"... It is worth noting that Paul mentions Isaiah twice by name in the short span of only three verses (9:27-29), indicating the significance of this particular book of prophecy to his understanding of the present circumstances of Israel. Some scholars believe that Romans 9:27-29 appear to be a conflation of Isaiah 10:22-23 and Isaiah 1:9. A comparison of the texts concerned shows that Paul’s citation remains at points close to and yet distinct from the MT and the Greek text of Isaiah 10:22-23 ... Isaiah 10:22-23 in its original context speaks of the salvation of the remnant of Israel when Yahweh has executed his judgment on the whole earth (Isaiah 10:23). Two things about the text are in order. First, it should be noted that in the Greek text of Isaiah and Paul’s text, the word ‘only’, which appears in most English translations, does not actually exist. Admittedly, a contrast between the original number of nation Israel and the limited number of survivors might be implied, but the point of emphasis of Isaiah does not seem to be on the contrast between the number of Israelites and the remnant, but rather on the notion that ‘the survivors will be saved’. The existence of the survivors/remnant, and indeed Israel as a nation, from start to finish is based on God’s faithfulness. God is faithful to Israel both in the history of her initial conception and in the midst of her judgment ..."