The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 4

For the scripture says to Pharaoh, Paul quoted (Table below), “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”[1]  It occurred to me in the previous essay how much the larger section in which this quotation is found influences my thinking on the lost son of perdition.  I want to begin to consider that here.

This section of Paul’s letter is ostensibly about Israel: For not all those who are descended from Israel are truly Israel, nor are all the children Abraham’s true descendants; rather “through Isaac will your descendants be counted.”[2]  John the Baptist had warned, don’t think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’  For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones![3]

The Gospel implications of this section are still evident, however, through this relatively transparent surface: it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God; rather, the children of promise are counted as descendants.[4]  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God,[5] Paul had written previously.  Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters, he had written elsewhere, Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God[6]

In this section Paul, apostle to the Gentiles, worked through a deep emotional problem over what he saw with his own eyes:[7] For I could wish that I myself were accursed—cut off from Christ—for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen [Table], who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.  To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever!  Amen.[8]

And he worked through the more urgent theological issue his limited perspective had engendered: It is not as though the word of God had failed.[9]  The Holy Spirit’s solution to this issue was immediate and direct: God’s purpose in election (κατ᾿ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις τοῦ θεοῦ).  God has his own reasons why (and when from our limited perspectives) He does what He does.

God’s purpose in election engendered its own issue which Paul addressed next.  And here is where his quotation (Table below) from Exodus is found (Romans 9:14-18 NET):

What shall we say then?  Is there injustice with God?  Absolutely not!  For he says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy [Table].  For the scripture says to Pharaoh: “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”  So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden.

Certainly, Paul addressed his concerns for Israel here.  He made that explicit later: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.[10]  But the very nature of his concern for Israel allows the Gospel implications to show through.  Now, I am so grateful that receiving the Gospel of the grace of God in Jesus Christ doesn’t depend on the uncertainty of human desire or exertion, but that wasn’t always true for me.

There was a time when I feared the idea that I should flee my “sure and certain” desire and exertion to have a righteousness of my own derived from the law, all the commands of the New Testament and Church doctrine for something as whimsical as the mercy of God and a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.[11]  Obviously, I didn’t understand it that clearly at the time.  As I began to understand it I began to repent of my unbelief.  Jeremiah wrote:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Lamentations 3:22-26 (Tanakh) Lamentations 3:22-26 (NET) Lamentations 3:22-26 (NETS)

Lamentations 3:22-26 (Elpenor English)

Surely HaShem’S mercies (חַֽסְדֵ֤י) are not consumed, surely His compassions fail not. The Lord’s loyal kindness (checed, חסדי) never ceases; his compassions never end. The mercies of the Lord are that we have not expired, that his compassion has not come to an end. [It is] the mercies (ἐλέη) of the Lord, that he has not failed me, because his compassions are not exhausted.  Pity [us], O Lord, early [every] month: for we are not brought to an end, because his compassions are not exhausted.
They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant! They are new in the early mornings; great is your faithfulness. [They are] new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
‘The HaShem is my portion’, saith my soul; ‘Therefore will I hope in Him.’ “My portion is the Lord,” I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in him. “The Lord is my portion,” said my soul, “therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I wait for him.
HaShem is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to the one who seeks him. The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that will seek him. The Lord is good to them that wait for him: the soul which shall seek him
It is good that a man should quietly wait for the salvation of HaShem. It is good to wait patiently for deliverance from the Lord. A good thing it is—and it will wait and be quiet for the salvation of the Lord. [is] good, and shall wait for, and quietly expect salvation of the Lord.

And in answer to his deep emotional problem, Paul wrote: For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.[12]

It is reasonable to assume here that the Greek words τοὺς πάντας (a plural form of πᾶς) translated all people are equivalent to the Greek words τοὺς πάντας translated them all.  It is not reasonable to assume that he may show mercy to means “he might show mercy to.”  Yes, ἐλεήσῃ is a form of ἐλεέω in the subjunctive mood.

The subjunctive mood indicates probability or objective possibility.  The action of the verb will possibly happen, depending on certain objective factors or circumstances…However if the subjunctive mood is used in a purpose or result clause, then the action should not be thought of as a possible result, but should be viewed as a definite outcome that will happen as a result of another stated action.[13] 

The clause ἵνα τοὺς πάντας ἐλεήσῃ (so that he may show mercy to them all) is clearly the result of συνέκλεισεν γὰρ θεὸς τοὺς πάντας εἰς ἀπείθειαν (For God has consigned all people to disobedience).

It would have been misleading to have translated ἐλεήσῃ he will show mercy to.  It is not in the future tense but the aorist.  What is telling to me is that no one has translated it as “simple past tense,” he showed mercy to.  Paul was not referencing Jesus’ crucifixion directly here.

John Gill seemed to have a firm grasp on Paul’s intent, coupled even with the earlier conclusion it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy, regarding those:

for whom [God] has mercy in store, and will bestow it on them; and in order to bring them to a sense of their need of it, and that he may the more illustriously display the riches of it, he leaves them for a while in a state of unbelief, and then by his Spirit thoroughly convinces them of it, and gives them faith to look to, and believe in, the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto eternal life.[14]

God’s mercy, according to Mr. Gill however, was “not upon all the individuals of Jews and Gentiles,” but only “God’s elect among the Jews” and “God’s elect among the Gentiles” “for all are not concluded in, or convinced of the sin of unbelief, but only such who are eventually believers.”[15]  In other words, he understood τοὺς πάντας as God’s elect Jews and Gentiles: For God has consigned his elect to disobedience so that he may show mercy to his elect, e.g., so that his elect and only his elect will better recognize “the riches” of his mercy, some Jews and some Gentiles.

