“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”
Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. — Paul's pastoral longing (θέλημα, thelēma, "desire") is Israel's σωτηρία (sōtēria, "salvation"); his δέησις (deēsis, "prayer") rises to God on their behalf. Despite Israel's rejection of Christ, Paul intercedes. The emotional investment is unmistakable.
Church Fathers on Romans 10:1
He is now going again to rebuke them more vehemently than before. Wherefore he again does away with every suspicion of hatred, and makes a great effort beforehand to correct misapprehension. Do not then, he says, mind words or accusations, but observe that it is not in any hostile spirit that I say this. For it is not likely that the same person should desire their salvation, and not desire it only, but even pray for it, and yet should also hate them, and feel aversion to…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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