Romans 9:11
9:11 even before they were born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose in election 1 would stand, not by works but by 2 his calling) 3 –
Romans 9:32
9:32 Why not? Because they pursued 4 it not by faith but (as if it were possible) by works. 5 They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 6
1 tn Grk “God’s purpose according to election.”
2 tn Or “not based on works but based on…”
3 tn Grk “by the one who calls.”
sn The entire clause is something of a parenthetical remark.
4 tn Grk “Why? Because not by faith but as though by works.” The verb (“they pursued [it]”) is to be supplied from the preceding verse for the sake of English style; yet a certain literary power is seen in Paul’s laconic style.
5 tc Most mss, especially the later ones (א2 D Ψ 33 Ï sy), read νόμου (nomou, “of the law”) here, echoing Paul’s usage in Rom 3:20, 28 and elsewhere. The qualifying phrase is lacking in א* A B F G 6 629 630 1739 1881 pc lat co. The longer reading thus is weaker externally and internally, being motivated apparently by a need to clarify.
tn Grk “but as by works.”
6 tn Grk “the stone of stumbling.”