Some Jews believed Jesus already?[16]  How could the realization that some Jews would be shown mercy wean Paul from his wish that he were accursed—cut off from Christ—for the sake of his people, his fellow countrymen who are Israelites?  Would Mr. Gill’s knowledge inspire Paul to eulogize (Romans 11:33-36 NET)?

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways!  For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?  Or who has first given to God that God needs to repay him?  For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever!  Amen.

I could be wrong.  Perhaps Paul wasn’t weaned from his desperate, aberrant to the point of sinful, concern for those God didn’t care enough to consign to disobedience, much less to show them any mercy.  But it seems much less tortured to take τοὺς πάντας (literally: the all, plural, or in a common American Southern dialect: all y’all) at face value.  What other Greek words could Paul or the Holy Spirit have chosen to actually mean all?

I found no other usage of τοὺς πάντας in the New Testament.  Matthew, Mark, Luke, Paul, the writer of Hebrews and Jude used πάντας τοὺς x to limit πάντας in a variety of ways.  (John had a different way of expressing all alive at a certain time.)

Reference NET Parallel Greek NET
Matthew 2:4 πάντας τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς all the chief priests
Matthew 2:16 πάντας τοὺς παῖδας all the children
Matthew 8:16 πάντας τοὺς κακῶς all who were sick
Matthew 14:35 πάντας τοὺς κακῶς all their sick
Matthew 21:12 πάντας τοὺς πωλοῦντας all those who were selling
Matthew 26:1 πάντας τοὺς λόγους all these things
Mark 1:32 πάντας τοὺς κακῶς all who were sick
Luke 5:9 πάντας τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ all who were with him
Luke 13:2 πάντας τοὺς Γαλιλαίους all the other Galileans
Luke 13:4 πάντας τοὺς ἀνθρώπους all the others
Luke 13:28 πάντας τοὺς προφήτας all the prophets
Luke 21:35 πάντας τοὺς καθημένους all who live (e.g., on a certain day)
Acts 5:5 πάντας τοὺς ἀκούοντας all who heard
Acts 5:11 πάντας τοὺς ἀκούοντας all who heard
Acts 9:14 πάντας τοὺς ἐπικαλουμένους all who call on
Acts 10:38 πάντας τοὺς καταδυναστευομένους all who were oppressed
Acts 10:44 πάντας τοὺς ἀκούοντας all those who heard
Acts 18:2 πάντας τοὺς Ἰουδαίους all the Jews
Acts 18:23 πάντας τοὺς μαθητάς all the disciples
Acts 19:10 πάντας τοὺς κατοικοῦντας τὴν Ἀσίαν all who lived in the province of Asia
Acts 26:29 πάντας τοὺς ἀκούοντας all those who are listening
Acts 27:24 πάντας τοὺς πλέοντας μετὰ σοῦ all who are sailing with you
Acts 28:30 πάντας τοὺς εἰσπορευομένους πρὸς αὐτόν all who came to him
Romans 3:22 πάντας τοὺς πιστεύοντας all who believe
Romans 10:12 πάντας τοὺς ἐπικαλουμένους all who call on
1 Corinthias 15:25 πάντας τοὺς ἐχθροὺς all his enemies
Ephesians 1:15 πάντας τοὺς ἁγίους all the saints
Colossians 1:4 πάντας τοὺς ἁγίους all the saints
1 Thessalonians 4:10 πάντας τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς all the brothers and sisters
Philemon 1:5 πάντας τοὺς ἁγίους all the saints
Hebrews 13:24 πάντας τοὺς ἡγουμένους all your leaders
πάντας τοὺς ἁγίους all the saints
Jude 1:25 πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας all eternity

I think a tendency to judge before the time those who reject any particular presentation of the Gospel, to condemn them prematurely to an eternity in the lake of fire, was evident in Mr. Gill’s analysis.  Paul wrote (Romans 9:22 NET):

But what if God, willing to demonstrate his wrath (Romans 1:18-32) and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction?

Mr. Gill commented:[17]

so these are said to be “fitted for destruction”, that is, eternal damnation; not by God, for this does not respect God’s act of ordination to punishment; but by Satan, the god of this world, that blinds them, who works effectually in them, and leads them captive at his will; and by themselves, by their own wickedness, hardness of heart, and impenitence, do they treasure up to themselves wrath, against the day of wrath, so that their destruction is of themselves:

Paul didn’t write about “eternal damnation” here but the temporal effects of God having mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and (more directly to the point) hardening whom he chooses to harden, at the present time.  His primary concern was God’s hardening (Isaiah 6:8-13) of Paul’s own people, his fellow countrymen, who are Israelites.  And even after he described them as objects of wrath prepared for destruction, he wrote (Romans 10:1 NET Table):

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of my fellow Israelites is for their salvation.

Tucked between the former statement and the latter he quoted two passages from the prophet Hosea (Romans 9:25, 26) which foreshadowed the glorious conclusion of this particular argument (Romans 11:11-32).

