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Verse

Romans 9:1

ESV I am speaking the truth in Christ — I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit —
NIV I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit—
NASB I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit,
CSB I speak the truth in Christ —I am not lying; my conscience testifies to me through the Holy Spirit —
NLT With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it.
KJV I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
NKJV I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,

What does Romans 9:1 mean?

Paul turns suddenly from the previous topic and begins to focus on the people of Israel. He has just finished making the case that because of Jesus' death and resurrection, all who come to God by faith in Christ will be loved by God forever. In fact, nothing in all of creation will be able to separate anyone who is in Christ from God's love (Romans 8:38–39).

Perhaps that led Paul to think of his own people Israel. Some Jewish people had come to faith in Christ, but the vast majority had rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Paul shows here how deeply that breaks his heart in this and the following verse.

He starts out by insisting passionately that he sincerely means what he is about to say. Perhaps he was concerned that some readers would not believe him. After all, wasn't he in grave conflict with the Jewish religious leaders? Hadn't they tried to kill him? They had done just that repeatedly to try to stop Paul from preaching the good news about Jesus. Still, Paul declares that his conscience vouches for him in the Holy Spirit that what he is about to say in the following verse is true. He is heartbroken for his Jewish brothers and sisters.
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