5. whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh is the Christ, who is God over all things, blessed for all the ages. Amen.
6. Not as though the word of God has been deficient. For not all the descendants of Israel are Israelites;
7. neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are all sons, but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8. That is, Those who are sons of the flesh, these are not the sons of God; but those who are sons of the promise are counted in the generation.
9. For the word of the promise is this, At this time I will come, and Sara shall have a son.
10. And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac
11. (for the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand: not of works, but of him that calls),
12. it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14. What shall we say then? Is there injustice in God? No, in no wise.
15. 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.
16. So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that has mercy.
17. For the scripture saith of Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18. Therefore he has mercy on whom he will have mercy, and he hardens whom he will.
19. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why does he become angry? For who shall resist his will?
20. Rather, O man, who art thou to reply against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21. Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour and another unto dishonour?
22. What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much meekness the vessels of wrath, prepared for death,