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Hosea 2:23 (Tanakh) Hosea 2:23 (NET) Hosea 2:23 (NETS)

Hosea 2:25 (Elpenor English)

And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy (וְרִֽחַמְתִּ֖י) upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. Then I will plant her as my own in the land.  I will have pity (racham, ורחמתי) on ‘No Pity’ (Lo-Ruhamah).  I will say to ‘Not My People’ (Lo-Ammi), ‘You are my people!’  And he will say, ‘You are my God!’” and I will sow her for myself in the land.  And I will have pity (ἐλεήσω) on Not Pitied, and I will say to Not My People, “You are my people,” and he shall say, “You are the Lord my God.” And I will sow her to me on the earth; and will love (ἐλεήσω) her that was not loved, and will say to that which was not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art the Lord my God.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Hosea 1:10, 11 (Tanakh) Hosea 1:10, 11 (NET) Hosea 1:10, 11 (NETS)

Hosea 2:1, 2 (Elpenor English)

Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. “However, in the future the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the sea that can be neither measured nor numbered.  Although it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said to them, ‘You are children of the living God!’ And the number of the sons of Israel was like the sand of the sea, which shall not be measured nor numbered, and it shall be, in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” they too shall be called, “sons of a living god.” Yet the number of the children of Israel was as the sand of the sea, which shall not be measured nor numbered: and it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said to them, Ye are not my people, even they shall be called the sons of the living God.
Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up (וְעָל֣וּ) out of (מִן) the land (הָאָ֑רֶץ): for great shall be the day of Jezreel. Then the people of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together.  They will appoint for themselves one leader, and will flourish (`alah, ועלו) in (min, מן) the land (‘erets, הארץ).  Certainly, the day of Jezreel will be great! And the sons of Ioudas and the sons of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall set up for themselves one realm, and they shall go up (ἀναβήσονται) from (ἐκ) the (τῆς) land (γῆς), for great shall be the day of Jezrael. And the children of Juda shall be gathered, and the children of Israel together, and shall appoint themselves one head, and shall come up (ἀναβήσονται) out of (ἐκ) the (τῆς) land (γῆς): for great [shall be] the day of Jezrael.

For the children of Judah and the children of Israel to be gathered together and then come up out of the earth (a likely non-Rationalist translation of both the Hebrew and the Greek) sounds like a gathering, not of this world, and a resurrection back into it: for great shall be the day of Jezreel (Ezekiel 37:11-14).

The Greek word translated destruction in the phrase prepared for destruction was ἀπώλειαν (a form of ἀπώλεια).  The first two occurrences in the Septuagint follow.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Leviticus 5:21-24 (Tanakh) Leviticus 6:2-5 (NET) Leviticus 6:2-5 (NETS)

Leviticus 5:21-24 (Elpenor English)

If any one sin, and commit a trespass against HaShem, and deal falsely with his neighbour in a matter of deposit, or of pledge, or of robbery, or have oppressed his neighbour; “When a person sins and commits a trespass against the Lord by deceiving his fellow citizen in regard to something held in trust, or a pledge, or something stolen, or by extorting something from his fellow citizen, If a soul sins and by overlooking disregards the commandments of the Lord and falsifies matters pertaining to his neighbor—in a deposit or regarding joint ownership or regarding plunder or did his neighbor some wrong The soul which shall have sinned, and willfully overlooked the commandments of the Lord, and shall have dealt falsely in the affairs of his neighbour in the matter of a deposit, or concerning fellowship, or concerning plunder, or has in anything wronged his neighbour,
or have found that which was lost (אֲבֵדָ֛ה), and deal falsely therein, and swear to a lie; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein; or has found something lost (‘abedah, אבדה) and denies it and swears falsely concerning any one of the things that someone might do to sin— or has found a loss (ἀπώλειαν) and lied about it—and he swears falsely about one of all which a man may do in order to sin by these, or has found that which was lost (ἀπώλειαν), and shall have lied concerning it, and shall have sworn unjustly concerning [any] one of all the things, whatsoever a man may do, so as to sin hereby;
then it shall be, if he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he hath gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was deposited with him, or the lost thing (הָֽאֲבֵדָ֖ה) which he found, when it happens that he sins and he is found guilty, then he must return whatever he had stolen, or whatever he had extorted, or the thing that he had held in trust, or the lost thing (‘abedah, האבדה) that he had found, then it shall be whenever he sins and is in error and restores the booty which he seized or the injustice he committed or the deposit which was deposited with him or the loss (ἀπώλειαν) which he found it shall come to pass, whensoever he shall have sinned, and transgressed, that he shall restore the plunder which he has seized, or [redress] the injury which he has committed, or restore the deposit which was entrusted to him, or the lost article (ἀπώλειαν) which he has found of any kind,
or any thing about which he hath sworn falsely, he shall even restore it in full, and shall add the fifth part more thereto; unto him to whom it appertaineth shall he give it, in the day of his being guilty. or anything about which he swears falsely.  He must restore it in full and add one-fifth to it; he must give it to its owner when he is found guilty. because of every matter about that which he swore about unjustly, he shall also repay the capital itself, and he shall add to it one fifth.  Whosesoever it is, he shall restore to him on the day he should be convicted. about which he swore unjustly, he shall even restore it in full; and he shall add to it a fifth part besides; he shall restore it to him whose it is in the day in which he happens to be convicted.

The first occurrence of אֲבֵדָ֛ה (‘abedah) in Exodus 22:9 was similar, and was translated ἀπωλείας, another form of ἀπώλεια, in the Septuagint.

What many of Paul’s contemporaries lost was the opportunity to begin to live the life they will lead for all eternity in their then present, to be freed from their sinfulness, their anger and hatred and live a new life through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, who prayed (John 17:3 NET):

Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.

He became a human being so that they could have known Him and the only true God though Him.  They could have experienced his love, his joy, his peace, his patience his kindness, his goodness, his faithfulness, his gentleness and his self-control[18] like a fountain of water springing up in them to eternal life.[19]

Lest it seem that I minimize the earthly consequence of this loss: everyone not led by the Holy Spirit is led by someone much less: less loving, less joyful, less peaceful, less patient, less kind, less good, less faithful, less gentle, less self-controlled, less wise, less knowledgeable, less truthful and less true.  Ten to fifteen years after Paul wrote his letter to Roman believers, those of his fellow countrymen who did not heed Jesus’ warning (Luke 21:20-24) were led by religious zealots who made catastrophic political and military blunders, hoping apparently that the God whose salvation they had rejected would help them somehow establish their own.  All who remained in Jerusalem suffered horrifically under their leadership.

