Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect, х ekpeptooken (G1601)] - or 'failed' (as the simple Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect, х ekpeptooken (G1601)] - or 'failed' (as the simple verb is rendered, Luke 16:17).
For they are not all Israel which are of Israel - better, 'For not all they which are of Israel are Israel'-q.d., 'Think not that I mourn over the total loss of Israel, for that would involve the failure of God's word to Abraham; but not all that belong to the natural seed, and go under the name of "Israel," are the Israel of God's irrevocable choice.' The difficulties which encompass this profound subject of ELECTION lie not in the apostle's teaching, which is plain enough, but in the truths themselves, the evidence for which, taken by themselves, is overwhelming, but whose perfect harmony is beyond human, perhaps even finite, comprehension. The great source of error here lies, as we humbly conceive, in hastily inferring, as too many critics do-from the apostle's taking up, at the close of this chapter, the calling of the Gentiles in connection with the rejection of Israel, and continuing this subject through the two next chapters-that the Election treated of in the body of this chapter is national, not personal Election, and consequently is Election merely to religious advantages, not to eternal salvation. In that case the argument of Romans 9:6 with which the subject of Election opens, would be this: 'The choice of Abraham and his seed has not failed; because though Israel has been rejected, the Gentiles have taken their place; and God has a right to choose what nation He will to the privileges of His visible kingdom.' But so far from this the Gentiles are not so much as mentioned at all until toward the close of the chapter; and the argument of this verse is, that 'all of Israel itself is not rejected, but only a portion of it, the remainder being the "Israel" whom God has chosen in the exercise of His sovereign right.' And that this is a choice not to mere external privileges, but to eternal salvation, will abundantly appear from what follows.