Romans 11
11
Romans 11
Israel’s Rejection Is Not Final
1 #
1 Sam 12.22; Jer 31.37; 2 Cor 11.22; Phil 3.5 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2#1 Kings 19.10; Ps 94.14; Rom 8.29God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” 4#1 Kings 19.18But what is the divine reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5So, too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6#Rom 4.4But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.#11.6 Other ancient authorities add But if it is by works, it is no longer on the basis of grace, otherwise work would no longer be work
7 #
Rom 9.18, 31 What then? Israel has not achieved what it was pursuing. The elect have achieved it, but the rest were hardened, 8#Deut 29.4; Isa 29.10; Mt 13.13, 14as it is written,
“God gave them a sluggish spirit,
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.”
9 #
Ps 69.22, 23 And David says,
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
10let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and keep their backs forever bent.”
The Salvation of the Gentiles
11 #
Acts 13.46; Rom 10.19 So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their stumbling#11.11 Or transgression salvation has come to the gentiles, so as to make Israel#11.11 Gk them jealous. 12Now if their stumbling#11.12 Or transgression means riches for the world and if their loss means riches for gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!
13 #
Acts 9.15; Rom 15.16 Now I am speaking to you gentiles. Inasmuch as I am an apostle to the gentiles, I celebrate my ministry 14#Rom 10.19; 1 Cor 7.16; 9.22in order to make my own people#11.14 Gk my flesh jealous and thus save some of them. 15For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.
17But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted among the others to share the rich root#11.17 Other ancient authorities read the root and the richness of the olive tree, 18do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember: you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19You will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20#Rom 12.16; 2 Cor 1.24That is true. They were broken off on account of unbelief,#11.20 Or faithlessness or lack of trust but you stand on account of belief.#11.20 Or faithfulness or trust So do not become arrogant, but be afraid. 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.#11.21 Other ancient authorities read perhaps he will not spare you 22#Jn 15.2; 1 Cor 15.2; Heb 3.6Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you, if you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23#2 Cor 3.16And even those of Israel,#11.23 Gk lacks of Israel if they do not continue in unbelief,#11.23 Or faithlessness or lack of trust will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.
All Israel Will Be Saved
25 #
Rom 9.18; 1 Cor 2.7–10; Eph 3.3–5, 9 I want you to understand this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not claim to be wiser than you are: a hardening has come upon part of Israel until the full number of the gentiles has come in. 26#Isa 59.20, 21And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“Out of Zion will come the Deliverer;
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.”
27 #
Isa 27.9
“And this is my covenant with them,
when I take away their sins.”
28As regards the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but as regards election they are beloved for the sake of their ancestors, 29for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30#Eph 2.2Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31so also they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they also may now#11.31 Other ancient authorities lack now receive mercy. 32#Rom 3.9; Gal 3.22, 23For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.
33 #
Ps 92.5; Eph 3.8 O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 #
Job 36.22; Isa 40.13, 14; 1 Cor 2.16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35“Or who has given a gift to him,
to receive a gift in return?”
36 #
Rom 16.27; 1 Cor 8.6; Heb 2.10; 13.21 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
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New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
