Romans 9:4-5 : Who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Paul's brethren were descendants of Jacob, whom God named Israel. They had been adopted as God's special and chosen people. The glory perhaps includes all the manifestations of God's care for them, including also the Shekinah, the emblem of his presence in the Holy of Holies. From Abraham onward God had made covenants with no other people, nor had he given laws to any other people. As the laws were God-given, they were perfectly suited to their needs. And their great-est glory and distinction: "of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh." With all these blessings and distinctions, they murdered the Christ, whom they gave the world, and still continued, and do still continue, to reject him, "who is over all, God blessed forever." The careful reader will not fail to notice that Christ is now over all. Nowhere does Paul give any hint that Christ is yet to be exalted to that high state.