03/13/2026

Samuel Clifford

 

“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:” Romans 9:6 KJV

 

Replacement Theologians will interpret this verse as saying, “The first Israel in Romans 9:6 is the Old Israel, while the 2nd mention of Israel is the New Israel, i.e., the Church. This confirms the Church is Israel.” However, this interpretation has many problems.

 

“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect”:

 

Paul makes it clear in his epistle to the Romans that, though Israel rejected their Messiah, God’s Word hasn’t failed (Romans 3:3-4; 11:29). God is still working through Israel, which, of course, shows up in a remnant, i.e., believing Israelites, i.e., the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16).

 

“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” Romans 3:3-4 KJV

 

“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Romans 11:29 KJV

 

“For they are not all Israel”:

 

These described here aren't the Old Israel as Replacement Theologians teach; that isn't suggested by the context at all since the context demands physical Israelites. But Paul is saying here that not all who are descended from Israel, i.e., Jacob, are true Israelites in the sight of God. These are the physical Jews who are unbelieving, are only outward (Romans 2:28), and are considered by Christ to be the “Synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9; 3:9).

 

“which are of Israel”:

 

Though all Israelites descend from Israel, i.e., Jacob, they’re not considered true Israelites in the sight of God since they’re not “of Israel.” That being the remnant of believing Israelites (Romans 11:7) who are Jews inwardly and circumcised of the heart (Romans 2:29) and are called by Paul “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16).

 

“What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.” Romans 11:7 KJV

 

“But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” Romans 2:29 KJV

 

It is clear from Romans 9:3-8 that Romans 9:6 doesn’t support Replacement Theology. There is no Gentile that can be found in sight here in Romans 9:6. For the Replacement Theologians interpretation to work, they must be oblivious to context, the Old Testament, the promises of God, the target audience of Romans 9, and more.