Paul, however, found comfort in the Holy Spirit, not in human desire or exertion, but in the irrevocable (ἀμεταμέλητα, a form of ἀμεταμέλητος) gifts andcall of God.[20]

A table comparing Paul’s quotation from Exodus and the Septuagint follows.

Romans 9:17b (NET parallel Greek) Exodus 9:16 (Septuagint BLB) Exodus 9:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο ἐξήγειρα σε ὅπως ἐνδείξωμαι ἐν σοὶ τὴν δύναμιν μου καὶ ὅπως διαγγελῇ τὸ ὄνομα μου ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ καὶ ἕνεκεν τούτου διετηρήθης ἵνα ἐνδείξωμαι ἐν σοὶ τὴν ἰσχύν μου καὶ ὅπως διαγγελῇ τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ καὶ ἕνεκεν τούτου διετηρήθης, ἵνα ἐνδείξωμαι ἐν σοὶ τὴν ἰσχύν μου, καὶ ὅπως διαγγελῇ τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ
Romans 9:17b (NET) Exodus 9:16 (NETS) Exodus 9:16 (English Elpenor)
For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. And for this reason you have been spared in order that I might display in you my power and in order that my name might be proclaimed in all the land. And for this purpose hast thou been preserved, that I might display in thee my strength, and that my name might be published in all the earth.

A table comparing Paul’s quotation from Genesis and the Septuagint follows.

Romans 9:7b (NET parallel Greek) Genesis 21:12b (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 21:12b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν Ἰσαὰκ κληθήσεται σοι σπέρμα ἐν Ισαακ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα ἐν ᾿Ισαὰκ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα
Romans 9:7b (NET) Genesis 21:12b (NETS) Genesis 21:12b (English Elpenor)
“through Isaac will your descendants be counted.” in Isaak offspring shall be named for you. in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

I tend to see the following as an allusion to Hosea from the Septuagint.

Romans 9:25b (NET parallel Greek) Hosea 2:23 (Septuagint BLB) Hosea 2:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καλέσω τὸν οὐ λαόν μου λαόν μου καὶ τὴν οὐκ ἠγαπημένην ἠγαπημένην ἐλεήσω τὴν Οὐκ-ἠλεημένην καὶ ἐρῶ τῷ Οὐ-λαῷ-μου λαός μου εἶ σύ ἐλεήσω τὴν Οὐκ-ἠλεημένην καὶ ἐρῶ τῷ Οὐ-λαῷ-μου· λαός μου εἰ σύ
Romans 9:25b (NET) Hosea 2:23 (NETS) Hosea 2:25 (English Elpenor)
“I will call those who were not my people, ‘My people,’ and I will call her who was unloved, ‘My beloved.’” I will have pity on Not Pitied, and I will say to Not My People, “You are my people,” [I] will love her that was not loved, and will say to that which was not my people, Thou art my people

The following is a more direct quotation from Hosea in the Septuagint.

Romans 9:26 (NET parallel Greek) Hosea 1:10 (Septuagint BLB) Hosea 2:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ τόπῳ οὗ ἐρρέθη |αὐτοῖς|· οὐ λαός μου ὑμεῖς, ἐκεῖ κληθήσονται υἱοὶ θεοῦ ζῶντος. καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ τόπῳ οὗ ἐρρέθη αὐτοῗς οὐ λαός μου ὑμεῗς ἐκεῗ κληθήσονται υἱοὶ θεοῦ ζῶντος καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ τόπῳ, οὗ ἐρρέθη αὐτοῖς· οὐ λαός μου ὑμεῖς, κληθήσονται καὶ αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ ζῶντος
Romans 9:26 (NET) Hosea 1:10 (NETS) Hosea 2:1 (English Elpenor)
“And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’” and it shall be, in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” they too shall be called, “sons of a living god.” and it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said to them, Ye are not my people, even they shall be called the sons of the living God.

