“That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.”
For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the Israelites. — The ἀνάθεμα (anathema, "cursed") and separation from Christ—Paul would undergo damnation itself for Israel's salvation (cf. Moses in Exodus 32:32). The intensity exposes the existential anguish of Israel's stumbling. No theological abstraction obscures the pastoral wound.
Church Fathers on Romans 9:2
“That I have a great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ.” What do you say, O Paul? From Christ, your beloved One, from Whom neither kingdom nor hell, nor things visible nor intelligible, nor another world as great, would separate you, is it from Him that you would now be accursed? What has happened? Have you changed, have you given over that love? No, he replies, fear not. Rather I have even made it more…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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