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Romans 9 and the Story Paul Was Telling
God is faithful! His word has not failed!These are the foundation-laying, faith-building, and heart-warming words that the Apostle Paul gave to us in Romans 9. Poetically written, symmetrically presented, structurally solid, and spoken with deep emotion, Romans 9 presents Paul’s masterful answer to his objectors who cried—how can you say that Jesus is Israel’s Messiah when so many of our people do not believe? He answered, God is faithful. His word has not failed. Let me show you how.But the beauty of Romans 9 has been lost. It has been lost in a controversy over its meaning as different sides in a centuries-long debate have used it as an arsenal for weapons. Is it possible to regain what Paul was saying? Is it possible to hear freshly the story that Paul was telling?
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 4, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 23, 2026
The story you live in is the story you live out.
I had probably read a couple dozen books on Calvinism before I encountered the idea of "the covenant of redemption". This posits a deal made within the Godhead before the universe began that the Father would give some, the elect, to the Son to be saved. Those outside this elect would be passed over. Their fate would be eternal separation from God, and this was based solely on God's choice, not any action on the part of the non-elect.
It's a shame it took me so long to learn of this, because it's the lens through which most reformed readers see the Bible. It's the big picture. The meta-narrative. The "story", and it's how someone can hold so strongly to ideas like double predestination and reprobation. It turns out that the story you start with is pretty important, and it's what makes a book like Jonathan Williams's so helpful. He situates Romans 9 in a story first-century Judeans would recognize. In so doing he explains how John Calvin and ultimately men like John Piper got the chapter wrong. I don't agree with everything in this book, but I would absolutely recommend it to anyone interested in this debate.
I had probably read a couple dozen books on Calvinism before I encountered the idea of "the covenant of redemption". This posits a deal made within the Godhead before the universe began that the Father would give some, the elect, to the Son to be saved. Those outside this elect would be passed over. Their fate would be eternal separation from God, and this was based solely on God's choice, not any action on the part of the non-elect.
It's a shame it took me so long to learn of this, because it's the lens through which most reformed readers see the Bible. It's the big picture. The meta-narrative. The "story", and it's how someone can hold so strongly to ideas like double predestination and reprobation. It turns out that the story you start with is pretty important, and it's what makes a book like Jonathan Williams's so helpful. He situates Romans 9 in a story first-century Judeans would recognize. In so doing he explains how John Calvin and ultimately men like John Piper got the chapter wrong. I don't agree with everything in this book, but I would absolutely recommend it to anyone interested in this debate.
September 30, 2024
God’s Salvation Through The Promise To Israel
The writer presents the view of the mercy of God shown to Israel as Paul relates the story of Israel as the people of God to bring the blessing of the promise of Abraham to the nations that the salvation in Christ. With Israel and the gentiles grafted into Israel, the word of God has not failed.
He also shows the errors of Calvinism’s teachings about their view of election in this chapter. This makes God like other gods and not who he really is. A very excellent book on the promised salvation in the promise of Abraham.
The writer presents the view of the mercy of God shown to Israel as Paul relates the story of Israel as the people of God to bring the blessing of the promise of Abraham to the nations that the salvation in Christ. With Israel and the gentiles grafted into Israel, the word of God has not failed.
He also shows the errors of Calvinism’s teachings about their view of election in this chapter. This makes God like other gods and not who he really is. A very excellent book on the promised salvation in the promise of Abraham.
March 20, 2024
I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone who has only ever heard the Calvinist interpretation of Romans 9, or anyone who is wrestling with this passage. Dr Williams presents a holistic interpretation of this passage, taking into consideration the 1st century context in which Paul writes, answering the question that would have been asked: “has the word of God failed when so many fellow Jews did not believe in the Messiah Jesus?”
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews