6. But it is not that the Word of God has perished. For not all those who are Israelites are of Israel.
7. And not all sons are the offspring of Abraham: "For your offspring will be invoked in Isaac."
8. In other words, those who are the sons of God are not those who are sons of the flesh, but those who are sons of the Promise; these are considered to be the offspring.
9. For the word of promise is this: "I will return at the proper time. And there shall be a son for Sarah."
10. And she was not alone. For Rebecca also, having conceived by Isaac our father, from one act,
11. when the children had not yet been born, and had not yet done anything good or bad (such that the purpose of God might be based on their choice),
12. and not because of deeds, but because of a calling, it was said to her: "The elder shall serve the younger."
13. So also it was written: "I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau."
14. What should we say next? Is there unfairness with God? Let it not be so!
15. For to Moses he says: "I will pity whomever I pity. And I will offer mercy to whomever I will pity."
16. Therefore, it is not based on those who choose, nor on those who excel, but on God who takes pity.
17. For Scripture says to the Pharaoh: "I have raised you up for this purpose, so that I may reveal my power by you, and so that my name may be announced to all the earth."
18. Therefore, he takes pity on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
19. And so, you would say to me: "Then why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?"
20. O man, who are you to question God? How can the thing that has been formed say to the One who formed him: "Why have you made me this way?"
21. And does not the potter have the authority over the clay to make, from the same material, indeed, one vessel unto honor, yet truly another unto disgrace?
22. What if God, wanting to reveal his wrath and to make his power known, endured, with much patience, vessels deserving wrath, fit to be destroyed,