You did a great job of explaining Romans 9. Kudos.
I don't see how that changes anything I've said, though even from what you said there is little I see that I disagree with.
For example, at the end you say, : "Important to note is the fact: the dishonorable vessel can cleanse themselves and become vessels of honor." If that is true, it is not shown by the passage as doctrine. The tone of the passage is that God is sovereign and has designated some vessels for one use, some for another. No mention is made their of the vessels choosing anything --that is found elsewhere.
Also, you left out the contextual conversation and statement: "Who are you, O man, to question God?"
The “dishonorable vessels cleansing themselves to become vessels of honor”, comes from 2 Tim. 2:20 and that was the verses I was referencing.
2Tim.2:20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21
Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
You are right to say this concept is not discussed in Ro. 9, but in 2 Tim. 2:21 you have the
exact same words used
by Paul again presenting
a similar analogy as he did in Ro. 9.
In 2 Tim 2:21 you have the τιμὴν (timēn) meaning honorable, special, highly prized and also, we have ἀτιμίαν (atimian) meaning common, disgraceful, dishonorable, which are the exact same words Paul uses again in Ro.9.
The point is: a wealthy home owner is not going to have anything dishonorable in his house, but would have lots of common vessels in his house (not made of silver and gold).
Many translators pick up on Paul’s use of τιμὴν (timēn) and ἀτιμίαν (atimian) and translate these words special and common in Ro.9, again the potter makes both special and common vessels and puts his mark on the bottom of both, because they fit their purpose.
In both Ro. 9 and 2 Tim. 2:21 Paul is referring to the differences in people and the way they are born (come out of the shop). In 2Tim. 2 Paul also conveys the idea people can change themselves, so the vessel is not fixed from the beginning, but can change (this is not talked about in Ro.9).
In Ro. 9 Paul is trying to get across the idea it does not matter whether you left the Potter’s shop (were born) for a very special purpose (Jews) or a common purpose (Gentiles), since everything that left the shop (was born) with the mark of the Potter.
What is made for destruction then? The Potter does not make objects for destruction (like clay pigeons), but any vessel that leaves the shop can be changed by the individual vessel (this is seen in 2 Tim.2:21). If the vessel (common or special) develops a crack and leaks, it is not worthy of the Potter’s mark and should be destroyed (people of the first century would understand this).
The problem is in suggesting the Potter (God) makes stuff to be destroyed (some humans), since nothing would leave His shop (be born) of no value.
