Rom 9:7-8 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 7. Neither because they are the seed of Abraham , &c.] Nor can they conclude, because they are the natural descendants of Abraham, that therefore they are all of them, without exception, the children in whom the promise is to be fulfilled. But, in Isaac shall thy seed be called. ] The promise is not confined to immediate natural descent , but may be accomplished in any part of Abraham's posterity. For Abraham had several sons besides Isaac , , particularly Ishmael , who was circumcised before Isaac was born, and in whom Abraham was desirous that the promise should be fulfilled, , and in him God might have fulfilled the promise, had he so pleased; and yet he said to Abraham, : Not in Ishmael , but in Isaac, shall thy seed be called .

‏ Romans 9:7-8

Verse 7. Neither because they are the seed of Abraham, &c.] Nor can they conclude, because they are the natural descendants of Abraham, that therefore they are all of them, without exception, the children in whom the promise is to be fulfilled.

But, in Isaac shall thy seed be called.] The promise is not confined to immediate natural descent, but may be accomplished in any part of Abraham's posterity. For Abraham had several sons besides Isaac, Ge 25:1, 2, particularly Ishmael, who was circumcised before Isaac was born, and in whom Abraham was desirous that the promise should be fulfilled, Ge 17:18, and in him God might have fulfilled the promise, had he so pleased; and yet he said to Abraham, Ge 21:12: Not in Ishmael, but in Isaac, shall thy seed be called.

Verse 8. That is, They which are the children of the flesh] Whence it appears that not the children who descend from Abraham's loins, nor those who were circumcised as he was, nor even those whom he might expect and desire, are therefore the Church and people of God; but those who are made children by the good pleasure and promise of God, as Isaac was, are alone to be accounted for the seed with whom the covenant was established.