Romans 11 / 16
- 1
(The Remnant of Israel)
I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
- 2
God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?
- 3
"Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life."
- 4
But what is God's reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
- 5
So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.
- 6
But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
- 7
What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,
- 8
as it is written,
"God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day."
- 9
And David says,
"Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
- 10
let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and bend their backs forever."
- 11(Gentiles Grafted In)
So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.
- 12
Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!
- 13
Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry
- 14
in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.
- 15
For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
- 16
If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
- 17
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,
- 18
do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.
- 19
Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in."
- 20
That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.
- 21
For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
- 22
Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
- 23
And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.
- 24
For if you were 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, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.
- 25(The Mystery of Israel's Salvation)
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
- 26
And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
"The Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob";
- 27
"and this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins."
- 28
As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.
- 29
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
- 30
For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,
- 31
so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.
- 32
For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
- 33
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
- 34
"For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?"
- 35
"Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?"
- 36
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.