What does Romans 9:4 say pertains to the Israelites besides adoption and glory?
Romans 9:4 states that to the Israelites pertain the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises. Paul lists these alongside adoption and glory as Israel's covenantal privileges, emphasizing God's repeated promises to the nation.
Les explains that Romans 9:4 is not pulled out of the woodwork but is exactly what Paul says about his kinsmen according to the flesh, the Israelites. Besides adoption, or positioning, and glory, Paul says there pertain the covenants, the giving of the law, which was also a covenant, the service of God, and the promises. Les emphasizes that God promised the nation over and over, showing Israel's unique covenantal status.
Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;