2 Cents

In this series of blog posts we are examining Romans 9 - the chapter in the Bible most often used to prove Calvinism - to show that it does not actually support Calvinism at all.  You can read part one here, and part two here.

In yesterday's post we saw that a key component to Paul's argument in Romans 9 is that God unconditionally elected the physical nation of Israel to service and not to salvation.

Now let's turn our attention to verses 10-13.

(10) And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, (11) though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad - in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls - (12) she was told, "The older will serve the younger."  (13) As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

When I was wrestling with the possibility of Calvinism in my college years verse 13 was always the one that stood out most in my mind.  God hated Esau?  Before he had even been born or done anything good or bad?  God unconditionally hates people?!

As I studied I had to be honest with myself and honest with the text.  If this were true, that God arbitrarily chooses to hate some people and not others, then I would have to admit that Calvinism was correct.

And a straight-forward, literal reading of these verses would seem to lead us to that conclusion.  However, I've noted previously the dangers of taking every verse in the Bible literally.  There's more here than meets the eye.  Let's take a look.

First, we must mention again that Paul is indeed speaking of unconditional election here, but it is not election to salvation but to service in God's kingdom.  In fact, look through that passage again.  Do you see any reference whatsoever to salvation?

Second, any time you see a phrase like "As it is written," it would be helpful to go examine the place the author is referring to.  A quick glance at your cross references in your Bible will show that Paul here is referring to Malachi 1:2-3, which reads...

"I have loved you," says the Lord.  But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the Lord.  "Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated."

A quick read over the first chapter of Malachi will show clearly that here God is using the names of individuals to refer to entire people groups.  Jacob, whose name would later be changed to Israel, represents the entire people group of the Israelites, while Esau represents the Edomites.

If, perhaps, you think that this is an unbiblical interpretation conveniently used to suit the needs of those in the free-will camp, may I also refer you to a storehouse of other passages in the Bible where an individual's name is used when in actuality the author, or God, is referring to the entire people group: Deut. 32:9; Isaiah 29:22-23, Isaiah 27:6, Isaiah 27:9, Isaiah 9:8, Isaiah 14:1, Isaiah 17:4; Jeremiah 30:18, 31:11; Lamentations 2:2; Ezekiel 39:25; Hosea 12:2.  

Here in Romans 9 Paul is speaking of Jacob and Esau both as individuals (clear from v. 11) as well as representatives for entire people groups (clear from Malachi).  We cannot say Paul is not speaking of them in individual terms because verse 11 is too clear.

But again, this poses no problem, for God's unconditional election of Jacob to eventually serve as his chosen one and not Esau was an election to service and not to salvation.

The fact that God chose the younger son and not the firstborn would have been another surprise to Paul's readers (as well as OT believers) and would further highlight God's sovereign freedom to choose whomever he wills to be part of his ultimate rescue plan for sinners via the Messiah.  

Finally, what should we do with the phrase "Esau I hated"?

Did God unconditionally decide to hate Esau before the twins were born?  No.  That is not what Paul is saying.

Paul is simply using the passage in Malachi to prove his case that God unconditionally chose Jacob to be part of his redemption plan and not Esau.

Although here in Romans Paul is speaking of the individual twins, the "Esau I hated" phrase in Malachi is talking about a people group and not Esau as an individual.

So Paul is not saying God hated Esau the individual.  Only that God hated the Edomites as a group.  And yes we must go so far as to say God had significant disfavor for the Edomites.  Anything less would soften the force of Mal. 1:2-5, which we should not do.

But note that this does not necessitate that all Edomites were sentenced to eternal condemnation in hell.  Rather it simply means God was going to show special favor to the Israelites in their earthly lives and special disfavor to the Edomites in their earthly lives to highlight his unconditional choice of Israel for special kingdom service and his rejection of Edom.

To add another layer of support to the case, Jack Cottrell notes that in numerous OT passages, God's disfavor laid upon the Edomites was actually conditional based upon their treatment of his chosen nation Israel (See Psalm 137:7; Jer. 49:7-12; Ezek. 35:1-15; Obadiah 1:10).

So Paul is using an OT example of God showing favor to one people group and disfavor to another to bolster his case that God unconditionally chose Jacob for his redemption plan and rejected Esau.

God did not hate Esau.  In fact, in Genesis ch. 36 we get the exact opposite impression, namely that Esau experienced significant blessings from God!  We also see in Genesis ch. 33 that Esau forgave Jacob and reconciled with him after being wickedly deceived twice by his younger brother.  So the biblical picture God gives us of his relationship with Esau as an individual is actually a positive one, not a negative one.

In conclusion, Romans 9 in no way teaches that God unconditionally hates individuals or unconditionally condemns them to hell.

Check back later in the week for more posts on how Romans 9 does not support Calvinism.  Special thanks to Dr. Jack Cottrell and his work in the College Press NIV Commentary on Romans.