Tables comparing Genesis 21:12; Lamentations 3:22; 3:23; 3:24; 3:25; 3:26; Hosea 2:23 (2:25); 1:101:11; Leviticus 6:2 (5:21); 6:3 (5:22); 6:4 (5:23) and 6:5 (5:24) in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and Genesis 21:12; Lamentations 3:22; 3:23; 3:24; 3:25; 3:26; Hosea 2:23 (2:25); 1:10 (2:1); 1:11 (2:2); Leviticus 6:2 (5:21); 6:3 (5:22); 6:4 (5:23) and 6:5 (5:24) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Genesis 21:12 (Tanakh) Genesis 21:12 (KJV) Genesis 21:12 (NET)
And G-d said unto Abraham: ‘Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah saith unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall seed be called to thee. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be upset about the boy or your slave wife.  Do all that Sarah is telling you because through Isaac your descendants will be counted.
Genesis 21:12 (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 21:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ ὁ θεὸς τῷ Αβρααμ μὴ σκληρὸν ἔστω τὸ ῥῆμα ἐναντίον σου περὶ τοῦ παιδίου καὶ περὶ τῆς παιδίσκης πάντα ὅσα ἐὰν εἴπῃ σοι Σαρρα ἄκουε τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῆς ὅτι ἐν Ισαακ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα εἶπε δὲ ὁ Θεὸς τῷ ῾Αβραάμ· μὴ σκληρὸν ἔστω ἐναντίον σου περὶ τοῦ παιδίου καὶ περὶ τῆς παιδίσκης· πάντα ἂν ὅσα εἴπῃ σοι Σάρρα, ἄκουε τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῆς, ὅτι ἐν ᾿Ισαὰκ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα
Genesis 21:12 (NETS) Genesis 21:12 (English Elpenor)
But God said to Abraham, “Do not let the matter be hard in your sight on account of the child and on account of the slave-girl; whatever Sarra says to you, obey her voice, for in Isaak offspring shall be named for you. But God said to Abraam, Let it not be hard before thee concerning the child, and concerning the bondwoman; in all things whatsoever Sarrha shall say to thee, hear her voice, for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Lamentations 3:22 (Tanakh) Lamentations 3:22 (KJV) Lamentations 3:22 (NET)
Surely HaShem’S mercies are not consumed, surely His compassions fail not. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end.
Lamentations 3:22 (Septuagint BLB) Lamentations 3:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)
N/A Τὰ ἐλέη Κυρίου, ὅτι οὐκ ἐξέλιπέμε, ὅτι οὐσυνετελέσθησαν οἱ οἰκτιρμοὶ αὐτοῦ· μῆνας εἰς τὰς πρωΐας ἐλέησον, Κύριε, ὅτι οὐ συνετελέσθημεν, ὅτι οὐ συνετελέσθησαν οἱ οἰκτιρμοὶ αὐτοῦ
Lamentations 3:22 (NETS) Lamentations 3:22 (English Elpenor)
The mercies of the Lord are that we have not expired, that his compassion has not come to an end. [It is] the mercies of the Lord, that he has not failed me, because his compassions are not exhausted. Pity [us], O Lord, early [every] month: for we are not brought to an end, because his compassions are not exhausted.
Lamentations 3:23 (Tanakh) Lamentations 3:23 (KJV) Lamentations 3:23 (NET)
They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant!
Lamentations 3:23 (Septuagint BLB) Lamentations 3:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)
N/A καινὰ εἰς τὰς πρωΐας, πολλὴ ἡ πίστις σου
Lamentations 3:23 (NETS) Lamentations 3:23 (English Elpenor)
They are new in the early mornings; great is your faithfulness. [They are] new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:24 (Tanakh) Lamentations 3:24 (KJV) Lamentations 3:24 (NET)
‘The HaShem is my portion’, saith my soul; ‘Therefore will I hope in Him.’ The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. “My portion is the Lord,” I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in him.
Lamentations 3:24 (Septuagint BLB) Lamentations 3:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)
N/A μερίς μου Κύριος, εἶπεν ἡ ψυχή μου· διὰ τοῦτο ὑπομενῶ αὐτῷ
Lamentations 3:24 (NETS) Lamentations 3:24 (English Elpenor)
“The Lord is my portion,” said my soul, “therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I wait for him.
Lamentations 3:25 (Tanakh) Lamentations 3:25 (KJV) Lamentations 3:25 (NET)
HaShem is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to the one who seeks him.
Lamentations 3:25 (Septuagint BLB) Lamentations 3:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀγαθὸς κύριος τοῗς ὑπομένουσιν αὐτόν ψυχῇ ἣ ζητήσει αὐτὸν ἀγαθὸν ᾿Αγαθὸς Κύριος τοῖς ὑπομένουσιν αὐτόν, ψυχὴ ἣ ζητήσει αὐτὸν ἀγαθὸν
Lamentations 3:25, 26a (NETS) Lamentations 3:25, 26a (English Elpenor)
The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that will seek him.  A good thing it is— The Lord is good to them that wait for him: the soul which shall seek him (26) [is] good,
Lamentations 3:26 (Tanakh) Lamentations 3:26 (KJV) Lamentations 3:26 (NET)
It is good that a man should quietly wait for the salvation of HaShem. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. It is good to wait patiently for deliverance from the Lord.
Lamentations 3:26 (Septuagint BLB) Lamentations 3:26 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ὑπομενεῗ καὶ ἡσυχάσει εἰς τὸ σωτήριον κυρίου καὶ ὑπομενεῖ καὶ ἡσυχάσει εἰς τὸ σωτήριον Κυρίου
Lamentations 3:26b (NETS) Lamentations 3:26b (English Elpenor)
and it will wait and be quiet for the salvation of the Lord. and shall wait for, and quietly expect salvation of the Lord.
Hosea 2:23 (Tanakh) Hosea 2:23 (KJV) Hosea 2:23 (NET)
And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. Then I will plant her as my own in the land.  I will have pity on ‘No Pity’ (Lo-Ruhamah).  I will say to ‘Not My People’ (Lo-Ammi), ‘You are my people!’  And he will say, ‘You are my God!’”
Hosea 2:23 (Septuagint BLB) Hosea 2:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ σπερῶ αὐτὴν ἐμαυτῷ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐλεήσω τὴν Οὐκ-ἠλεημένην καὶ ἐρῶ τῷ Οὐ-λαῷ-μου λαός μου εἶ σύ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐρεῗ κύριος ὁ θεός μου εἶ σύ καὶ σπερῶ αὐτὴν ἐμαυτῷ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐλεήσω τὴν Οὐκ-ἠλεημένην καὶ ἐρῶ τῷ Οὐ-λαῷ-μου· λαός μου εἰ σύ, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐρεῖ· Κύριος ὁ Θεός μου εἶ σύ
Hosea 2:23 (NETS) Hosea 2:25 (English Elpenor)
and I will sow her for myself in the land.  And I will have pity on Not Pitied, and I will say to Not My People, “You are my people,” and he shall say, “You are the Lord my God.” And I will sow her to me on the earth; and will love her that was not loved, and will say to that which was not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art the Lord my God.
Hosea 1:10 (Tanakh) Hosea 1:10 (KJV) Hosea 1:10 (NET)
Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. “However, in the future the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the sea that can be neither measured nor numbered.  Although it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said to them, ‘You are children of the living God!’
Hosea 1:10 (Septuagint BLB) Hosea 2:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἦν ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ ὡς ἡ ἄμμος τῆς θαλάσσης ἣ οὐκ ἐκμετρηθήσεται οὐδὲ ἐξαριθμηθήσεται καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ τόπῳ οὗ ἐρρέθη αὐτοῗς οὐ λαός μου ὑμεῗς ἐκεῗ κληθήσονται υἱοὶ θεοῦ ζῶντος ΚΑΙ ἦν ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ ὡς ἡ ἄμμος τῆς θαλάσσης, ἣ οὐκ ἐκμετρηθήσεται οὐδὲ ἐξαριθμηθήσεται. καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ τόπῳ, οὗ ἐρρέθη αὐτοῖς· οὐ λαός μου ὑμεῖς, κληθήσονται καὶ αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ ζῶντος
