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Bible Q

Do Romans 3:22 and 9:13 mean that God has favourites?

Answered by . October 26, 2009 - 9:47 pm

Rom 3:22 … the righteousness of God [comes] through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

Rom 9:13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

God does have his favourites in the sense that he rewards some people and not others. As Romans 3:22 indicates, those who believe and are faithful are his favourites. In the case of Esau and Jacob, God in his foreknowledge was aware that Jacob would be faithful to him, but Esau would not, so Jacob received the greater blessing.

In another sense, God treats everyone exactly the same.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

One Reply to “Do Romans 3:22 and 9:13 mean that God has favourites?”

  1. I think Romans 9:10-12 is clear that the nation descended from Esau (that is, Edom (Genesis 36:8-9)) was chosen to serve the nation descended from Jacob (Israel) by God’s election – not because Jacob himself turned out a faithful man.
    The individual blessing of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ will come to Jacob and all other people who believe – even some from the nation of Edom – as a reward for their faith; but the prophecy in Romans 9:12 is that the nation of Edom would serve the nation of Israel. History fulfilled this prophecy (2 Samuel 8:14).
    https://bibleq.net/answer/3379/