009:001 I am telling you the truth as a Christian man—it is no falsehood,
for my conscience enlightened, as it is, by the Holy Spirit
adds its testimony to mine—
009:002 when I declare that I have deep grief and unceasing
anguish of heart.
009:003 For I could pray to be accursed from Christ on behalf of my brethren,
my human kinsfolk—for such the Israelites are.
009:004 To them belongs recognition as God's sons, and they have His
glorious Presence and the Covenants, and the giving of the Law,
and the Temple service, and the ancient Promises.
009:005 To them the Patriarchs belong, and from them in respect of His
human lineage came the Christ, who is exalted above all,
God blessed throughout the Ages. Amen.
009:006 Not however that God's word has failed; for all who have sprung
from Israel do not count as Israel,
009:007 nor because they are Abraham's true children. But the promise
was "Through Isaac shall your posterity be reckoned."
009:008 In other words, it is not the children by natural descent
who count as God's children, but the children made such
by the promise are regarded as Abraham's posterity.
009:009 For the words are the language of promise and run thus,
"About this time next year I will come, and Sarah shall
have a son."
009:010 Nor is that all: later on there was Rebecca too.
She was soon to bear two children to her husband,
our forefather Isaac—