Hosea 1:10 (NETS) Hosea 2:1 (English Elpenor)
And the number of the sons of Israel was like the sand of the sea, which shall not be measured nor numbered, and it shall be, in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” they too shall be called, “sons of a living god.” Yet the number of the children of Israel was as the sand of the sea, which shall not be measured nor numbered: and it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said to them, Ye are not my people, even they shall be called the sons of the living God.
Hosea 1:11 (Tanakh) Hosea 1:11 (KJV) Hosea 1:11 (NET)
Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. Then the people of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together.  They will appoint for themselves one leader, and will flourish in the land.  Certainly, the day of Jezreel will be great!
Hosea 1:11 (Septuagint BLB) Hosea 2:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ συναχθήσονται οἱ υἱοὶ Ιουδα καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ θήσονται ἑαυτοῗς ἀρχὴν μίαν καὶ ἀναβήσονται ἐκ τῆς γῆς ὅτι μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα τοῦ Ιεζραελ καὶ συναχθήσονται υἱοὶ ᾿Ιούδα καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ θήσονται ἑαυτοῖς ἀρχὴν μίαν καὶ ἀναβήσονται ἐκ τῆς γῆς, ὅτι μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα τοῦ ᾿Ιεζραέλ
Hosea 1:11 (NETS) Hosea 2:2 (English Elpenor)
And the sons of Ioudas and the sons of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall set up for themselves one realm, and they shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezrael. And the children of Juda shall be gathered, and the children of Israel together, and shall appoint themselves one head, and shall come up out of the land: for great [shall be] the day of Jezrael.
Leviticus 5:21 (Tanakh) Leviticus 6:2 (KJV) Leviticus 6:2 (NET)
If any one sin, and commit a trespass against HaShem, and deal falsely with his neighbour in a matter of deposit, or of pledge, or of robbery, or have oppressed his neighbour; If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; “When a person sins and commits a trespass against the Lord by deceiving his fellow citizen in regard to something held in trust, or a pledge, or something stolen, or by extorting something from his fellow citizen,
Leviticus 6:2 (Septuagint BLB) Leviticus 5:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ψυχὴ ἐὰν ἁμάρτῃ καὶ παριδὼν παρίδῃ τὰς ἐντολὰς κυρίου καὶ ψεύσηται τὰ πρὸς τὸν πλησίον ἐν παραθήκῃ ἢ περὶ κοινωνίας ἢ περὶ ἁρπαγῆς ἢ ἠδίκησέν τι τὸν πλησίον ψυχὴ ἐὰν ἁμάρτῃ καὶ παριδὼν παρίδῃ τὰς ἐντολὰς Κυρίου καὶ ψεύσηται τὰ πρὸς τὸν πλησίον ἐν παραθήκῃ ἢ περὶ κοινωνίας ἢ περὶ ἁρπαγῆς ἢ ἠδίκησέ τι τὸν πλησίον
Leviticus 6:2 (NETS) Leviticus 5:21 (English Elpenor)
If a soul sins and by overlooking disregards the commandments of the Lord and falsifies matters pertaining to his neighbor—in a deposit or regarding joint ownership or regarding plunder or did his neighbor some wrong The soul which shall have sinned, and willfully overlooked the commandments of the Lord, and shall have dealt falsely in the affairs of his neighbour in the matter of a deposit, or concerning fellowship, or concerning plunder, or has in anything wronged his neighbour,
Leviticus 5:22 (Tanakh) Leviticus 6:3 (KJV) Leviticus 6:3 (NET)
or have found that which was lost, and deal falsely therein, and swear to a lie; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein; Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: or has found something lost and denies it and swears falsely concerning any one of the things that someone might do to sin—
Leviticus 6:3 (Septuagint BLB) Leviticus 5:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἢ εὗρεν ἀπώλειαν καὶ ψεύσηται περὶ αὐτῆς καὶ ὀμόσῃ ἀδίκως περὶ ἑνὸς ἀπὸ πάντων ὧν ἐὰν ποιήσῃ ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὥστε ἁμαρτεῗν ἐν τούτοις ἢ εὗρεν ἀπώλειαν καὶ ψεύσηται περὶ αὐτῆς καὶ ὀμόσῃ ἀδίκως περὶ ἑνὸς ἀπὸ πάντων, ὧν ἐὰν ποιήσῃ ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ὥστε ἁμαρτεῖν ἐν τούτοις
Leviticus 6:3 (NETS) Leviticus 5:22 (English Elpenor)
or has found a loss and lied about it—and he swears falsely about one of all which a man may do in order to sin by these, or has found that which was lost, and shall have lied concerning it, and shall have sworn unjustly concerning [any] one of all the things, whatsoever a man may do, so as to sin hereby;
Leviticus 5:23 (Tanakh) Leviticus 6:4 (KJV) Leviticus 6:4 (NET)
then it shall be, if he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he hath gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was deposited with him, or the lost thing which he found, Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, when it happens that he sins and he is found guilty, then he must return whatever he had stolen, or whatever he had extorted, or the thing that he had held in trust, or the lost thing that he had found,
Leviticus 6:4 (Septuagint BLB) Leviticus 5:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔσται ἡνίκα ἐὰν ἁμάρτῃ καὶ πλημμελήσῃ καὶ ἀποδῷ τὸ ἅρπαγμα ὃ ἥρπασεν ἢ τὸ ἀδίκημα ὃ ἠδίκησεν ἢ τὴν παραθήκην ἥτις παρετέθη αὐτῷ ἢ τὴν ἀπώλειαν ἣν εὗρεν καὶ ἔσται ἡνίκα ἐὰν ἁμάρτῃ καὶ πλημμελήσῃ, καὶ ἀποδῷ τὸ ἅρπαγμα, ὃ ἥρπασεν, ἢ τὸ ἀδίκημα, ὃ ἠδίκησεν, ἢ τὴν παραθήκην, ἥτις παρετέθη αὐτῷ, ἢ τὴν ἀπώλειαν, ἣν εὗρεν
Leviticus 6:4 (NETS) Leviticus 5:23 (English Elpenor)
then it shall be whenever he sins and is in error and restores the booty which he seized or the injustice he committed or the deposit which was deposited with him or the loss which he found it shall come to pass, whensoever he shall have sinned, and transgressed, that he shall restore the plunder which he has seized, or [redress] the injury which he has committed, or restore the deposit which was entrusted to him, or the lost article which he has found of any kind,
Leviticus 5:24 (Tanakh) Leviticus 6:5 (KJV) Leviticus 6:5 (NET)
or any thing about which he hath sworn falsely, he shall even restore it in full, and shall add the fifth part more thereto; unto him to whom it appertaineth shall he give it, in the day of his being guilty. Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. or anything about which he swears falsely.  He must restore it in full and add one-fifth to it; he must give it to its owner when he is found guilty.
Leviticus 6:5 (Septuagint BLB) Leviticus 5:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀπὸ παντὸς πράγματος οὗ ὤμοσεν περὶ αὐτοῦ ἀδίκως καὶ ἀποτείσει αὐτὸ τὸ κεφάλαιον καὶ τὸ πέμπτον προσθήσει ἐπ᾽ αὐτό τίνος ἐστίν αὐτῷ ἀποδώσει ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ ἐλεγχθῇ ἀπὸ παντὸς πράγματος, οὗ ὤμοσε περὶ αὐτοῦ ἀδίκως, καὶ ἀποτίσει αὐτὸ τὸ κεφάλαιον καὶ τὸ ἐπίπεμπτον προσθήσει ἐπ᾿ αὐτό· τίνος ἐστίν, αὐτῷ ἀποδώσει ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ ἐλεγχθῇ
Leviticus 6:5 (NETS) Leviticus 5:24 (English Elpenor)
because of every matter about that which he swore about unjustly, he shall also repay the capital itself, and he shall add to it one fifth.  Whosesoever it is, he shall restore to him on the day he should be convicted. about which he swore unjustly, he shall even restore it in full; and he shall add to it a fifth part besides; he shall restore it to him whose it is in the day in which he happens to be convicted.

