Romans 9:16

So then (ara oun). In view of this quotation. It is not of (ou). We must supply estin eleo with ou. "Mercy is not of." The articular participles (tou qelonto, tou treconto, tou elewnto) can be understood as in the genitive with eleo understood (mercy is not a quality of) or as the predicate ablative of source like epilusew in 2 Peter 1:20 . Paul is fond of the metaphor of running.