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Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are God\u2019s beloved people whom He will rescue one day.<\/p>\n The word translated, \u201cconcerning<\/span>\u201d is the Greek word kata<\/em><\/span>, which primarily means \u201cdown.\u201d However, this word has many nuances that imply position or relation. As it is used in this sentence it expresses \u201cthe relation in which one thing stands towards another.\u201d So, we could translate it as \u201cwith respect to\u201d or \u201cas it relates to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEnemies<\/span>\u201d is translated from the Greek word, echthros<\/em><\/span>, which is based on the verb echth\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto hate.\u201d Thus, echthros<\/em> <\/span>means \u201cone who is hateful or odious, an enemy.\u201d In this verse it refers to those who are odious in the sight of God. God is not saying that the Jews are His enemies, but that they are enemies of the gospel message.<\/p>\n The word translated \u201celection<\/span>\u201d is eklogen<\/em><\/span>, based on the verb ekleg\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of ek<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cout\u201d or \u201cout of\u201d and leg\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto choose.\u201d Thus, eklogen<\/em> <\/span>refers to the act of choosing or the selecting some out of a larger collection.<\/p>\n \u201cBeloved<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek word agap\u0113tos<\/em><\/span>, which is based on the verb agapa\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto love in a social or moral sense.\u201d It means to be ultimately concerned for the welfare of the one who is loved. Agap\u0113tos<\/em> refers to the one who is loved.<\/p>\n Paul has been explaining that it was the rejection of the Messiah by the Jews that occasioned the gospel (good news) to be proclaimed to the Gentiles. Remember, also, that Paul is talking in generalities about groups of people, not specific individuals. He starts off the current verse with, \u201cWith regard to the gospel, they are enemies.\u201d He is not saying that the Jews are the enemies of Christians. He is saying that the Jews are enemies of the gospel message; they are hateful of the message regarding Jesus being the Messiah and that salvation and the righteousness of God is obtained by believing that Jesus died to pay for the sins of all mankind.<\/p>\n But, Paul goes on to say, with respect to God\u2019s selecting who are righteous and who aren\u2019t, they are beloved because of God\u2019s covenant with the patriarchs. This may be a reference to Deuteronomy 10:15<\/strong><\/span> which says,<\/p>\n The LORD delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as <\/span>it is<\/em> <\/span>this day.<\/span><\/p>\n The point is that God choose the Israelites as His special people and though they rejected their Messiah, God will one day turn back to them and restore their position of blessedness because of the covenant (the one sided contract) that He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.<\/p>\n We should not hate the Jewish people even though they are hateful of the gospel message. Instead, we should recognize that they, as a nation, are loved by God. Sometime in the future He will remove Christians from the earth and once again bless the Jewish people when their Messiah comes as their conquering king.<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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