[1] Romans 9:17 (NET)

[2] Romans 9:6, 7 (NET)

[3] Matthew 3:9 (NET)

[4] Romans 9:8b (NET)

[5] Romans 8:14 (NET)

[6] 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NET) Table

[7] Acts 13:44-52; 14:1-6; 14:19, 20; Acts 17:1-5; 18:5, 6; 18:12-17 and 19:8, 9

[8] Romans 9:3-5 (NET)

[9] Romans 9:6a (NET)

[10] Romans 11:25b (NET) Table

[11] Philippians 3:9b (NET)

[12] Romans 11:32 (NET)

[13] “Greek Verbs (Shorter Definitions),” Verbal Moods

[14] John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible, Romans 11:32

[15] ibid.

[16] Acts 13:42, 43; 14:1; Acts 17:4; 18:8; and 19:1-7

[17] John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible, Romans 9:22

[18] Galatians 5:22, 23a

[19] John 4:14b (NET) Table

[20] Romans 11:29 (NET)

Romans, Part 43

So I ask, Paul began the eleventh chapter of Romans, God has not rejected his people, has he?[1] referring to his fellow countrymen.[2]  In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, he concluded finally, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers.  For the gifts (χαρίσματα, a form of χάρισμα) and the call (κλῆσις) of God are irrevocable (ἀμεταμέλητα, a form of ἀμεταμέλητος[5]  Just as you were formerly disobedient (ἠπειθήσατε, a form of ἀπειθέω) to God, but have now received mercy (ἠλεήθητε, a form of ἐλεέω) due to their disobedience (ἀπειθείᾳ, a form of ἀπείθεια), so they too have now been disobedient (ἠπείθησαν, another form of ἀπειθέω) in order that, by the mercy (ἐλέει, a form of ἔλεος) shown to you, they too may now receive mercy (ἐλεηθῶσιν, another form of ἐλεέω).  For God has consigned (συνέκλεισεν, a form of συγκλείω) all people to disobedience (ἀπείθειαν, another form of ἀπείθεια) so that he may show mercy (ἐλεήσῃ, another form of ἐλεέω) to them all.[11]

A note in the NET acknowledged that them “has been supplied for stylistic reasons.”  The original Greek reads simply, “to all.”  I don’t want to get involved in a “universal salvation” argument.  It seems to go nowhere.  After throwing Scripture around and philosophical opinions about free will the argument devolves into something like, “Well, I could never believe in a god who sent (or, would not send) anyone to hell.”  I know I will trust Him as long as He pours his faithfulness (πίστις) into me through his Spirit,[13] whether He sends or does not send people to hell or not.  I do want to consider some of the things about God’s mercy that Paul outlined in Romans 9-11 in a table below.

