“For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:”
Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory; theirs the covenants; theirs the receiving of the law; theirs the temple worship and theirs the promises. — Paul catalogs Israel's inalienable privileges (τὰ Ἰσραηλῖται, ta Israelitai): υἱοθεσία (hyiothesia, "adoption to sonship") is theirs; δόξα (doxa, "glory"), διαθῆκαι (diathēkai, "covenants"), νομοθεσία (nomothesia, "law-giving"), λατρεία (latreia, "service/worship"), ἐπαγγελίαι (epaggeliai, "promises"). These are permanent allocations, irrevocable marks of covenant election.
Church Fathers on Romans 9:3
“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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