Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 9:21

"Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?" — Romans 9:21 (ASV)

Hath not the potter . . .?—In strict logic, this verse would supply a confirmation, rather than a refutation, of the original objection. If man is merely as clay in the hands of the potter, it would not be unreasonable to say, Why doth He yet find fault? No one would think of blaming a piece of earthenware because it was well or badly made.

The argument of the Apostle is not directed to this. He has left the point with which he started in Romans 9:19, and is engaged in proving the position taken up in Romans 9:20. Whatever they may be, God’s dealings are not to be questioned by men.

Still, we cannot overlook the fact that there is apparently a flaw in the logic, though, perhaps, only such a flaw as is inseparable from our necessarily imperfect conceptions of this mysterious subject. The two lines of thought—that which proves divine sovereignty and that which proves human freedom—run parallel to each other, and are apt to clash when drawn together. (See Notes on Romans 8:29-30; Romans 9:11; Romans 9:18, above.)

For the imagery of the clay and the potter, compare Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:3–10.