So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What’s easy to miss here is that Paul isn't saying human willing and running are unimportant; rather, their origin and efficacy are not humanly initiated. Our desire and effort are actually gifts that follow God's mercy, not the cause of it.
So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing the apparent contradiction of God's sovereign choice in salvation with the question of His justice. He uses the example of Abraham's descendants, specifically Isaac and Ishmael, and later Jacob and Esau, to illustrate that God's selection isn't based on human lineage or merit. This verse explains that salvation ultimately hinges on God's mercy, not on human desire or effort, setting the stage for Paul's discussion on God's sovereign power in choosing who receives His mercy.
Ever feel like you're giving your all but still falling short? Paul says salvation isn't earned by sheer willpower or intense effort.
Paul uses the vivid imagery of 'willing' and 'running' to emphasize that human effort alone cannot secure salvation.
The Limits of Human Will:
'Not of him that willeth' doesn't mean we don't choose God. Rather, it means our initial desire, our innate human will, isn't what causes salvation. Left to ourselves, we wouldn't even want to seek God. It's God's Spirit that awakens that desire within us, making us willing in the day of His power.
The Limits of Human Effort:
'Nor of him that runneth' speaks to strenuous, active effort. Think of a runner in a race, giving it their all. Paul isn't saying we shouldn't strive for holiness or pursue God earnestly. The Bible calls us to do just that! But our intense effort doesn't earn God's favor. It can't obligate God to save us. Salvation isn't a reward for our personal exertion; it's a gift.
Dependency on God:
Both commentaries highlight that while willing and running are part of the Christian life, they are not the cause or the origin of salvation. They follow God's initiative, they are channels through which His mercy works, but they don't bring it about.
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If it's not about our will or our effort, then who is in charge? Paul points to one unshakeable reality: God's mercy.
This verse is a powerful declaration of God's sovereignty in salvation. The ultimate cause, the originating source, is none other than God Himself, specifically His mercy.
God's Initiative:
Salvation isn't a transaction where we bring enough 'worth' or 'effort' to the table to earn it. It originates from God's free choice to show mercy. He is the one who initiates, who calls, who draws. This is why Paul quotes God's own words to Moses: 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion' (Exodus 33:19). God isn't obligated to save anyone based on their willingness or running.
The Potter and the Clay:
Commentaries like Calvin's and Henry's draw on the powerful analogy of the potter and the clay (Romans 9:20-21). God, as the potter, has the sovereign right to form vessels for different purposes from the same lump of clay. He chooses whom to show mercy to, not based on their merit, but on His own good pleasure. This isn't arbitrary, but an expression of His perfect wisdom and justice, even when it's hard for us to grasp.
Awe, Not Arrogance:
Understanding that salvation is entirely God's work can lead to humility and awe. It means we can't boast in ourselves. Instead, all the glory goes to God. Those who are saved have reason to give thanks for His unsolicited grace, and those who are not are without excuse because the fault lies in their own rejection of God's freely offered mercy.
Understand the original words
thelema · Greek Noun
The fundamental power of choice, volition, or desire inherent in human beings. In a theological sense, it often contrasts the fallen human capacity to choose with the sovereign determination of God.
trechon · Greek Noun
Physical effort, striving, or running; used metaphorically for human works or attempts to achieve righteousness or spiritual goals apart from God’s grace.
eleeo · Greek Verb
Compassion or pity shown by a superior to an inferior, especially by God toward sinful humanity. It is the withholding of deserved judgment and the granting of unmerited favor.
This passage highlights God's sovereign and mysterious action, likening His work to the wind that blows where it wills. It echoes the sentiment of Romans 9:16 by emphasizing that the Spirit's work is not dictated by human perception or control, but by God's own purposes.
Ephesians 2:8-9This passage directly states that salvation is a gift of God's grace, not a result of human works. It powerfully supports the idea in Romans 9:16 that our salvation depends entirely on God's mercy and not on our own will or effort.
Philippians 2:13This verse explains that it is God who works within believers 'both to will and to work for his good pleasure.' This complements Romans 9:16 by showing that even our willingness and efforts to pursue God are ultimately enabled by His prior work of mercy and grace.
Jeremiah 18:6The analogy of the potter and the clay in Jeremiah illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over humanity. This connects with Romans 9:16 by showing that God, like the potter, has the sovereign right to show mercy or not, independent of human will or striving.
barnesRomans 9:16: "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."
So then - It follows as a consequence from this statement of God to Moses. Or it is a doctrine established by that statement. Not of him that willeth - This does not mean that he that becomes a Christian, and is saved, does not choose eternal life; or is not made willing; or that he is compelled to enter heaven against his own choice. It is true that people by nature have no desire of h…
cambridgeRomans 9:16: "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."
16 . of him that willeth ] Not that human willing and running are illusions; but they are not the cause of mercy. They follow it; they may even be the channel of its present action; but they are not the cause. Its origin is not “ of ” them. Cp. Php 2:13 . runneth ] The idea is of one actively moving in the path of right His energy may tempt him to think that he originated the motion; bu…
What’s easy to miss here is that Paul isn't saying human willing and running are unimportant; rather, their origin and efficacy are not humanly initiated. Our desire and effort are actually gifts that follow God's mercy, not the cause of it.
Paul is addressing the apparent contradiction of God's sovereign choice in salvation with the question of His justice. He uses the example of Abraham's descendants, specifically Isaac and Ishmael, and later Jacob and Esau, to illustrate that God's selection isn't based on human lineage or merit. This verse explains that salvation ultimately hinges on God's mercy, not on human desire or effort, setting the stage for Paul's discussion on God's sovereign power in choosing who receives His mercy.
Paul is addressing the apparent contradiction of God's sovereign choice in salvation with the question of His justice. He uses the example of Abraham's descendants, specifically Isaac and Ishmael, and later Jacob and Esau, to illustrate that God's selection isn't based on human lineage or merit. This verse explains that salvation ultimately hinges on God's mercy, not on human desire or effort, setting the stage for Paul's discussion on God's sovereign power in choosing who receives His mercy.
"So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." — What’s easy to miss here is that Paul isn't saying human willing and running are unimportant; rather, their origin and efficacy are not humanly initiated. Our desire and effort are actually gifts…
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Last reviewed October 2026