Romans 9:16 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)16 So then, it does not depend on what a person wants or does, but on God, who shows pity [i.e., to whomever He wants]. Ver CapítuloMás versionesKing James Version (Oxford) 176916 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Ver CapítuloAmplified Bible - Classic Edition16 So then [God's gift] is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God's mercy. [It depends not on one's own willingness nor on his strenuous exertion as in running a race, but on God's having mercy on him.] Ver CapítuloAmerican Standard Version (1901)16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy. Ver CapítuloCommon English Bible16 So then, it doesn’t depend on a person’s desire or effort. It depends entirely on God, who shows mercy. Ver CapítuloCatholic Public Domain Version16 Therefore, it is not based on those who choose, nor on those who excel, but on God who takes pity. Ver Capítulo |
It was God’s purpose to bring us into being [spiritually] by the message of truth, so that we could become a kind of “first fruits” of those He created. [Note: “First fruits” here suggests either that Christians are the best of all of God’s creatures (Num. 18:12), or that they were the first to be converted, with many more to come].
At that very time Jesus rejoiced in [the power of] the Holy Spirit, and said [in prayer], “I praise you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you concealed these things [i.e., His divine revelations] from those [claiming to be] wise and intelligent and have revealed them to babies [i.e., to simple, sincere, common people]. Yes, Father, this was pleasing to you.
[It was] in response to [a divine] revelation that I went [there] and explained to them [i.e., the apostles and elders] the Gospel [message] that I had been preaching among the Gentiles. Then [later on I presented it] privately before those who were highly regarded [i.e., the three apostles, verse 9] so [they would have verification that] my running [i.e., ministry] had not been, nor was now, in vain.