What Jesus’ obedience, death and resurrection means to his Father, according to Paul

OLD TESTAMENT

Jesus’ obedience, death and resurrection

NEW TESTAMENT

For [God] says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

Romans 9:15 (NET)

Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.

Romans 11:30, 31 (NET)

God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden.

Romans 9:18 (NET)

So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.

Romans 9:16 (NET) Table

For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to…all.

Romans 11:32 (NET)

It may be arbitrary on my part to place—God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden—exclusively under the Old Covenant, if that is seen as a limit to God’s choosing.  My point is simply its logical relationship to I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.  Paul’s conclusion—So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy—serves then as the logical and justificatory bridge to his New Covenant argument concluding that, God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to…all.

The word translated consigned is συνέκλεισεν (a form of συγκλείω) in Greek.  Paul used it again when he wrote the Galatians, the scripture imprisoned (συνέκλεισεν) everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given – because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ – to those who believe.[15]  Another form of the same word is found in Luke’s account of the calling of Peter, James and John: When they had done this [e.g., obeyed Jesus by lowering their nets where he instructed them to lower them], they caught (συνέκλεισαν, another form of συγκλείω) so many fish that their nets started to tear.[16]  It is an interesting image, all of us, all humanity, caught in his net.  For God has consigned all people to disobedience[17]  Like fearful fish we flail frantically to escape from the One who whispers, Stop your striving and recognize that I am God.[18]  For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.[19]

I also want to consider the Old Testament precedent for Paul’s reasoning in Romans 11:30 and 31: The word of the Lord came to me, Ezekiel the prophet wrote.  “Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her abominable practices…”[20]

Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite [Table].  Your older sister was Samaria, who lived north of you with her daughters, and your younger sister, who lived south of you, was Sodom with her daughters [Table].  Have you not copied their behavior and practiced their abominable deeds?  In a short time you became even more depraved in all your conduct than they were [Table]!  As surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, your sister Sodom and her daughters never behaved as wickedly as you and your daughters have behaved [Table].[21]

You have made your sisters appear righteous with all the abominable things you have done [Table], the Lord continued.  So now, bear your disgrace, because you have given your sisters reason to justify their behavior.  Because the sins you have committed were more abominable than those of your sisters; they have become more righteous than you [Table].[22]  I will restore their fortunes, the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters [Table]…[23]

Like Samaria or Sodom, Paul wrote Gentile believers, that senseless nation[24] chosen for salvation, Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to [Israel’s] disobedience,[25] because, by [Israel’s] transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous.[26]  The fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters will be restored (along with your [Jerusalem’s] fortunes among them) [Table], so that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you have done in consoling them [Table].  As for your sisters, Sodom and her daughters will be restored to their former status, Samaria and her daughters will be restored to their former status, and you and your daughters will be restored to your former status [Table].[27]

So, Paul continued, they [Israel] too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.[28]  I will deal with you according to what you have done when you despised your oath by breaking your covenant, the Lord said to Jerusalem through Ezekiel.  Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish a lasting covenant with you.[29]  I will establish my covenant with you, the Lord continued, and then you will know that I am the Lord.  Then you will remember, be ashamed, and remain silent when I make atonement for all you have done, declares the sovereign Lord.[30]

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! Paul continued.  How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways!  For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?  Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay him?  For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be glory forever!  Amen.[31]

It causes me to wonder.  I assume that all in—he may show mercy to…all[32]—refers to human beings, those born of Adam.  But if senseless Gentiles, chosen for salvation to make Israel jealous, reject the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness – a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness to pursue their own righteousness derived[33] from a select subset of the law and their own religious rules, will that open Christ’s salvation to demons and fallen angels?  Will senseless Gentiles be resurrected to bear [their] disgrace and be ashamed of all [they] have done in consoling demons and fallen angels?  Will the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ really mean all things? – the things in heaven as well as the things on earth[34]?


[1] Romans 11:1a (NET)

[2] Romans 9:3 (NET)

[5] Romans 11:28, 29 (NET)

[11] Romans 11:30-32 (NET)

[15] Galatians 3:22 (NET)

[16] Luke 5:6 (NET)

[17] Romans 11:32a (NET)

[18] Psalm 46:10a (NET)

[19] Romans 11:32 (NET)

[20] Ezekiel 16:1, 2 (NET)

[21] Ezekiel 16:45b-48 (NET)

[22] Ezekiel 16:51b, 52a (NET)

[23] Ezekiel 16:53a (NET)

[24] Romans 10:19 (NET)

[25] Romans 11:30 (NET)

[26] Romans 11:11b (NET)

[27] Ezekiel 16:53-55 (NET)

[28] Romans 11:31 (NET)

[29] Ezekiel 16:59, 60 (NET)

[30] Ezekiel 16:62, 63 (NET)

[31] Romans 11:33-36 (NET)

[32] Romans 11:32b (NET)

[33] Philippians 3:9 (NET)

[34] Ephesians 1:10 (NET)