 10:36; 11:9, 13, 17, 33, 39; 2 Pet 3:4, 9; 1 John 2:25. NAS = promise(37), promised(1), promises(12), what was promised(2).

Regarded (3049) (logizomai from lógos = reason, word, account) (Click in depth study on ) means to think about something in a detailed and logical manner. The idea is to draw inferences or conclusions through the use of reason. Logizomai is a bookkeeping term which means to make an entry in the account book or to calculate as when figuring an entry in a ledger. The purpose of the entry is to make a permanent record that can be consulted whenever needed.

Even even Abraham Abraham said to God

"Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee!" (Genesis 17:18).

But Ishmael was not God's choice.

Logizomai - 40x in 39v - Luke 22:37; John 11:50; Acts 19:27; Rom 2:3, 26; 3:28; 4:3ff, 8ff, 22ff; 6:11; 8:18, 36; 9:8; 14:14; 1 Cor 4:1; 13:5, 11; 2 Cor 3:5; 5:19; 10:2, 7, 11; 11:5; 12:6; Gal 3:6; Phil 3:13; 4:8; 2 Tim 4:16; Heb 11:19; Jas 2:23; 1 Pet 5:12. NAS = consider(6), considered(2), counted(1), counting(1), credit(1), credited(9), credits(1), dwell(1), maintain(1), numbered(2), propose(1), reason(1), reckoned(2), regard(4), regarded(3), suppose(1), take into account(3), thinks(1).


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Last updated: 01/01/11.

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