God did not choose to bless Isaac after his birth only because he was Abraham"s son. Rather He promised Abraham before Isaac"s birth that He would provide and bless a son for the patriarch supernaturally. His unusual birth confirmed God"s choice of Isaac, as the channel of special blessing, to his parents. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Romans 9:1-13 - Longing For His Kinsmen
Our consciences should be continually bathed in the light and warmth of the Holy Spirit, Romans 9:1, that the inward witness may be maintained in its integrity. We must love as Moses and Paul did, Romans 9:3, before we can understand Exodus 32:32 and Galatians 3:10. The Hebrew nation was marvelously privileged by adoption as God's firstborn, by having the Shekinah glory and by being called to maintain the witness of the Temple and its services, Romans 9:4. But these privileges were granted, not for the nation itself, but for the blessing of mankind. This is the meaning of election. There are elect races, elect nations, elect souls, that they may be able to impart of what they have received, and communicate whatever advantages have been entrusted.
The sorrowful admission must be made that a very large proportion of the Hebrew race had missed the privileges to which they were entitled, because they had regarded these merely as intended for their own comfort and enrichment, Romans 9:6. This was the outstanding difference between Esau and Jacob. It is plain that the hatred in Romans 9:13 means nothing more than relative repudiation, as it does in Matthew 6:24 and Luke 14:26. No personal animosity can obtain in the nature of the God of love except that He withholds from the recreant soul the full manifestation and outflow of His love. [source]
Chapter Summary: Romans 9
1Paul is sorry for the Jews 7All of Abraham not of the promise 18God's sovereignty 25The calling of the Gentiles and rejecting of the Jews, foretold 32The cause of their stumbling
Greek Commentary for Romans 9:9
A word of promise [επαγγελιας ο λογος ουτος] Literally, “this word is one of promise.” Paul combines Genesis 18:10,14 from the lxx. [source]
This is the word of promise [] The A.V. obscures the true sense. There is no article, and the emphasis is on promise. “I say 'a word of promise,' for a word of promise is this which follows.” Or, as Morison, “this word is one of promise.” [source]
At this time [κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον] Rev., according to this season. The reference is to Genesis 18:14, where the Hebrew is when the season is renewed or revives; i.e., next year at this time. The season is represented as reviving periodically. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 9:9
Acts 12:1About that time [κατ εκεινον τον καιρον] Same phrase in Romans 9:9. That is, the early part of a.d. 44 since that is the date of Herod‘s death. As already suggested, Barnabas and Saul came down from Antioch to Jerusalem after the persecution by Herod at the end of 44 or the beginning of 45. [source]
Greek Commentary for Romans 9:9
Literally, “this word is one of promise.” Paul combines Genesis 18:10,14 from the lxx. [source]
The A.V. obscures the true sense. There is no article, and the emphasis is on promise. “I say 'a word of promise,' for a word of promise is this which follows.” Or, as Morison, “this word is one of promise.” [source]
Rev., according to this season. The reference is to Genesis 18:14, where the Hebrew is when the season is renewed or revives; i.e., next year at this time. The season is represented as reviving periodically. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 9:9
Same phrase in Romans 9:9. That is, the early part of a.d. 44 since that is the date of Herod‘s death. As already suggested, Barnabas and Saul came down from Antioch to Jerusalem after the persecution by Herod at the end of 44 or the beginning of 45. [source]
Most editors retain the article, the promise of Genesis 17:16, Genesis 17:19; Genesis 18:10. Comp. Romans 9:9. In virtue of the promise; for according to natural conditions he would not have been born. [source]
Or in the word. Λόγος of a concrete saying, Romans 9:9; Romans 13:9. We do not say this on our own authority. Comp. 1 Corinthians 7:10, 1 Corinthians 7:12, 1 Corinthians 7:25. No recorded saying of the Lord answers to this reference. It may refer to a saying transmitted orally, or to a direct revelation to Paul. Comp. Galatians 1:12; Galatians 2:2; Ephesians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 12:1, 2 Corinthians 12:9. [source]