“Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.”
In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring. — The τέκνα τῆς σαρκός (tekna tēs sarkos, "children of the flesh") are not τέκνα τοῦ θεοῦ (tekna tou theou, "God's children"); rather, the τέκνα τῆς ἐπαγγελίας (tekna tēs epaggelias, "children of the promise") are counted as sperma. The categories are inverted: biological descent yields to promissory covenant.
Church Fathers on Romans 9:7
“Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children.” Now when you come to know of what kind the seed of Abraham is, you will see that the promise is given to his seed, and know that the word has not fallen to the ground. Of what kind, pray, is the seed then? It is no saying of mine, he means, but the Old Testament itself explains itself by saying as follows, “In Isaac shall your seed be called.” Genesis 21:12 What is, “In Isaac?” Explain.
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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