Note 3 at Rom. 9:3: What a statement! Paul is saying that he would go to hell in the place of the Jews if that would accomplish their salvation. This is nothing less than the perfect "agape" love (see note 4 at Jn. 13:35, p. 483) that Jesus demonstrated when He died for our sins.

Although this desire is commendable on Paul's part, there is nothing that he could accomplish that Jesus hadn't already accomplished completely. Paul was specifically commissioned by the Lord to go to the Gentiles, yet we see him repeatedly going to the Jews, even after he said he wouldn't do that any more (see note 2 at Acts 13:14, p. 649). Paul even went to Jerusalem apparently against the instruction of the Holy Ghost (see note 4 at Acts 21:4, p. 700) and was more than willing to lay down his life for the sake of the Jews (Acts 21:13). This illustrates his great love for the Jewish people that he is describing here.